Category Archives: ~ Cocktails ~

Stoli joins da party

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Russian vodka Stolichnaya has officially and finally hit Malaysia, thanks to Carlsberg Malaysia, which now has several liquors in its growing stable.

The guys from CMB and Luen Heng threw a great party at Changkat’s Mango Tropical Cafe. There were good varieties of cocktails, using several variants of Stoli.

The early bird gets the eye

The early bird gets the eye

Impressive selection. Cocktails were prepared by BarPro

Impressive selection. Cocktails were prepared by BarPro

I’ve been having Stolichnaya for a long time, but it’s presence was never big here. It’s actually the pioneer in flavoured vodkas, kicking off the trend way back in 60s.

It’s a vodka made of wheat from the black soils of Tambov in Russia, where the company still owns its own farms. It’s triple-distilled, utilizing only the middle segment of the spirit distillation, rejecting the volatile heads and oily tails of the process.

It’s then filtered four times, before spring water is added.

Lined-up

Lined-up

The flavoured vodkas are really interesting, and more than just them regular fruit stuff. There’re varieties like Chocolat Kokonut, Chocolat Karamel, and Chocolat Razberi.

They sound like liquid desserts. It opens the possibility for some new and interesting flavours never experienced before. I really couldn’t describe some of the tastes my taste buds were subjected to from certain cocktails coz they were entirely alien and confusing. Awesome.

They have a jalapeno one too. Haha. However, they arent big in the RTD scene.

Situation pickin up

Situation pickin up

Sean and Henrik taking their meds

Sean and Henrik taking their meds

Here we go

Here we go

Acquiring Luen Heng was obviously a good call by CMB, whose portfolio is getting impressive. It’s definitely not just a lager player anymore.

You can stalk Stoli on FB here.

 

Brain damage: 8.5/10

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The Bee’s cocktails and BBQs

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The Bee in Publika has been around awhile now. I find it a cool place to hang out on weekend afternoons, especially when one of their BBQs are goin on. A few cold beers, some good food, company of friends…  sall u need.

It also has a bunch of cool cocktail additions to its drinks menu, made with fresh ingredients. Established barman CK is now at The Bee, so that’s good news for drinkers. The outlet has also seen renovations – there’s a cool lil lounge by the bar now.

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CK in action

Checked out some of their drinks recently, and got to screw around with some DIY too, with Tanqueray Ten gin.

I started with a Mai Tai. It was very well-made. Refreshing feel, fresh ingredients, good balance (which is always an issue), with different flavours trying to gain the upper hand.

The Rum Shack is sumtin else altogether. It’s a shared frozen cocktail – mega pitcher, light on the alcohol, with some pleasant lollipop flavours – brings out the alcokid in me. Nice.

Biggie

Biggie

There’re others of course. Being a fan of Kelapa Rock, I had to have the rum-based cocktail drink served in a coco with some lime juice added, Coconut Rum (RM23+). I also made my own simple gin cocktail – with Tanqueray, some fruits n herbs, and tonic water. They call this cocktail Gintonica.

Other popular drinks are Two-Man Tent Espresso Martini and Boozy Cendol.

Make your own

Make your own

 

My result

My result

 

Anytime

Anytime!

 

Pina Colada. I got a thing for cocktails in fruits. Must be the tropical in me

Pina Colada. I got a thing for cocktails in fruits. Must be the tropical in me

The monthly BBQ on Sundays features a special menu with some interesting food n snacks while u booze up, reasonably-priced too. You get a couple of burritos for ten bucks, etc. You could fill yourself up for under 20 bucks, that’s for sure. There aren’t any drink deals tho. I was hoping for some beer buckets.

Cook-up

Cook-up

Also on BBQ Sundays are usually other forms of entertainment. There was a ukelele class happening while i drank.

The Bee is a pioneering events and entertainment (and F&B) space; there’s always sumtin goin on. I like that. It’s also pet-friendly.

Other regular events are open mics, band nights, Raising The Bar (poetry + hip-hop), comedy, the Upfront Series, and wine appreciation.

In session

In session

 

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Eats

 

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Coming soon

 

BBQ Sundays are only once a month – the last Sunday of every month. Which means the next one is… this weekend!

Get your shades on.

 

Brain damage: 8/10

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Cocktails & great views @ Marini’s on 57

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Marini’s on the rooftop of Tower 3 KLCC is one of THE spots in the Valley for late afternoon drinks and happy hours, with award-winning cocktails. It’s really high, dwarfing the skyscrapers below, and it’s got 360 views too.

We checked it out one Saturday after being invited, and the day was perfect. Doors here open at 5pm.

