Iain McPherson

Edinburgh

The ice-cold party panda pioneering new cocktail techniques

Iain McPherson opened Edinburgh bar Panda & Sons more than a decade ago. Since then, the prolific Scottish cocktail innovator has become a much-loved and hugely respected figure in the bar universe, culminating in him winning the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2024 – the only peer-voted accolade in The World’s 50 Best Bars programme.

McPherson’s love affair with mixology began in 2007, when he worked as a barback in The Voodoo Rooms in 2007 before opening Panda & Sons in 2013. It didn’t take long for his debut venue to become a go-to in Edinburgh’s thriving cocktail scene. In its first phases, the menus at Panda utilised a magpie-like collection of ingredients.

An experimentalist at heart, McPherson is no stranger to a bar lab. The launch of the Transcend menu in 2023 brought with it a range of sub-zero techniques that McPherson had developed and championed to fruition. This was the catalyst that prompted a succession of bars to explore these processes for themselves, with many incorporating ‘switching’ [a technique that involves freezing water in a spirit and replacing it with a different liquid such as juice], ‘sous pression’ and freeze-drying into drinks on their own menus. These come supplemented by Señor Scoop, McPherson's brand of boozy ice cream.

Already a popular personality on the international bartending scene, demand for McPherson’s ingenious and always innovative services continue have continued to grow exponentially. His trunk-full of bar paraphernalia, which accompanies him on excursions around the world, expanded beyond the cryo-concentrated drinks to include bamboo drink luges, inflatable panda suits and a mixed bag of ancillary party tricks.

Looking the future, McPherson's deep appetite for innovation, creativity and entertainment show no signs of slowing. He aims to keep using his platform to discover new methods of creating frozen delights and sharing his wisdom with the world, presented in a fun and accessible package. A true leader and champion of hospitality, he is a deserving winner of the Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award.

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