Celebrity Life
The Drinks List: 5 Coffee Cocktails to Power Up With
A cup of coffee is a surefire way to perk up your day, and as dawn turns to dusk, the addition of coffee in your cocktail seems the perfect way to pep up evenings, too.
From the classic espresso martini to more creative caffeine-infused concoctions, wake up and smell our top five coffee cocktails you should try in Hong Kong right now.
Espresso Martini at Terrible Baby
The bar concept at Eaton Hong Kong is not as ‘terrible’ as it sounds. In fact, it’s actually quite the destination venue with a bar, garden and music room all in one place. Named after the 1929 French novel Les Enfants Terribles by Jean Cocteau, Terrible Baby also has popular Mexican mixologist Edgar Santillan mixing it up behind the bar. One of our favourite rocket fuel sips is an espresso martini and Terrible Baby sure does a mean one. It’s created with a cold brew coffee liqueur that blends beans from Mexico, Indonesia and more; French hazelnut liqueur for a little sweetness; and handcrafted Bimber Vodka from London.
Terrible Baby, 4th Floor, Eaton Hong Kong, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan, Kowloon; +852 2710 1866
Saigon Coffee at M Bar
Offering cocktails on a menu called 'Journey To The West', M Bar pays homage to the classics infused with Eastern flavours while celebrating their individual colonial influences. For caffeine lovers, the Saigon coffee is the one to try. Using traditional dark-roasted Vietnamese coffee, which is known to be strong and flavourful, hotel mixologist Slamet Haryadi mixes filtered coffee with cherry eau de vie and cacao vermouth, then tops it off with sliced Gifford almonds and frothy milk foam.
M Bar, 25th Floor, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road Central, Central; +852 2825 4002
Nomad at Bedu
Head to the Middle East -- via Gough Street -- for a little kickstart to your evening with the Nomad. A cocktail in honour of a modern-day Bedouin's drinking journey, it pairs an exotic-flavoured pineapple coffee cordial with sweet white rum for punchy results. The taste of coffee is light, but serves to round out the flavour and adds fragrance to the ultimate wake up call you’ve been asking for.
Bedu, 40 Gough Street, Central; +852 2320 4450
Clarified Coconut Milk Punch at COA
Inspired by a Vietnamese coconut iced coffee, this cocktail at Mexican-inspired cocktail bar COA is a clear winner for coffeephiles — and when I say clear, it really is. Not only does co-founder and mixologist Jay Khan use smoky mezcal joven and Ethiopian arabica coffee-infused aged rum for the drink, but it’s also clarified using a milk-wash technique with coconut cream. Here, dry sherry, tamarind, cardamom, pineapple, lemon juice and salt are used to curdle the mixture, before it's strained to extract a clear and flavourful cocktail.
COA, Shop A, Lower Ground Floor, Wah Shin House, 6-10 Shin Hing Street, Central; +852 2813 5787
Teaspresso at Stable Bar
Named after the traditional Hong Kong drink yin yeung, which is coffee mixed with milk tea, the Stable Bar’s Teaspresso is a more mellow riff on the classic espresso martini. At the base is Japanese Ki No Tea Gin (or Kyoto dry gin) which blends juniper with green tea for a subtle but fragrant sweetness, followed by a dash of St. George coffee liqueur and chocolate bitters to bring it back up to speed. It’s finally topped with milk foam and crushed blueberry powder to balance the creamy cocktail for a refreshing finish.
Stable Bar, 1st Floor, House 1881 Stable Block, 2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon; +852 3988 0288
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The Drinks List: 10 Festive Cocktails For a Very Merry Christmas
Nothing gets a Christmas party going like a cocktail.
So in the spirit of merry-making, we've rounded up some fun festive tipples to try. From Christmas teas to spicy concoctions, hot toddies and even some snowmen in ice, here are our top ten Christmas cocktails to make this holiday a jolly one.
La Petite Maison: Clarified Christmas Milk Punch
This festive cocktail created by La Petite Maison is Christmas à la française. Featuring a brioche-infused rum blended with almond milk, vanilla, rooibos tea cordial, allspice and walnuts, this Clarified Christmas milk punch is a flavoursome drink for a joyous Noël. It also features the cutest miniature snowman frozen in the ice cube, so you'll have to keep drinking to free him.
