Review: Baijiu Bar in Wan Chai adds new twists on old cocktail classics
From a Chocolate New Fashion to a Coriander Mojito, this bar dedicated to the Chinese spirit provides an intimate setting for a pleasantly different after-work drink
The vibe: it feels like a mini temple to baijiu, with bottles and jars of the spirit featuring prominently in the decor. A large mirror at one end of the room makes the small space feel bigger. The bar only offers high seating, with stools at both the bar and tables.
Newly opened Deng G Chengdu Bistro & Baijiu Bar in Wan Chai – Sichuan cuisine
Staff are friendly and make it a relaxing spot to unwind at the end of a long day in the office. However, it feels like an annex to the restaurant rather than a serious bar in its own right. The bar is a good choice for a group wanting to order snacks from the Sichuan menu with their drinks.
The drinks: the baijiu list is organised by region and fragrance, with most options only available by the bottle. However, a small number can be ordered in 100ml measures, which are somewhat ambitiously priced.
The list seems intended mostly for use in the restaurant – it isn’t automatically presented to you when you take a seat at the bar. The spirit is the base for several of the cocktails, which mostly comprise of twists on well known classics, as is acknowledged by their names.
There’s no baijiu in Deng’s Mule (HK$120), which has a ginger-infused vodka base, or Deng’s Wife (HK$70), which is a pineapple juice and green tea mocktail, but the spirit is the core of the Baijiu Tonic, Coriander Mojito, and Chocolate New Fashion (all HK$100).