Marini’s gets its beer from Carlsberg Malaysia, featuring drinks like the ones below.

Rack

Rack

Marini’s serves this beer platter off the menu as well.

Happy hours here are called Sunset Hours, and it happens from 5pm to 9pm daily. Prices are reasonable – you ‘d get a draft glass of Carlsberg for $13.90 (nett), an Asahi for RM18.60.

We graduated to a whole load of cocktails soon after, starting with this:

Peppermint Martini

Peppermint Martini

 

It’s a light-tasting Sour, creamy, with a tinge of peppermint flavour. Goes easy.

 

Chamomile

Chamomile

The Chamomile is a vodka-based cocktail, with orange and tea. Turns out, tea and orange is a funky combo!

A lil sweetness, not too heavy. I dig this one.

(Most cocktails featured also have egg white for its creaminess.)

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Cilantro

The Cilantro Sour is also vodka-based, and turns out tangy, with a bit of lingering bitter.

 

Funky

Funky

Sumtin different is the 57 Spice, a mix of fresh grapefruit, maraschino cherry liqueur, and homemade spice syrup. Kinda refreshing, bitter-sweet, and tangy at the same time.

But a chocolate ice-cream fan like me loved this:

Smooth Criminal

Smooth Criminal

Cherry vodka, Creme de Cacao, chocolate ice cream.

When u got stuff like this, what else does the planet need??

Lapped it up like  a dog. Nutty, sweetish, with reminders of milo ais / Brown Brown.

Next was the 57 Fizz.

Flowers are on the house

Flowers are on the house

This is vodka + Campari + fresh grapefruit juice + Sparkling water. For those who like bitter-ish drinks. Me, am still learning to appreciate Campari. Has a pleasant light fizz, as its name suggests.

We also had sumtin localized:

Hibiscus

Hibiscus

A combo of vodka, hibiscus (roselle) syrup, mint, lemon and egg white. Interesting, but i would have preferred more of the roselle coming thru over the lemon.

Although famous for its dining, Marini’s does have a strong beverage angle, especially due to it’s great views. The outlet’s bar is large and well-located.

High

High

 

Higher than high

Higher than high

And mixologist Junior Joe is the Head of Mixology of Marini’s, ensuring good QC and a cocktail list that should have new stuff regularly enough.

Junior cookin

Junior cookin

Ingredients like herbs and spices are high quality and fresh, and the cocktail list pretty interesting.

Have a look here for the beverage list.

Lots of options when it comes to seating

Lots of options when it comes to seating

 

And more

More

 

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And more

 

Pizza is great, as Paul will testify

Pizza is great, as Paul will testify

 

The park

The park

 

And the sun sets

And the sun sets

 

Waaay up there

Waaay up there

 

Hit it

Hit it

 

 Brain damage: 8/10

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Cocktail Solutions launched

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Independent cocktail producers Cocktail Solutions launched their RTD (ready-to-drink) products recently at Wanaka The Bungalow @ Damansara Heights.

Up the hill

Up the hill

Basically, these are cocktails that are pre-made and in bottle form, so they can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere. Handy for road-trips, among others.

The drinks are made by Joshua Ivanovic, who’s been with Tate @ Intermark and Circus here in the Valley, as well as Milk & Honey in London. He won the Cocktail World Cup in 2008, so he’s been around.

The idea is to make cocktails convenient and affordable (from RM12+ for a 270ml bottle).

Choose yor juice

Choose yor juice

So after months of experimenting with ingredients, flavours and ingredient, Cocktail Solutions has created six RTD cocktails to start.

They were featured during the launch, and this is what i liked:

Delicious

Delicious

It’s a fruity blast of fresh strawberries, with the right amount of sweetness and a limey finish.

The Lychee Martini (tho not strictly a martini as it’s ABV is 5%) is okay too, sweet-sour, with some lychee coming thru on the finish.

Fixing

Fixing

Other flavours we tried – Margarita, Mai Tai, Mojito and Cosmo. I found them a lil too limey for my anti-sour palate. All ABVs are 5%.

Party in effect

Party in effect

Cocktail Solutions can customize cocktails of your choice, including low-cal ones. You can also have your own label on, eg, for events or parties or celebrations.

At least 12 hour’s notice is required, depending on quantity, as it’s made-to-order. Minimum order is a case (24 bottles). There’s a mistake on the website – no sales to under 21. Actually, it’s supposed to be 18.

These guys deliver. You can get the stuff from their website – cocktailsolutions.com.

Nice. Like Fridays aint fun enough!

Nice. Like Fridays aint fun enough!

Brain damage: 6/10

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