La Petite Maison, Shop 1, H Queen's, 23-29, 1/F Stanley Street, Central; +852 2887 1113
The St. Regis Bar: Shakespeare Riot
Inspired by a 1849 theatrical rivalry over a Macbeth production, this cocktail is a twist on the classic New York Sour. At The St. Regis Bar, it combines rich spicy flavours with undertones of smoke and earthiness for a rather adult Christmas drink. Gin mare is used as the base, before a port reduction, St Germain, roasted rosemary and fresh lime juice are added to the cocktail. It's then topped with egg white and a bright red tuille, spritzed with Essentia St. Regis lavender in true festive fashion.
The St. Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive, Wan Chai; +852 2138 6888
Bedu: Ho-ho-holy Treat
If Christmas citrus is your thing, then I think I've found your cocktail. At Bedu, the Ho-ho-holy treat is just that -- a real treat! It combines zesty citrus with Arak, an anise-flavoured spirit, for a lively cocktail. It also uses blood orange cointreau, and fresh grapefruit juice mixed with red wine for those beautiful sunset hues. It's then garnished with a charming little Christmas caramel and topped with egg white for a snowy white finish.
Bedu, 40 Gough Street, Central; +852 2320 4450
InterContinental Lobby Lounge: Christmas Cocktails
Why stop at one Christmas cocktail when you can have the whole collection. To celebrate the holidays, the Lobby Lounge at the InterContinental has created drinks inspired by the classics to sip on through the season. Start Christmas with something fun and opt for "Victor" the gingerbread man (far left) made with absinthe, milk, egg white and raspberry, or try something a little stronger with the Christmas Delight (second from left), which is served neat, warm or on the rocks and uses a cinnamon-infused Irish whisky as its base. The Ornament (second from right) is just as enchanting, with dark rum, fresh ginger, pineapple juice and port wine at its core. Meanwhile, Sugar Cane Rush (far right) is simple but effective, and uses Cognac, cherry and mint liqueurs for that festive kick.
Lobby Lounge, Lobby Level, InterContinental, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2313 2323
La Rambla: Lion's Tail
The winter warming Lion's Tail at La Rambla is one of the most robust cocktails made for Christmas. Using Bourbon and allspice dram, this delicious concoction blends flavours of cinnamon and rich caramel tones with spice, for a classic style cocktail. It's brightened by a squeeze of lemon and topped with egg white, or Aquafaba for those of us that are vegan. Drink this on the outdoor terrace after all your Christmas shopping and I guarantee you'll be feeling festive.
La Rambla, 8 Finance Street, 3071-73 Level 3, ifc mall, Central; +852 2661 1161
Uma Nota: Centelha
It's not Christmas without some sparkle. So we're heading straight to the bar at Uma Nota for a nice glass of Centelha, which literally means sparkle in Portuguese, to celebrate. Here, Prosecco is mixed with pink grapefruit juice, fiery ginger extract, raspberries, fresh passion fruit and star anise for a colourful Christmas with a Brazilian twist. Cheers!
Uma Nota, 38 Peel Street, Central; +852 2889 7576
Terrible Baby: Mezcal Toddy
Some like it hot, and some like it with mezcal. At Terrible Baby, I like my hot toddy with Los javis espadín mezcal, rebel yell bourbon, beetroot and hibiscus tea cordial, and of course, hot water. Served in a cognac glass with festive cloves, cinnamon and lime, this agave-based drink is the belly warming cocktail you need on a cold day. What's more, it has heart-healthy properties thanks to the hibiscus and beetroot, as well as plenty of vitamin c to boost the immune system during winter.
Terrible Baby, 4/F, Eaton Hong Kong, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan; +852 2710 1866
Tell Camellia: Christmas Tea
In my opinion, there must always be mulled wine at Christmas. But if you're tired of the traditional version, you can try Tell Camellia's, which mixes their homemade mulled wine -- made with kaffir lime dry spiced red wine and brandy -- with Christmas tea; featuring the flavours of cinnamon, cardamom, raisin, and dry citrus fruit. And if that isn't spicy enough for you, the bar team have added another element of spice milk-washed pineapple rum, which amplifies Christmas to no end.
