SINGAPORE – Whether on a relaxed lounge at home or in a dimmed bar, one of the best ways to unwind after a long day is with a cocktail in hand and feeling that sense of “aaah”. When it comes to pouring a drink, Hilton's 2022 global trends report found tequila continues to dominate the spirit industry in the U.S. and many other parts of the world, while in Southeast Asia, gin is the drink of choice. Meanwhile, the sober curiosity movement is picking up speed around the world, with low-to-no ABV cocktails and Cocktail Zero menus rising in popularity.
“A perfectly crafted cocktail can add an extra spark to a hotel or dining experience. As our guests’ preferences have evolved, we’ve continued to cater to their needs by refining our food and beverage offerings globally,” said Alexandra Jaritz, senior vice president, brand management, Asia Pacific, Hilton. “This underscores Hilton’s commitment to delivering best-in-class food and beverage programming. Whether you’re enjoying a drink at one of our bars or in the comfort of your home, we hope this helps you set the scene for a memorable evening.”
Straight up, frozen, on the rocks, or virgin, Hilton’s hotel bartenders and mixologists are eager to create concoctions that will have you sipping pretty. Below is just a sampling of some of the most anticipated cocktails available to you at Hilton Asia Pacific properties this season:
Monday Negroni
Coco mixologist Rasikta Kamble of Hilton Goa Resort is seeing even the most avid cocktail connoisseurs take a more leveled approach towards drink appreciation – especially as zero-proof spirits offer the same levels of craft production without any compromise on taste. This upcoming season, Kamble anticipates this modern Monday Negroni will be a popular request.
Monday Negroni - From Hilton Goa Resort
One drink
Ingredients
- 60 ml Sakura Fresh Negroni
- 2 dashes Sakura Fresh Better than Bitters
- Garnish: star anise
Directions
- Fill a mixing glass with ice and add Sakura Fresh Negroni and Better than Bitters. Stir for 10 seconds.
- Light the star anise with a cigar lighter and capture the smoke into the mixing glass for a few seconds.
- Fill an old fashioned glass with fresh ice and strain the stirred cocktail over.
- Garnish with the torched star anise and serve.
Illusion
In Thailand, mixologists at The Loft at Waldorf Astoria Bangkok suggest the Illusion for savory sipping. Named for its duality, the Illusion is light in appearance but packs a real punch in flavour and strength, serving as the ideal refresher for the upcoming hotter months.
Illusion - From Waldorf Astoria Bangkok
One drink
Ingredients
- 45 ml Hendrick’s Gin
- 5 ml peach liqueur
- 10 ml Silpin Thai lemongrass syrup
- 20 ml clarified lime juice
- 90 ml Perrier Peach and Cherry sparkling juice
- Garnish: lemon twist, edible flower
Directions
- Fill a mixing glass with ice and combine all of the ingredients.
- Stir and strain into an oak Chardonnay glass.
- Finish with a block of ice, edible flower and lemon twist.
Snow White
Snow White from The Collins Bar at Hilton Adelaide uses a unique combination of South Australian gins that are stirred, not shaken to retain their individual flavours. Like a mini vacation in a glass, this bright cocktail is the perfect thirst quencher for hot, summer days.
Snow White - From Hilton Adelaide
One drink
Ingredients
- 30 ml Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz gin
- 15 ml 78° Sunset gin
- 15 ml 36 Short Blood Orange gin
- 1 teaspoon yuzu juice (or lime juice)
- 15 ml honey syrup
Directions
- Place all ingredients into a mixing glass and stir until combined.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with dried apple and a sprig of mint.
Cook’s Note
Honey Syrup Directions:
In a saucepan over low heat, combine ½ cup honey and ½ cup water. Simmer until the honey dissolves then remove from heat. Let the syrup cool and pour into an airtight container.
Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini
For the sober curious, this non-alcoholic espresso martini from 18 Knots Rooftop Bar, DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront puts a new twist on the classic DoubleTree Espresso Martini by swapping out the alcoholic component with Seedlip Spice.
Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini - From DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Waterfront
One drink
Ingredients
- 45 ml Seedlip Spice
- 60 ml Mr Blacks cold drip coffee
- 15 ml Monin salted caramel syrup
- chocolate powder and coffee beans for garnish
Directions
- Add all ingredients into shaker, shake over ice, then double strain into martini glass.
- Garnish with a line of chocolate powder and three coffee beans.
Peakedness of Wuyi
A variation of the classic Bee’s Knees, the Peakedness of Wuyi from Peacock Alley at Waldorf Astoria Xiamen combines rock tea-infused gin with lemon juice and honey to make a fresh and light cocktail. Relax with this simple drink and enjoy the sweetness of summer.
Peakedness of Wuyi - From Waldorf Astoria Xiamen
One drink
Ingredients
- 60 ml rock tea-infused Gin
- 25 ml lemon juice
- 25 ml honey
- dry lapsang souchong for garnish
Directions
- Add all the ingredients into a shaker. Double shake.
- Double strain into a martini glass, and garnish with dry lapsang souchong.
Bageechaa (Sustainability Garden)
The Bageechaa cocktail from Aura Pool Bar & Cocktail Lab at Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa (opening July 2022) is inspired by the zero-waste concept of throwing away fewer “leftovers” and using an ingredient to its full potential. Aura’s version extracts juice from the core of the blood orange while utilizing the skin to make the oleo and the garnish.
Bageechaa (Sustainability Garden) - From Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa
One drink
Ingredients
- 2 wedges of peeled fresh blood orange (peel used for garnish)
- 15 ml blood orange oleo (made out of leftover orange skin)
- 10 ml homemade rhubarb shrub
- 10 ml lime juice
- 10 ml elderflower liqueur
- 50 ml The Botanist gin
- 3 fresh basil leaves
Directions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- Add blood orange chunks into shaker and muddle.
- Add fresh basil into shaker and press the basil gently.
- Add blood orange oleo, rhubarb shrub, lime juice, elderflower liqueur and The Botanist gin.
- Fill shaker with ice and shake well. Fine strain into chilled coupe glass.
- Finish with the garnish – place a nice and clean blood orange peel on top of the glass and place the flower on the peel.
Cook’s Note
Blood Orange Oleo - makes 300 ml
Ingredients:
- Skins of 3 blood oranges
- 400 grams caster sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 zip bag
Directions:
1. Cut the skins into 2-inch pieces.
2. Place the skins inside a zip bag, add sugar and mix it properly with the skins and add salt.
3. Remove all the air from the bag and let it rest for 24 hours.
4. If there’s any leftover sugar inside, give it a 5-minute hot water bath.
Rhubarb Shrub - makes 1 Liter
Ingredients:
- 1 fresh rhubarb
- 2 lemons (lemon skins)
- 300 grams sugar
- 2 kaffir lime leaves
- 900 ml water
- 80 ml white balsamic
Directions:
1. Place water into pan and cook on low heat, add sugar and all the ingredients.
2. Simmer it for 40 minutes, let it sit and rest for about 4 hours in a chiller.
3. Strain through a v60 filter.