Several bars in the capital city are shaking up new concoctions to usher in the Year of the Snake at the end of the month.
From citrusy flavours to spirit-forward libations, the Lunar New Year has also inspired mixologists to include festive ingredients.
Among them are mandarin orange juice, pineapple, chrysanthemum and glutinous rice balls, which are all synonymous with Chinese New Year.
ASTOR BAR
Level 2, St Regis Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 5pm to midnight
Reservations: 03-2727 6680
Mixologists at Astor Bar have come up with three new cocktails this Chinese New Year.
Try out Jade Empress which comprises Macallan 12 Years Old Double Cask, pineapple, cucumber, lemon, green apple syrup, egg white and sesame oil.
The luxurious drink is also served with cured egg yolk and Blini topped with caviar and creme fraiche.
Astor Bar’s festive cocktails (from left) Jade Empress, Mandarin Mimosa and Mandarin Campari Sour.
Guests will appreciate the drink’s complexity and its layered flavour profile.
Mandarin Mimosa is a mix of mandarin oleo-saccharum, orange and bubbly Prosecco while Mandarin Campari Sour combines Campari, vodka, mandarin oleo-saccharum, lemon and egg white.
The festive cocktails will be available until Feb 12.
Astor Bar also continues to have its “Art of Drinking” menu which features creative cocktails that represent New York’s five neighbourhoods.
Lower Manhattan, Midtown, Upper Manhattan, East Side and West Side are represented by A Ritual Fizz, Royal Palladium Fizz, Duke of Jazz, Roselle’s Julep and Calle Catorce respectively.
KAPITAN HAUS
First floor of Da Bao Restobar, No.145, Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 3pm (Friday to Sunday) and 4pm (Monday to Thursday) until midnight
Reservations: 012-602 2680
Kapitan Haus is transforming age-old Chinese traditions practised during Chinese New Year into three cocktails.
The Fortune cocktail pays homage to the tradition of giving mandarin oranges and red packets, which symbolise the sharing of wealth.
Kapitan Haus’ Prosperity cocktail with chilli-infused tequila, vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar and egg white.
In Cantonese, the word for mandarin orange – kam – sounds similar to the dialect’s word for gold.
Hence, mandarin orange juice takes centre stage in the cocktail which also has Irish whiskey, amaretto, chrysanthemum and soda water.
The Prosperity cocktail has four flavours – sour, sweet, bitter and spicy – representing the joys and sorrows of life.
It consists of chilli-infused tequila, vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar and egg white, which symbolise the hope that experiencing the “flavours” of life will ultimately lead to a beautiful and prosperous outcome.
Longevity cocktail by Kapitan Haus is served with glutinous rice balls.
Last but not least, the Longevity cocktail of rum, Dom Benedictine, ginger syrup, cloves and mint, is a spirit-forward interpretation of the tang yuan (glutinous rice balls) dessert which often comes in ginger syrup.
Guests can get a taste of all three cocktails in the Triple Blessings set at a discounted price.
The festive cocktails will be available until Feb 12.
THIRTY8
Level 38, Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 11am to midnight
Tel: 03-2203 9188
Thirty8 bar celebrates this Chinese New Year with two specially crafted beverages incorporating oolong tea.
Thirty8 bar’s festive concoctions Golden Silk Road cocktail (left) and Phoenix Blossom mocktail.
Try its Golden Silk Road cocktail, a combination of oolong-infused vodka, elderflower, ginger, red date and soda.
It offers a fusion of floral, spicy and subtly sweet notes.
For something non-alcoholic, visitors can try the Phoenix Blossom mocktail, which has Tapping Tapir hibiscus and lime, cold brew oolong tea, apple and passionfruit.
The cocktail is priced at RM38 while the mocktail is priced at RM28. They are available from Jan 27 to 31.
JANN
Level 7, Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 4pm to midnight, daily
Tel: 03-2035 7333
Ring in prosperity with a trio of whiskey-based auspicious cocktails at Jann, crafted to symbolise wealth, happiness and good fortune.
The cocktails, aptly named Heng, Ong and Huat, get their names from phrases associated with Chinese New Year.
Heng cocktail from Jann combines whiskey with a mix of Chinese dried meat and dried berries.
Heng is a smoky-sweet mix of bak kwa (Chinese dried meat) and dried berries, while Ong offers a refreshing blend of pineapple, mandarin orange and chrysanthemum.
Huat is a bold combination of citrus, red dates, ginger and spice.
Available at RM68+ each or RM188+ for a set of three, these concoctions are the perfect way to toast to Chinese New Year.
Jann’s Huat whiskey cocktail is auspiciously combined with citrus, red dates, ginger and spice.
Those who order the trio set will also get a serving of mini yee sang to toss to the new year.
Other festive food options include the CNY fried dim sum sharing basket at RM60+ and roasted duck sharing platter at RM108 (half portion) and RM188 (full portion).