Tell Camellia, Lower Ground Floor, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central
Honi Honi: Tropical Christmas Cocktails
For those of us in need of a tropical escape this festive season, Honi Honi Tiki Cocktail Lounge is the place to be. Plus they have some exciting, exotic Christmas cocktails on the drinks list. Not satisfied with just one, there are three festive cocktails to choose from. This includes a soul-soothing Spiced apple cider, Hot buttered rum, and a rich and creamy White Puerto Rican.
Waterfall Bar: Gluehwein
Don't worry, we didn't forget the mulled wine. You'll find the Austrian and German version, Gluehwein, at Grand Hyatt's Waterfall Bar. Typically served at Christmas markets and après ski, this warming cocktail is the spicy answer to your winter blues. Plus you can enjoy it alfresco under the evening sky. Merry Christmas!
Waterfall Bar, 11th Floor, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan chai; +852 2588 1234
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The Drinks List: 5 Cocktails in Hong Kong that Your Instagram Followers will Like
With more people "drinking for the 'gram" than ever before, it would appear that in the age of Instagram, cocktails need to look just as good as they taste.
Luckily for us, Hong Kong is home to an abundance of great bars that do this exceptionally well. From brightly-coloured tipples to cocktails with tiny trees balanced on ice, and even an aperitif on fire. Here are five of our favourite cocktails that drink-stagrammers can snap and sip in Hong Kong.
Lusty at Lobster Bar and Grill
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This bold, sunset-coloured cocktail is The Lobster Bar's Asian take on the traditional gimlet. With Citadelle gin providing the base, apple liqueur, zesty pomelo syrup and a squeeze of fresh lemon which add slightly sweet and summery flavours to this drink. The addition of turmeric is what gives the Lusty cocktail its gilded hue and make it one of the most vivid drinks to snap this season.
Lobster Bar and Grill, Level 6, Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Central; +852 2877 3838
Smoke in a Bottle at Iron Fairies
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A smoke-filled bottle is a sure fire way to get people instagramming, but this house-infused blueberry vodka cocktail from Iron Fairies is another. Blended with fragrant elderflower liqueur and offset with homemade sage cordial, a squeeze of lemon, and the creme de cassis with smoked cacao nibs, this is an addictive tipple that is just begging to be photographed.
Iron Fairies, Chinachem Hollywood Centre, 1-13 Hollywood Road, Central; +852 2603 6992
Garden Of Eden at The Old Man
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With the title of Best Bar in Asia 2019 under their belt, it's no wonder cocktail lovers are all flocking to the The Old Man. Another reason though, is the Garden Of Eden. This cocktail is literally on fire. It's a rather complex drink, with honeydew rye whiskey distilled in a rotary evaporator with goat's milk and bourbon, together with caramelised sauterne cordial and orange-phosphate bitters. It's then set alight for an additional layer of smokiness, but to put simply -- it's flaming delicious to drink.
The Old Man, Lower G/F, 37-39 Aberdeen Street, Soho, Central; +852 2703 1899
Clear Colada Punch at Room 309
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Continuing their invisible cocktails theme, Room 309 present the Clear Colada Punch this summer. And you guessed it... it's a clear (sort of) piña colada. Using slow-cooked coconut candy rum as its base, with Falernum -- the Caribbean syrup liqueur -- and pineapple juice, fresh lime, milk and coconut syrup, this cocktail is very tropical, minus the tiki mugs and toothpick umbrellas.
Room 309, 3/F The Pottinger Hong Kong, 74 Queen's Road Central, Central
Longevity Tree Sap at Komune
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Modelled on Pinus Armandi, or the Chinese white pine tree with evergreen foliage, this cocktail considers longevity and immortality. Not that you'll live more years than you're supposed to, but it sure will make you want to drink it a while longer. The cocktail's natural earthy flavours stem from the pine needle black tea syrup, oregano and oak, combined with Rebel Yell bourbon and dandelion bitters to echo those forest elements.
Komune, Ovolo Southside, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong; +852 3460 8157
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The Drinks List: 7 Fresh Fruit & Vegetable-Based Cocktails
Summer is fast approaching; with it comes extra doses of vitamin D -- at least when the sun’s out.
