Last year saw an explosion of exotic alcoholic drinks coming on the market with scores of creative concoctions in bright bottles appearing behind bars.
Rather more quietly, though, than the chemical medleys sporting names like alcoholic lemonade - and far less likely to induce horrendous hangovers - were the drinks forming the vodka revolution.
A traditional staple, vodka (from the Russian word voda, for water) has played a prominent role in drinks cabinets through the ages and has long been favoured for its lack of colour or distinguishing aroma.
Recently, though, in response to the clamours of an ever more demanding and educated drinking crowd, and due to the opening up of borders in Europe at the end of the Cold War providing access to ancient distilling practices, we are now in the midst of something of a vodka renaissance.
'It's the drink of the 90s,' said Janet Murphy at IDV, the company responsible for bringing Smirnoff to Hong Kong and China.
And she could well be right if a quick glance around Hong Kong's bars is anything to go by.
