[Hong Kong Cuisine] 4 Must-Try Cocktails This Summer

The InterContinental Tsim Sha Tsui has specially invited world-renowned mixologist Arijit Bose to Hong Kong to create four exclusive cocktails featuring Monkey 47 Gin for the Lobby Lounge. Arijit Bose previously served as Head Bartender at 28 Hong Kong Street in Singapore and is one of Singapore’s top ten bartenders; indeed, 28 Hong Kong Street is ranked seventh in the ‘World’s 50 Best Bars’ list. It is clear that Arijit Bose is no ordinary figure.

As the base spirit for four cocktails, Monkey 47 is unique in that it is distilled using 47 natural botanicals, a third of which are rare ingredients from the Black Forest, such as blackthorn, spruce, elderflower, cranberries and blackberry leaves. Monkey 47 has a hint of citrus and a touch of spice, with a fresh, aromatic bouquet; with an exceptionally rich complexity that cannot be compared to the typical gin, which is often characterised by a simple, strong and overpowering alcohol flavour. What makes it even more precious is that Monkey 47 is produced in a limited edition of just 5,000 bottles per year, so every sip of Monkey 47 is, in fact, a limited-edition treat.

The Knicker-Bocker Gambit

On this visit to Hong Kong, Arijit Bose has created four cocktails for the InterContinental Tsim Sha Tsui. The first, ‘The Knicker Bocker Gambit’, is a refreshing and invigorating aperitif with a sweet and tangy flavour, made with orange juice and lemon juice. It doesn’t have a strong alcoholic taste, and its sweet flavour is sure to be a hit with the ladies.

The Young Earl

The second drink was ‘The Young Earl’, made with Monkey 47, with Earl Grey tea as the base, combined with fresh lychee, lemon juice and thyme syrup, and finished with sparkling wine. It had a sweet flavour with hints of tea and wine, which I rather liked.

The Schwarzwald Sour

It contains Monkey 47, Manchino liqueur, orange juice, lemon juice, redcurrant syrup, and, most importantly, egg white. The third cocktail is called The Schwarzwald Sour; sweet white wine is added to it, giving it a smooth texture.

The Monkey’s Secret

The final drink was ‘The Monkey’s Secret’, which also features Monkey 47, along with gin and tonic, almond syrup, green apple juice, nettle liqueur, pear juice and lemon. Of the four, this one has the most pronounced fruity aroma, though it is rather sweet.

Monkey 47 Gin à la carte cocktail = HKD165@ +10%

Cocktail and canapé set

The four cocktails listed above are part of the ‘Monkey 47 Gin Cocktail & Canapé Package’, carefully paired by the hotel. For just HKD425 per person plus 10%, you can sample all four cocktails in one go.

Dates: 23 May to 31 August 2017
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 18:00–23:00
Venue: Lobby Lounge, InterContinental Hong Kong
Tel: 2313 2323
Website: https://hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com/en/promotions/monkey47

#Monkey47 #ArijitBose #InterContinentalHongKong

The Knicker-Bocker Gambit
Ingredients: Monkey 47 – Mancino Rosso – Mancino Dry – Curaçao – Raspberry syrup – Orange juice – Lemon juice
‘Trivial Matters’ has managed to capture the aroma of orange and lemon juice; there’s no need to worry about a strong alcoholic taste – it’s sweet and goes down a treat!

The Schwarzwald Sour
Ingredients: Monkey 47 – Suze – Lillet Blanc – Lemon juice – Sugar syrup – Egg white
Compared to the previous one, this one has an even smoother texture—perhaps because of the added egg white. There’s a layer of white foam on the surface, but once you take a sip, the flavours blend together beautifully without any harshness. Personally, I think it’s particularly well-suited to ladies~

The Young Earl
Ingredients: Monkey 47 – Earl Grey tea and thyme syrup – Fresh lychee – Lemon juice – Sparkling wine
If you prefer a slightly stronger alcoholic flavour, this drink would be just the thing; it also has a hint of tea on the palate.

The Monkey’s Secret
Ingredients: Monkey 47 – Chartreuse – Orgeat – Green apple juice and pear juice – Lemon – Tonic
In terms of portion size, this one is the largest, and the alcohol content is also noticeably stronger than the first two. It really just comes down to personal preference when deciding which one to order.
Fine wine really does need to be paired with fine food, and choosing the right combination can be quite a dilemma, can’t it? Why not just go for a set menu instead?
We’ve also included the prices of the cocktails here for your reference—HKD165 + 10% per glass. This offer is valid until 31 August 2017, so if you’re interested, why not pop in for a drink with a few close friends?~~
P.S.
Personally, my favourite is the second one—The Schwarzwald Sour :)
Iki’s next stop at the InterContinental Hotel is the To Eat restaurant—I suppose that must be dinner at Xintu Xuan!
InterContinental Hong Kong Lobby Lounge
Website: https://s.openrice.com/QrbS0D0i000
Address: Lobby, InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: 2313 2323