But what happens when the clouds come in or rain comes down? Luckily, adulthood gives us plenty of options to drink our vitamins and so here we are, with the seven best fruit-forward and vegetable-based cocktails to quench your healthy thirst.
Cocktail #1 at The Sea by The Old Man
Fronted by the same bar heroes behind Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 winner -- The Old Man, founders Agung Prabowo, James Tamang and Roman Ghaleopen have officially opened the doors to their spin-off concept The Sea in Sheung Wan. Similar to its sister venue, the bar and its cocktails continue to pay homage to celebrated literary figure Ernest Hemingway. Our pick for The Drinks List is Cocktail #1. It’s a favourite of Head Bartender Agung Prabowo and uses umami-enhancing seaweed gin as its base mixed with a sweet, sour and lightly carbonated lacto-fermented pineapple, topped with soda made from bones.
The Sea by The Old Man, 2 Po Yan Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong; +852 2307 0030
Salad Imposter at Dragonfly
A twist on the classic caprese salad, which is usually made with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil, the Salad imposter is the refreshing and nutritious cocktail solution to summer. Those who sample this veg-forward cocktail can expect pleasantly savoury flavours made possible by parmesan-infused Gin Mare, fresh plum tomatoes, basil, citrus and hints of sharp and sweet notes from peach vinaigrette. It is served with a seasoned mozzarella garnish to guarantee that you get your daily dose.
Dragonfly, Shop 10 - G1, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2777 2633
Pandan + Lychee Daiquiri at Armoury
Located in the former officer’s armoury and store at Tai Kwun, the Armoury is a bar that sits in the cool shade of a mango tree on the historic parade ground. It gets seriously busy, thanks to its semi-alfresco layout. But if you can brave the crowds to grab a seat in the open-air, then sit back and sip on their (Thai) take on a daiquiri, made with pandan and lychee. Using Chalong Bay rum from Phuket, the easy-to-drink cocktail is lightly sweetened with lychee and fragrant with the aroma of pandan leaves.
Armoury, G/F Armoury Building, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2703 9111
77 Wells at DarkSide
Named after the colloquial moniker for Kowloon, DarkSide is an equally dark but atmospheric bar that sits inside the new Rosewood Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. Here, 90% of the spirits are dark too, along with the rich dark chocolate it comes paired with. We opted for something more cooling, and thus our cocktail of choice was 77 Wells. The drink pays homage to the number of wells there were in the old walled city of Kowloon, and uses Mancino vermouth bianco and yuzu sake, tempered by a jasmine tea kombucha and peppered with cubeb.
DarkSide, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon; +852 3891 8732
Shiso G&T at Dai Bing
The classic gin and tonic is (in my opinion) the ideal drink for summertime sipping, and its thirst-quenching abilities are given a little vegetal lift with shiso at Hong Kong’s artisanal ice suite Dai Bing. Made with Spanish crafted London Dry Gin, Cortese pure tonic water and the herbaceous Japanese leaf, the Shiso G&T is poured over a single, crystal clear ice block that melts slowly for a longer lasting cocktail. That’ll be why their name means “big ice” in Cantonese then.
Dai Bing, 52 Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong; +852 9838 4438
Green Canto Mary at The St. Regis Bar
As each St. Regis around the world offers its own custom Bloody Mary, the Hong Kong property has given its own a Cantonese twist. Using dried tangerine peel, soy sauce and a mix of Chinese five-spice, the Canto Mary is a well-seasoned cocktail with an added whisky punch that will likely wake up any tired soul. There are also three variations available -- a red, yellow and green base -- that use tomatoes from Côte d’Azur, the southeast corner of France. While the red Canto Mary is strong and aromatic, and the yellow is on the sweet side, the winner is green as it has the perfect amount of savoury notes and a crisp twang that goes so well with the live jazz band.
The St. Regis Bar, 2/F, The St. Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; +852 2138 6888
VEA Lounge
If you’re one for quirky concoctions then VEA Lounge might be your best bet, what with resident mixologist Antonio Lai leading the charge for unconventional cocktails. This season is no different, and Lai looks to Hong Kong’s casual cafes (cha chaan teng) for his inspiration and ingredients. One such creation is Kumquat, a vibrant cocktail of London dry gin, oleo-saccharum (the rich flavoured sugar-oil mixture), citric acid solution and the bright citrus tang of fresh kumquats and lemon. The cocktail also comes with a kumquat lolly to mix it up with another texture as your drink.
