5 Bars You Have to Get to Before Winter Ends

Originally appeared on the 18th Feb 2015. Republished for Drinkie promotion on the 01 April 2015. By Lea Andersen

Stockton

Located on Wyndham Street, Stockton is one of the most secret whiskey bars in Hong Kong, selling a diverse assortment of creative and unique cocktails. This includes whiskey cocktails, rum cocktails, punch and gin cocktails. So, let’s take a look at one from each type…

Gin based: The Hawtrey – Bols Geneva, Italian Vermouth, Maraschino Liquor, Angostura Bitters and Dolin Dry
Punch: Nurse Candy – Ron Zacapa, Apricot Brandy, Brandy, Ginger Beer, Ole Sachharum, Peychauds Bitters, Lemon Gum, Granny Smith Apples, Candied Ginger and Orgeat, Ginger
Whiskey based: Cherry Tart – Makers Mark, Vanilla, Compressed Citrus and Cherry Gum
Rum based: Rhum In Fashion – Blackwell Jamaican, Ron Zacapa, Chocolate Bitters, Lime Zest, Vanilla Bitters and Old Fashioned gum

The Woods

Every Tuesday in January ( and up until February 10th), the lovely team at The Woods will be featuring a special hot cocktails menu with mulled cider, boozy hot chocolate, and spiked quail egg-eggnogs. There will be a fireplace on our television screen to complete the atmosphere! We are big fans of the hot buttered rum, which makes us feel as though we are having a quick one at the Three Broomsticks…

Spiced Pumpkin Cider - Crop Organic Spiced Pumpkin Vodka, apple cider, Spiced Rum, cinnamon, pumpkin puree
Banana Brulee - Scotch Whisky, homemade banana syrup, egg, black walnut butters, milk, whipped cream
Hot Buttered Rum - Kraken Spiced Rum, homemade butter with cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, demerara sugar

Honi Honi

Last but not least, why not take a trip to Honi Honi? This tiki cocktail lounge on Wellington Street is unique for its beachy vibe and laidback atmosphere. The bar sells a variation of their very own cocktails, including:

Bounty Hunter – Michter’s Bourbon, Baileys, Coconut Milk, Aztec Chocolate Bitters and Coconut Syrup
Tiki Meister – Bacardi 8yo Rum, Jagermeister, Banana Liqueur, Vanilla Syrup, Apple Juice and Pineapple Juice
Honi Honi Kiss – 42 Below Passion Fruit Vodka, Passion Fruit Puree, French Vanilla Syrup, Guava Juice and Taittinger Brut Champagne

Blue Butcher

The Blue Butcher is a New York style bar and restaurant ideally situated on Hollywood Road. It has made a name for itself when it comes to cocktails, winning several awards, including the Most Lethal Mixologist, awarded in 2013 at the Foodie Forks Awards.

You can order from the bar’s list of signature cocktails or you can try one of their new winter cocktails, such as the Fog Cutter. This is made with Cachaça, Cognac, Borrion banana purée, lime, orgeat and crème fraiche.

Some of their popular and unusual signature cocktails are as follows…

Bangers & Mash – Bacon Washed Chase Vodka, Sweet Potato Syrup, Compressed Citrus and Dry Vermouth
Fig & Cheese – Black Label Scotch, Cointreau/Homemade Blue Fig Syrup, Compressed Citrus, Wormwood Bitters and Blue Cheese Foam
Blue Butcher’s Digestive (6-9 Persons) – House Bottled Makers Mark, Orange Tincture, Lemon Tincture, Cardamom and Raisin Tincture and Gomme Syrup
Apple Pie Moonshine – House Made Apple Infused Moonshine

Ping Pong Gintoneria

Next we have the urban chic hangout in Sai Ying Pun, Ping Pong Gintoneria. As you have probably gathered by the name, this is the place to go if you love gin. Here are some of the varieties they serve…