Hotel bars can be a delight but they can also be this stiff upper class place where you have to behave and everybody keeps quite not to disturb anybody on the left or the right.
Stacked delights
Luckily there are plenty of fantastic cocktail bars located in some of the best hotels around the world which are not that stiff and if they are, the cocktails are mostly worth looking beyond that. I read only good things about Manhattan in Singapore, located in the Regent hotel and lead by Philip Bischoff who learned his skills at famous Bar Le Lion in Hamburg. It was him who led the bar to the top 50 in the world. We came rather late and there were not many people which was very pleasant as you can indulge and bartenders give you the full attention. As a huge fan of a Manhattan cocktail, it came as no surprise that I was going for the Manhattan trolley. You can combine spirits, vermouths, bitters to your own Manhattan twist. With a little suggestion from Tim, mine was composed with Picon, Mancino Vecchio, walnut bitter, orange tincture and Rusty Blade Gin. It turned out to be a revelation. Heavy on the spirit but well balanced and smooth. It flowed down with an incredible explosion of flavours resting on my palate. My friend went for Alex Kratena’s drink It didn’t work out this time, composed with whisky, Suze, Cocchi Americano and verjus.
Manhattan Stiletto
Excellent recipe with a light smokiness in good balance with enough sweetness and a touch dryness to it. Everything else is how it should be too. Leather coasters, water arriving at the table when you sit down. The complimentary nibbles that you are used to in a 5-star hotel accompany the drinks very well too. The setting is magnificent and slightly ostentatious but very comfy. Heavy leather seats and sofas, dark tones, dimly lit and mirrors on the ceiling. The door swings opens to both sides and you feel like you are walking into an Asian temple. Well certainly a cocktail temple worth to go worshiping in.
Images: ©Manhattan Bar, Singapore
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