VEA Lounge, 29/F, 198 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2711 8639
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The Drinks List: 5 New Modern Classic Cocktails
When it comes to cocktails, some come and go, while others stand the test of time.
From the martini to the Manhattan, these classic libations will never go out of style. But to keep us on our toes, mixologists in Hong Kong continue to shake up the bar scene with new and inventive twists on all our favourite tipples. So for those looking to mix it up at happy hour, here are five new takes on the classics to try now.
The #JamónOldFashioned at The Wise King
With cocktails inspired by 13th-century Spain, The Wise King is the perfect bar to drink in authentic Spanish flavours and traditions. But with their #Revived cocktail menu, you can also taste new and unique cocktails created for the 21st century. The revamped menu features cocktails enhanced by exotic Spanish ingredients and we’ve already found our new favourite: The #JamónOldFashioned blends Jamón Iberico bourbon with cantaloupe syrup and walnut bitters for a smooth drink with a deep aroma. The finishing touch is a crispy dry-cured Spanish ham garnish, which whets the appetite in between sips.
The Wise King, 25 Staunton Street, Basement in Tsung Wing Lane, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2326 5822
Soju Martini at Draft Land
If you haven’t already visited Hong Kong’s first cocktails-on-tap bar, you’ll want to head to Draft Land now. A joint venture between Taiwanese cocktail legend Angus Zou and Hong Kong’s very own award-winning mixologist Antonio Lai, the bar not only offers high-quality cocktails on tap, served at rapid speed, but it also enables guests to taste test any cocktail before they commit to a full drink. If you weren’t sure which to sample first, our recommendation comes in the form of the Soju Martini. Created with Korea’s most popular spirit plus sherry, plum eau de vie and the Southeast Asian flavour of pandan, the martini is bright and refined with hints of fruit and nuts from the spirits.
Draft Land Hong Kong, 63 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2711 8809
Monkey 47 & Fever Tree with lavender smoke at HYC
This new high-end gin and shisha rooftop lounge in Tsim Sha Tsui is a great place to kick back. Offering panoramic views overlooking Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Park, HYC holds a truly relaxed vibe that's surprising for the Kowloon side. What’s more, if you’re willing to be a little adventurous with your G&T, then you’re in good hands. Mixing up some classic gin and tonic combinations with the added theatrics -- and aromatics -- of smoke, we've fallen for a blend of Monkey 47 gin and Fever Tree tonic water, finished with the calming notes of lavender smoke.
HYC, 22/F, Nathan Hill, 38 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong; +852 2572 6388
B for Mayor’s Boilermaker at The ThirtySix Bar & Co
Named after the 36 copper stills used at The Macallan's new distillery, it’s no surprise that this new Hollywood Road bar specialises in whisky based cocktails and highballs. (They even have a vault filled with rare whiskies to buy and store.) There is, however, more than just whisky and soda on the menu and B for Mayor’s Boilermaker is our cocktail of choice. A modern rendition of the Boilermaker -- a mixed whisky and beer tradition -- the drink is inspired by Antonín Josef Čermák, a Czech miner who became Chicago’s 34th mayor at the height of Prohibition. He enjoyed Czechoslovakian liqueur paired with beer; in this cocktail, we enjoy ours with Becherovka herbal liqueur, Rebel Yell Kentucky straight bourbon, thyme syrup and lemon juice topped with beer foam.
The ThirtySix Bar & Co, 2/F, No, 23 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2336 4498
The Boulevardier at Frank’s Library
Hidden behind closed curtains within the retro-jazz speakeasy Foxglove, Frank’s Library is a sleek drinking den with style. Themed around the fictional Englishman and host Frank Minza, the discreet den is designed to make you feel like you're stepping into his library for insiders only. Always up for good drink, we headed to the secret alcove for their new collection of cocktails in which we found a potent variation on the classic Negroni. Usually made of one part gin, one part sweet vermouth and one part Campari, the popular Italian cocktail has been given a smoky twist by using 4-week barrel-aged Buffalo Trace Bourbon in place of the gin, which is available in both single and sharing servings.
