The speakeasy bar Charles H., accessible via a secret passageway within Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, has launched its new cocktail menu for 2024.

Ranked #7 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022 and #1 in Korea, the bar pays tribute to Charles H. Baker Jr., a world-travelling writer and bon vivant, who was passionate about New York’s Prohibition-era speakeasies.

“Charles H. Baker’s books remain bartender bibles to this day,” explained Head Bartender, Odd Strandbakken. “Our Big Apple-inspired cocktail menu is both an opportunity to celebrate Charles H. himself and immerse our fellow cocktail connoisseurs in the vibe of New York’s Prohibition-era speakeasies.”

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Strandbakken, in collaboration with Beverage Creative Director Alyssa Heidt, is welcoming 2024 with five artful New York-inspired cocktails, adding to the collections of London, Havana and Hong Kong-inspired drinks.

The new cocktails include –

• NYC Flight – A reimagining of the year-round Charles H. signature menu favourite, these Manhattan cocktails are inspired by the creations of famous contemporary Big Apple mixologists and named after New York neighbourhoods.
  • Bay Ridge – created by Tom Macy at Clover Club in 2014 – is a play on a classic Vieux Carre with dry vermouth;
  • Bushwick is a full-bodied take on a classic Brooklyn cocktail thanks to 2009 creator Phil Ward of Mayahuel;
  • Little Italy – a 2005 creation by Pegu Club’s Audrey Saunders – is a twist on a Black Manhattan with Cynar amaro.
• Yellow Taxi – A creative take on the classic Penicillin cocktail, Yellow Taxi channels iconic New York vibes with a smoky mezcal base and homemade ginger-honey mustard and a unique hot dog-inspired smoky float, garnished with ginger jelly with a chilli kick.
• All Day Mary – Inspired by the cold-pressed Bloody Mary from the iconic New York bar Dante, this piquant blend combines freshly-juiced Korean vegetables with lacto-fermented chilli puree and an New York-style “Everything Bagel” salt rim.
• Old Fashioned Highball – This sophisticated sipper artfully merges two classics: Old Fashioned and Whiskey Highball. The bourbon’s aroma is enhanced by citrus notes from Korean Jeju mandarins, with a hand-crafted mandarin and cherry fruit “leather” garnish.
• Knickerbocker (mocktail) – A fragrant homage to the Knickerbocker New York classic cocktail, this non-alcoholic version treats non-drinkers with a homemade rum-flavoured base of burnt caramel, nutmeg and vanilla bean, while local bokbunja juice adds the classic berry Knickerbocker flavour.

Additionally, the bar will host visiting bartenders from other iconic establishments on the World’s and Asia’s 50 Best Bars list across January, February and March. Taking a leaf from Charles H. Baker Jr.’s Gentleman’s Companion, the bar’s Companion Series will see Rogerio Igarashi Vaz from Tokyo’s Bar TRENCH on January 30th, Tameryn Cooper from Singapore’s 28 Hong Kong Street on February 27 and a visit from Singapore’s Manhattan bar in March.

Bar TRENCH is #92 in Asia’s Best Bars 2023 and featured in the Netflix docu-series Midnight Asia, while 28 Hong Kong Street was ranked #59 in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 and Manhattan Bar cam in at #63 in the World’s 50 Best Bars and #21 in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2023.

“Like our namesake, we know that life’s finest pleasures are always best shared, so we can’t wait to collaborate with some of the world’s best mixologists,” added Heidt. “Our ethos has always been to bring together like-minded enthusiasts in the spirit of creativity, friendship and the latest flavours.”

For more infomation, follow the bar on Instagram @charleshseoul.

Global Rum brand Havana Club has announced the second instalment of its team competition: Havana Club Cocktail Maestros.

The contest will take bartending teams from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas on a journey through national qualifications and regional challenges. Then, they will embark on an inspirational trip to Havana to discover Cuba’s vibrant energy and the brand’s unique cultural legacy. 

