DIO has unveiled an enticing new menu – “CHOU SON (灶神)” which pays homage to the timeless flavours of old Hong Kong.
This Hong Kong bar’s extraordinary collection of newly created cocktails showcases the often overlooked, yet gloriously authentic, Cantonese ingredients commonly found in households across the city.
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This new menu is a sippable mesnifesto presenting the DIO team’s passion for exploring the rich and diverse flavors of Cantonese cuisine. The carefully selected ingredients for these new drinks pay homage to the god of kitchen, Chou Son (灶神), embracing DIO’s motto of “showcasing the glorious old Hong Kong in the glass.”
The result is a passionately crafted menu that brings to life the tangy, sour, fizzy, and salty tastes that have been at the heart of Cantonese cuisine for generations. Each drink is meticulously designed to elevate these lesser-attended tastes, offering a sensory journey through the vibrant streets and kitchens of Hong Kong.
The Keung Sour is a refreshing homage to the classic Chinese dish, ginger vinegar pork leg, and features sweet vinegar from China’s Guangdong province, which is blended with sweet vermouth, fresh lime juice, ginger ale, and a delicate balance of fresh ginger to deliver a tantalizing and invigorating experience.
Anchored by Chiu Chow chili oil, a signature condiment in Hong Kong, Chui Chow captures the essence of the vibrant flavours that are celebrated in the region. Crafted with dry gin, chili liqueur, herbal liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and a unique blend of Chiu Chow and Korean chili powders, thecocktail offers a fiery kick that harkens back to the culinary traditions of the city.
A refreshing and nostalgic drink that captures the essence of old Hong Kong, the Salted Lime Highball is a reinterpreted version of the age-old Salted Lime 7Up, a thirst-quenching drink that features many ingredients that evoke the old Hong Kong culture, including aged mandarin peel, sugarcane juice, salted lime and kumquat.
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The aged mandarin peel adds a citrusy and aromatic note to the whisky base, while the demerara cordial and salted lime cordial balance the sweetness and sourness of the drink and the kumquat liqueur gives a touch of bitterness and a hint of floral flavour. The result is symphony of umami, sweetness, and tanginess, reminiscent of a bygone era.
Celebrating the everyday ingredient found in Cantonese cuisine, the Leekgroni is a straight-forward drink that brings the humble leek to the forefront. Made with leek-infused gin, dry vermouth, bitters, and garnished with sliced fresh leek, this sophisticated libation weaves together the aroma of leek and the botanicals of Ninth Wave Gin, offering a unique taste experience that celebrates the essence of life’s simple pleasures.
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