Once the scrounge of early 18th century London, where it was said there was a still in every fourth home, gin has come a long way and is now the hottest tipple in Asia. Here are some of the region’s best gin bars, each a temple to this complex and intriguing spirit.
Dr Fern’s Gin Parlour
Hong Kong’s newest speakeasy, Dr Fern’s Gin Parlour, a novel little watering hole hidden away beneath a luxury mall, is home to over 250 mainstream and craft gins, with which the bar team laces a series of soul-soothing gin and tonics and gin cocktails using farm-to-bar organic ingredients. Test your gin knowledge with the creative bar team and be sure to try the hard-to-course Blind Tiger Gin, mixed with fever tree tonic, grated lime, and rosemary in one of the bar’s signature libations It’s just what the good doctor ordered.
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Teens of Thailand
One of only a handful of gin bars in Bangkok, Teens of Thailand is a chic speakeasy haven located in the heart of the city’s Chinatown. Duck behind the rustic Indian doors into a traditional shophouse, complete with vintage Thai furniture, to discover a menu with over 80 gins to try from. Try a gin and tonic mixed with Ashley Sutton’s Iron Balls for a distinct twist on the classic sundowner, with hints of freshly cracked coconuts and pineapples and touches of juniper, hillside ginger, and lemongrass. We suggest you pay cash; the bar’s name might not be something you’d want to appear on your credit card statement.
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Ori-Gin
Dr Fern’s wasn’t Hong Kong’s first gin-centric cocktail corner – that title goes to Ori-Gin, which serves a myriad of classic and reimagined gin cocktails created by renowned mixologist Antonio Lai. Dark, sexy, and well-located on Wyndham Street, this is a haven for all things juniper-embraced; be sure to try the signature Classic Earl Grey Martini, a fusion of two British institutions, Earl Grey tea, and Tanqueray gin, with touches of Cointreau, egg white and lemon juice. Taking afternoon tea well into the early hours.
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Cin Cin
Boasting a bible-like spirit list of over 100 gins, as well as a chic retro vibe, Singapore’s Cin Cin (the sound made from clinking glasses) is teamed by a small army of innovative bartenders who specialise in making bespoke gin cocktails, from classic martinis and gin and tonics, to something completely out of the box. They’ll even lead you through a tasting of their more imaginative craft spirits before you order.
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Hyde at 53M
A speakeasy hidden away in Damansara Uptown in Kuala Lumpur, Hyde at 53M serves artisanal concoctions with a focus on second-infusion gins packed with flavourful punch. A highlight of the innovative cocktail menu is the Neighbourhood Negroni, made with saffron-infused gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari. A perfect balance between bitter and sweet, this classic cocktails has all the herbal, bitter orange, and honey hints you need to sweep into the weekend in style.
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G&T
Situated Hong Kong’s hip SoHo precinct, G&T serves over 75 types of craft gins from around the world, as well as a host of artisanal tonic waters. A crowd-pleaser from its Modern Era menu is the Rosemary Queen, made with London dry gin, rosemary syrup, and grapefruit syrup, and topped with soda water. Signature gin cocktail East Side, a blend of old tom gin, fresh lemon juice, cucumber, and mint, is another hot pick.
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The Spiffy Dapper
A coffee house during the day and a speakeasy bar at night, Singapore’s The Spiffy Dapper, a former dive bar done good, has over 150 gin choices lining the bar, as well as a list of imaginative takes on classics and its own barrel-aging program. To ease your way into a gin-soaked session, opt for a basil gin sour, served in a martini glass, and garnished with fresh basil leaf and dehydrated star fruit, and if you’re lucky mixed by enigmatic owner George Abhishek.
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Red Tail Bar
Singapore’s Red Tail Bar employs the healing properties of gin across four cocktail menus inspired by the top nightlife hotspots in Asia, including Lan Kwai Fong and Itaewon. For example, the Lan Kwai Fong menu is laced with flowers, harking back to the precinct’s origins as a flower market. A favourite from this offering includes the Uphill Ding Ding made with gin, beetroot grenadine, amaro, and lemon.
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M Glam Bar
A sexy dining lounge and bar located at the heart of Shanghai’s riverfront, M Glam Bar offers an innovative Pick’ N Mix’ Your Own Fancy Pantsy G&Ts menu that allows punters the chance to play mixologist by selecting their own gins, tonics, and garnishes from an extensive list. Go with a classic like the Vesper, James Bond’s own tipple, with gin, vodka, and Lillet vermouth, or make your own bold ode to the great gin gods.
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The Griffin Bar
A cozy, classy rooftop bar with terrace overlooking Heunginjimon, a historical landmark in Seoul, The Griffin Bar has a menu of cocktails named for the region’s landmarks, including Dongdaemun Moon Light, a heart-warming concoction infusing Monkey 47 Sloe gin and Amaretto with fresh lime juice, honey, lavender syrup, and club soda. There’s also a menu of signature gin-based concoctions, from the lingering French Kiss to the heady Smoke Martini.
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