“Havana Club and mixology share an entwined history,” explained Maxime Chevalier, Senior Brand Advocacy Manager at Havana Club. “It’s safe to say that the rum category and Havana Club would not be where it is today without the support and creative energy of the bartending community. 

“This competition is a chance for us to give back and provide a platform to the incredibly talented bartenders around the world. Much more than a cocktail contest, Havana Club Cocktail Maestros brings the community together through shared cultural experiences, in-depth brand education and training. 

“It’s an opportunity for us to take those at the heart of industry on a journey through Havana Club’s rich and diverse heritage and the artistry behind our exceptional rums.”

With a €10,000 prize for the winning team, the competition will reward creativity, flavour, and team spirit. Unlike the inaugural competition, contestants can now partner with someone from a different venue within the same country, fostering long-term connections across the industry. 

The top 10 teams from each country will progress to the national finals, where they’ll create a Cuban afro-Latin-inspired cocktail for a dedicated local jury. 

For the regional stage, teams will meet for a series of training sessions and challenges. They’ll learn to work together in stimulating environments, guided by regional industry mentors. Then, they’ll begin accumulating points before jetting off to Havana for the final stage of the contest in April 2026. 

The four-day finals in Cuba will allow contestants to immerse themselves in the passion of the city and its lively bar scene, as well as the craftsmanship and culture that’s captured in every bottle of Havana Club. Teams will also partake in the Great Havana Hustle challenge, testing their skills over the course of a unique bar shift, showcasing their expertise, hospitality, and teamwork abilities. 

A panel of industry icons, including world-renowned drinks figure Sandrae Lawrence and friend of the brand Simone Caporale, will decide the grand winners, pending the announcement of the last trio member. 

Competition details and dates within each territory are now available on the Havana Club website. Follow the link to enter and the chance to be crowned “Havana Club Cocktail Maestros”: https://havana-club.com/en/havana-club-cocktail-maestros/.

Modern London Whisk(e)y bar Dram is collaborating with Dublin’s Bar 1661 to celebrate Burns Night next week with a two-day takeover tour through London and Dublin.

Dram x Bar 1661 will offer guests a traditional Burns Night celebration, featuring delicious cocktails, haggis, and plenty of Drams to try.

Kicking off on Sunday 26^th, in the heart of London, Dram will play host to Bar 1661, who will, of course, bring a little National Irish Coffee Day to the event. Bar 1661 will serve their signature drink, “The Belfast Coffee”, which can be enjoyed alongside a delicious selection of drams.

The celebration will continue on Monday 27^th, with the Dram team heading to Dublin, where they will take over BAR 1661 for the evening. From 6pm onwards, guests can expect a delicious cocktail offering showcasing Dram’s signature style of uniquely delicious cocktails.

For more information, connect with the bars via @dram.ldn & @1661bar

Award-winning London bar Scarfes Bar, Rosewood, in partnership with The Lakes Distillery, will host Bar Leone from Hong Kong for an exclusive takeover on Wednesday, 29th January, from 6pm onwards.

Bringing a taste of Italian-inspired mixology to the heart of London, the night will feature co-founder and bartender Lorenzo Antinori and offer a multisensory journey complemented by Scarfes Bar’s live music and artistic setting.

Blending Scarfes Bar’s artistic ambience with Bar Leone’s signature brand and Italian-inspired cocktails, the drinks will consist of a selection of four cocktails, highlighting high-quality seasonal ingredients and low-intervention techniques. These will, of course, be accompanied by Bar Leone’s bar snacks, Smoked Olives and Mortadella Focaccia.

The first of the cocktails will be Il Cacciatore is a zesty blend of The Lakes Classic Gin, Bianco Vermouth, Mastika, Cherry Tomato and Lemon.

Also featured will be Bitter Yuzu Highball is a refreshing serve featuring The Lakes The One Fine Blended, Yuzu Sake, Bitter Fusetti and Soda.

Fig Leaf Negroni is a unique twist on the classic with The Lakes Classic Gin, Fig Leaf Vermouth and Campari.

