Australia-based agave spirits conference expands to Asia.
latest posts
August 10, 2016
Congee by Jiang Yifu
A Chinese breakfast staple reimagined as a late night libation.
August 8, 2016
Highland Park Bowl: Mr. Munson’s Neighborhood
Medjool-infused rye bourbon, liqueur and bitters for a bowling alley drink? Hell yeah.
August 8, 2016
8 things we learned at the 2016 Spirited Awards
Highlights from TOTC’s 10th annual industry gongs in New Orleans.
August 4, 2016
A Crocodile Dilemma by Yao Lu
A classic New Orleans-style meets Scotland.
With The Cannery, the city finally finds out what's next from the team behind The Nest.
Public nominations open until July 31 2016.
July 19, 2016
People: Leo Robitschek
The Nomad and Eleven Madison Park head bartender schools us on asking questions, collaborations and the misuse of tools. By Jonathan White.
July 5, 2016
Caperitif by Luke Whearty
The Operation Dagger and Outrage of Modesty barman taps on African produce for this long drink.
Luke Whearty swaps Singapore for South Africa with Outrage of Modesty.
PTT Family's first venture in HK, Potato Head Hong Kong, is all things to all men.
June 29, 2016
Get to know: The Gypsy Queen
The itinerant vodka cocktail that deserves to wander on to modern menus. By Seamus Harris.
June 29, 2016
The Gypsy Queen
The Russian Tea Room original, and possible variations on the vodka cocktail.
June 26, 2016
Float Like A Butterfly by Lexis Tan
A G&T with a purple patch by the bartender from Red Tail in Singapore.
June 24, 2016
Chivas Masters 2016 global winner announced
Comp climaxes with team event in Shanghai.
Pedigree is the key for Le Boutier in Phnom Penh.
June 22, 2016
One Thousand Tears of a Tarantula by Annemarie Sagoi
Cambodian rock music taps the beat for the flavours in this Phnom Penh-based bartender's cocktail.
Top four nominations for the international categories.
June 15, 2016
La Casita expands the booze family in Phnom Penh
Andre Chalson, founder of La Casita retail space and La Familia spirits importer, on providing the building blocks for the Cambodian capital's growing scene.
June 8, 2016
Umami Cocktails: Nikkei Martinez
In this rocks glass, a potently savoury mix of volcanic black salt with aged sake, pisco and more.
June 8, 2016
Umami Cocktails: Hammersmith by Matt Whiley
Mushrooms and cheese turn up the dial on umami in this cognac-based drink.
June 8, 2016
How to make umami cocktails
Most of our cocktail creations come with a balance of sour, bitter and sweet. Some add salty, but only a few try to utilise that satisfying fifth flavour category of umami, says Paul Mathew.
A Manhattan by way of Southeast Asia.
June 2, 2016
Cocktail Maestro Salvatore Calabrese celebrates 50 years in the industry by opening his first bar in Asia.
Italian bar legend brings his trademark flair to HK with Maison Eight in Kowloon.
May 19, 2016
The Gibson: Onion Cocktail
From Marian Beke's famed London bar, a Gibson with a twist.
Bartender's new London bar takes inspiration from local spirit and cocktail namesake.
May 12, 2016
22 tips for sweet-talking your guests
We ask a crowd of the world’s chattiest bartenders for the key to bar-side communication.
May 12, 2016
Mist by Nick Wu
The Taipei bar owner's simple vodka drink, with a twist of marigold.
May 12, 2016
A hidden hotel bar gets a helping hand in Taipei
East End sees Nick Wu team up with Ueno-san to create a local cocktail culture.
May 12, 2016
Beer: Spencer Trappist Ale
A Belgian Trappist-style ale, by way of Massachusetts.
May 12, 2016
Raicilla: La Venenosa
Asia, here's your first taste of raicilla.
May 12, 2016
Cognac: H by Hine
Fine Champagne cognac designed for the speed rail.
May 12, 2016
Bourbon: Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve 10-year
A ten-year-aged bourbon, bottled in honour of the distillery's master distiller, Jimmy Russell.
May 11, 2016
Singapore Cocktail Week
May 8, 2016
Gibson Singapore: Laid Backer
Dessert in a coconut cup at the experimental Singaporean bar.
May 8, 2016
Gibson Singapore: The Gibson
The gin-based classic, served in a bar named for it in Singapore.
May 4, 2016
Dairy Cocktails: Beijing Suan Nai
Paul Mathew's boozy riff on the Chinese capital yoghurt staple.
May 4, 2016
5 ways to use dairy in your cocktails
Not just Ramos and Alexanders, whey, yoghurt and cheese are all working their decadent magic in contemporary drinks.