Frank’s Library, Foxglove, G/F 18 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2116 8949
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The Drinks List: 5 New Gratifying Gin Cocktails to Try
Above and beyond the trusty G&T.
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The Drinks List: Five Intriguing Cocktails to Try in Central
There’s something about these drinks that keep us coming back for more.
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The Drinks List: 5 New Cocktails to Try in Hong Kong
I have mixed drinks about feelings.
As the number of bars in Hong Kong continue to soar, so do the choice of libations; making the process of picking one’s poison somewhat arduous. Well, fret not and read on for the liquid solutions to your cocktail conundrum.
A Moveable Feast #1964 at The Old Man
The Ernest Hemmingway-inspired speakeasy (ranked number 5 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2018) recently unveiled new cocktails created by top mixologist Agung Prabowo, and we already have our pre-dinner favourite. If you appreciate Bloody Marys, you’ll likely enjoy A Moveable Feast #1964 – a savoury cocktail resplendent with flavours of the sea. A rotary evaporator extracts the essence from clams, seaweed, salts and seawater, which is re-distilled with vodka to provide the base. The clear consommé-esque cocktail is then infused for 24 hours with spiced cherry tomatoes, coconut, basil-tomato seeds and oyster leaf.
The Old Man, Lower G/F, 37 Aberdeen Street, SoHo, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2703 1899
Above the Clouds at Popinjays
Perched on top of The Murray, Popinjays offers a vantage point not usually seen this side of the island, lending itself to rather impressive sundowner sessions. The rooftop venue is named after the resident cockatoos that frequent the neighbouring gardens and the avian theme runs throughout. We order Above the Clouds from The Aviary Collection, which blends Zacapa 23-years-old rum with grapefruit and cassia infused angostura bitters. Brought to the table with smoky theatrics, it adds a smouldering smoothness to the cocktail, but ends brightly with lingering notes of rich spices and fruit.
Popinjays, The Murray, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong; +852 3141 8888
Blind Tiger Gin & Tonic at Dr. Fern's Gin Parlour
This gin gold mine, hidden in The Landmark basement, boasts Hong Kong’s largest collection of gin and continues to expand its menu still. Earlier this month, six new signature gin and tonic prescriptions were revealed and we felt compelled to go visit the doctor. Our chosen elixir: Blind Tiger Gin – a favourite of Dr. Fern's Head Bartender Paul Chan – is handcrafted gin made in a secretive distillery in western Belgium, supplying a healthy dose of mystery to the liquor. Peppered with hints of spiciness, the cocktail is soothed by the sparkles of Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic and finished with orange peel, cinnamon and rosemary.
Dr. Fern's Gin Parlour, Shop B31A, First Basement Floor, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2111 9449
Argila at Uma Nota
The Negroni is an inescapable item on Hong Kong bar menus and adoration for the timeless drink has created a multitude of variations. Keeping us under its intoxicating spell is the Argila (meaning clay in Portuguese) – a negroni with a Brazilian backbone that can be found at Uma Nota. The lively Brazilian Japanese restaurant adds a São Paulo style twist to the classic which also seems to give us the courage for a samba showdown. This deep, earthy-hued cocktail is full of verve and made up of Capucana, a citrusy style cachaça (sugar cane spirit), Mancino Rosso Amaranto Vermouth, Cynar and orange bitters aged in a clay pot.
Uma Nota, 38 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2889 7576
Fluffy Pineapple Martini at Room 309
Disguised as a hotel room that requires a keycard to enter, Room 309 is an invitation-only bar on the third floor of The Pottinger. Antonio Lai - award-winning mixologist of Quinary and The Envoy, among others - has concocted eight transparent cocktails for The Invisible Menu in which we have selected the Fluffy Pineapple Martini. The cocktail permeates a vibrant tang of the tropics. Thankfully, it steers clear of sticky sweetness and instead, makes use of science with re-distilled pineapple vodka, centrifuged pineapple juice and clarified lemon juice to create a translucent and refreshing cocktail – adorned with a pineapple crisp and salted egg yolk crumble.
Room 309, 3/F The Pottinger Hotel, 74 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
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