
About Last Night: Cartagena on Crown Street
Alquímico touched down at El Primo Sanchez for a single, high-voltage service—but the drinks linger.
For a few hours last night, El Primo Sanchez tilted slightly off its axis. Behind the bar, the team from Alquímico in Cartagena—recently named World’s Best Bar at the Spirited Awards—took over the room, pouring as part of the weeklong Maybe Cocktail Festival (April 14–19).
It had the feel of a one-off: a tightly packed room, drinks moving quickly, the low hum of something unlikely to be repeated in quite the same way. Alquímico’s calling card—careful sourcing, less show—survived the trip. The drinks landed with clarity, not fuss.
And yet, the night doesn’t end there.
In collaboration with the Maybe Sammy team, Alquímico has left something behind: a limited-edition bottled cocktail built on 1800 Tequila Reposado. Mango vermouth rounds the edges, and macerated hops introduce a measured bitterness. It’s balanced, portable, and—crucially—still available.
Priced at $20 for a 100ml serve ($65 for the Trio Pack), the ready-to-pour bottles are being sold via the Maybe Sammy retail space beneath the bar, extending the life of what might otherwise have been a one-night affair.
The pre-mixed cocktail points to a quieter shift. The best bars in the world still trade on atmosphere, on the friction of a crowded room. But increasingly, they travel well—distilled, bottled, and waiting for the next night to begin.

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Courtesy of Patricks