May 4, 2016
Dairy Cocktails: Think Pink Punk
From The Hide Bar in London, their hot favourite, pre-batched take on the Clarified Milk Punch.
May 4, 2016
Dairy Cocktails: Bulleit Coco Milk Punch
A warm punch bowl by Athens-based Manolis Lykiardopoulos that sends up wafts of nuts, vanilla and milk.
Greek yoghurt brings together a potent brew of Ouzo, gin and rum in this cocktail by Liz Pearce and Brandon Phillips.
May 4, 2016
Dairy Cocktails: Crystal Ramos Gin Fizz
Gibson Singapore's Aki Eguchi weaves together the Clarified Milk Punch and Ramos Gin Fizz in this complex, but deeply rewarding cocktail.
May 1, 2016
Gin: East London Premium Batch No. 1
A proudly British gin made with wheat spirit from the isle and notes of darjeeling.
April 20, 2016
The Maestro heads to Asia with Maison Eight in Hong Kong
Bar is the "Cocktail Maestro" Salvatore Calabrese’s first in Asia.
April 19, 2016
VEA is a venture into the unknown
Antonio Lai on his new partnership with chef Vicky Cheng in Hong Kong.
April 19, 2016
VEA: Salted Negroni
A negroni from a bar that gets its inspiration from kitchen.
April 13, 2016
Interview: James Watt
Fresh off opening a Hong Kong brewpub and releasing a book on business (not beer), Brewdog co-founder James Watt tells Dan Bignold about breaking America, ice distillation and making yourself heard.
April 7, 2016
Interview: Jim Meehan, PDT New York
The New York bar legend on PDT's Hong Kong pop-up bar, and the state of bartending in his home base.
April 1, 2016
Asia’s 50 Best Bars revealed
China shines on inaugural list which Singapore and HK dominate.
March 24, 2016
Here’s how to make low calorie cocktails
Offering low calorie options doesn’t have to come at the cost of quality. By Paul Mathew.
March 24, 2016
Skinny Drinks: Bamboo
A sherry and vermouth-based classic that packs less than 100 calories in a glass.
March 24, 2016
Skinny Drinks: Skinny Jenny
A beach body-ready take on the mule by San Diego-based bartender, Jen Queen.
March 24, 2016
Skinny Drinks: Bitters Shim Highball
From Dinah Sanders' book, Art of the Shim, a highball for calorie and sugar hawks.
Big names among big winners at third event.
Janes and Hooch's Warren Pang speaks out on the staff that dreams are made of. By Jonathan White.
Gibson starts the expansion of Jigger & Pony's Singapore empire.
February 19, 2016
It’s Friday. And this is the best thing I’ve drunk all week
Commune Social’s Beatween The Sheets.
February 18, 2016
Singapore Cocktail Week Returns for 2016
Second annual event hits the Lion City from March 12-19.
January 27, 2016
People: Tomas Estes
Founder of Ocho tequila, tequila ambassador and the man credited with introducing the spirit to Europe, Tomas Estes discusses the issues facing the category right now. By Jonathan White.
January 19, 2016
Charro Negro
A pitch-black, vegetal bucking bronco of a drink that impresses and refreshes.
January 19, 2016
Get to know: Charro Negro
A pitch-black, vegetal bucking bronco of a drink that impresses and refreshes.
January 18, 2016
5 ways to smoke your cocktails
If you want cocktails with smoky flavours, there’s nothing better than the real thing. By Paul Mathew.
January 18, 2016
Smoked Cocktails: Campfire In Georgia
Seattle's Jamie Boudreau weaves mezcal with a peach-habanero shrubs for this cocktail served under a bell jar.
January 18, 2016
Smoked Cocktails: Smoked ice
A how-to on creating smoked ice – your gateway tool to adding a whiff of wood in your cocktails.
January 18, 2016
Smoked Cocktails: Apple and Vanilla Smoked Daiquiri
From Tony Conigliaro's book, Drink, a recipe that calls for smoked syrup.
January 18, 2016
Smoked Cocktails: Vanilla and Hickory Smoked Manhattan
Frankie Solarik's prep-intense, theatrical cocktail perfumes the air with the scent of hickory and vanilla when served.
January 18, 2016
Smoked Cocktail: Khaleesi Cocktail
This Game of Thrones-inspired drinks includes Dragon Mix and Dragon's Blood Powder in the glass.
January 11, 2016
The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual: Porter Sangaree
From the Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual, a beer cocktail that draws inspiration from 19th century sangarees.