Finally, Caffe’ Paradiso is a complex and rich serve, showcasing The Lakes Whiskeymaker’s Reserve No.7 with Cold Brew Coffee, Amaro, Honey, Salted Cream and Green Cardamon. 

Guests can expect an engaging experience, as Lorenzo’s flair for storytelling adds depth to the evening, creating connections through the drinks, their inspiration and the ambience of Scarfes Bar. 

For more information, go to scarfesbar.com or connect with the bar social via @scarfesbar

Award-winning Barcelona bar Paradiso has announced the return of its fourth annual Paradiso Sustainability Summit, in partnership with Ketel One.

Hosted by the bar’s founder Giacomo Giannotti, the Summit will be held on Sunday 30^th March 2025 at Barcelona’s green event space Palo Alto. The event will feature some of the biggest names in the global bar community and will be accompanied by a public cocktail festival designed to showcase the finest sustainable brands, bars and cocktails from around the world.

“I am delighted that we are once again able to bring together the drinks industry’s most innovative minds to share their expertise on sustainable practises,” explained Giannotti. “Our goal with the summit is not just to spark discussion for the global community but also to create a platform where we drive greater change for our local community.”

The Summit’s programme of seminars and events will address issues of “Social Sustainability”, exploring topics such as diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment, alongside our most significant environmental challenges.

Last year’s event saw over 1,500 attendees, featuring several venues from The World’s 50 Best Bars list, including Himkok, Tres Monos and Alquímico, amongst many others, alongside some of Barcelona’s most exciting concepts such as Creps Al Born and Dr. Stravinsky.

For more information, go to paradiso.cat or connect with the bar via @paradiso_barcelona

Japanese Shochu brand, iichiko is calling on bartenders from Los Angeles to New York City to create the best cocktail using the brand’s Saiten expression, a high-ABV shochu crafted specifically for the modern bartender.

The competition asks entrants to spotlight the spirit while also showcasing a level of creativity that further establishes iichiko Saiten, and shochu as a category, as a major contender in the cocktail industry.

“We’re thrilled to be part of iichiko Irodori as it gives us a unique opportunity to showcase the versatility of the iichiko Saiten brand,” said Tetsuro Miyazaki, General Manager of iichiko Shochu. “The team looks forward to connecting with bartenders across the country who share our passion for shochu.”

Crafted specifically for the modern bartender, Michiko Saiten is an honkaku shochu, the highest grade of shochu, offering a full-flavoured expression of shochu that is perfect for cocktails at 43% ABV. Saiten exudes rich umami notes of jasmine tea, white peach, minerals, and earth, along with citrus and a saline finish.

The competition’s finalists will be announced in March and will face off at the Grand Finale events held at some of the United States’ most celebrated bars—Thunderbolt in Los Angeles, and Bar Goto in New York. Entrants will compete for the grand prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan, including a guest shift at a top Tokyo bar, a visit to the iichiko distillery, and a $1,500 cash prize.

Competition Guidelines and Grand Prize

• Entrant Eligibility

  • Residents of New York or Los Angeles (surrounding areas also acceptable; travel costs not included should entrants advance to the final round)

  • One entry per person

• Judging Criteria

  • All cocktails must contain a minimum of 1oz/30ml of iichiko Saiten

  • A maximum of 6 ingredients

  • All garnishes must be edible

  • Overall flavour and deliciousness

  • Creativity and originality

  • Low waste

• Submission Deadlines & Winner Announcements

  • Round One: (January 10th – January 31st, 2025): Written submission, submitted online here

  • Round Two: (February 4th – February 18th): Video submission

  • Grand Finale:

    • New York City (March 16th at Bar Goto): In-person competition

    • Los Angeles (March 18th at Thunder Bolt): In-person competition

• Prizes

  • First Place: All expenses paid trip to Japan, with a guest shift in Tokyo, visit to iichiko distillery, and $1,500 USD cash prize

  • Second Place: $800 USD cash prize

  • Third Place: $400 cash prize

For more information, go to iichiko.com and/ or follow the brand via @iichiko.shochu