January 11, 2016
The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual: Mulled Egg-Wine
From Sean Muldoon's and Jack McGarry's first book, a cocktail that harks back to British posset desserts.
January 11, 2016
Book excerpt: The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual
The men behind the award-winning New York bar, Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry, resurrect and revitalise long-forgotten drinks in this extract from their first cocktail book.
January 11, 2016
The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual: Weeper’s Joy
From the Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual, a herbal and tart cocktail inspired by a 1892 original.
January 5, 2016
A Seoul-based speakeasy that speaks to all
Charles H Bar in the Four Seasons Seoul mixes Korean flavours with cocktail history.
December 8, 2015
How to taste wine?
Colour, smell and taste reveal much about a wine, says Ned Goodwin.
November 2, 2015
10 tips to fight fake labels
China has a reputation for counterfeiting, including booze. Make sure your customers aren't exposed. By David Friesen.
October 28, 2015
3 ways to use the sous vide technique in your cocktails
A long-time secret from the culinary toolbox that, in the hands of a bartender, produces more flavoursome, consistent and service-friendly drinks. By Paul Mathew.
October 28, 2015
Sous Vide Cocktails: Hot Bruin
A hot punch based on the traditional Belgian Calibou.
October 28, 2015
Sous Vide Cocktails: Tommy and Thyme
Figs and thyme join tequila in the bag in this two-bottle drink.
October 10, 2015
Whisky Live to pour into Singapore
Annual dram fest returns in November with rare bottles, masterclasses and a pop-up bar.
September 24, 2015
Inspired by Ikea by Yao Lu
Yao Lu's cocktail, rich in Scandinavian flavours, is anything but flat.
September 23, 2015
Wine and food
Either complementing or contrasting your wine with food (or food with wine) is the key to combining them.
September 21, 2015
9 ways to bartend like Steve Schneider
Principal bartender at New York’s Employees only, star of documentary Hey Bartender! and cocktail-making speed king – Steve Schneider spells out how to tend bar like a champ.
August 17, 2015
Here’s how to make decent blue drinks
Bored of brown stirred drinks? So are your customers. Time to bring back blue cocktails from the dustbin of seventies kitsch. By Paul Mathew.
August 17, 2015
Blue Drinks: Corpse Reviver #Blue
The classic cocktail, coloured in pool blue.
July 28, 2015
Coffee & Cigarettes by Thomas Waugh
A cocktail with a shot of caffeine, by the former Death & Co New York bartender.
July 15, 2015
Need to know: Gin
Who decides when gin is gin? With the category in bloom, legal definitions are being stretched. Dan Bignold asks several distillers if there’s trouble ahead.
Sohofama puts its focus on thinking local and cultivating its own ingredients.
June 29, 2015
27 things I wish I knew before I opened my first bar
Fifteen of the world’s top owner-operators talk survival.
May 27, 2015
Taiwan’s Kavalan named world’s best single malt
Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique wins world’s best single malt title at the World Whiskies Awards 2015.
March 15, 2015
Orange wine: The new cool?
Are these texturally compelling, sommelier-driven hipster wines worth the hyperbole?
February 27, 2015
Interview: Mikkel Borg Bjergsø
Danish co-founder of cult craft beer brand Mikkeller on why he wants to open a bar in Nepal.
February 13, 2015
Will Hong Kong’s first full adherent to the art of the shim work?
Topiary hopes it can grow to fill a niche in HK cocktail culture.
February 13, 2015
Topiary, Hong Kong: Summer Interns Are Here
In this coupette, a mix of dessert flavours like Bailey's and Tia Maria.
February 12, 2015
12 craft beer terms every bartender should know
An essential round-up of must-know terminology from the ever-geeky craft-beer lexicon.
February 2, 2015
14 things every bartender needs to know about pisco
The spirit that inspired a century-old diplomatic battle between two nations in South America explained, care of Seamus Harris.
October 30, 2014
11 things you need to know about sake
Considered the world's leading non-Japanese authority on sake, author of Sake Confidential John Gauntner introduces the essential must-knows of Japan’s national drink.
October 17, 2014
Now Open: Rummin’ Tings, Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s first Caribbean-themed bar-restaurant opens on Hollywood Road.
October 10, 2014
Now Open: Union Trading Company, Shanghai
Shanghai stalwart Lu Yao explains the thinking behind his latest opening.
September 3, 2014
10 things every bartender needs to know about pastis
A staple of the French bar explained care of Seamus Harris.
August 10, 2014
The Chivas Masters China 2014 Episode 1
August 1, 2014
13 ways to create a world-class cocktail menu
New York bartender Naren Young runs down a list of cocktail program need-to-knows.