Alcoholist

Alcoholist

A glimpse to the best (or worst) watering holes Malaysia has to offer to quench your thirst. From crafty cocktails to brilliant beers, it's time to raise a toast to a good drink.
Dickson Lau
Dickson Lau
Bar

The founders of Omakase + Appreciate bring to you an intimate drinker's dream. Served by the fantastic creative talents of Shirmy and Joel, I wish I did not have to reveal such an incredible bar. But alas, as are all great alcohols worth drinking, it deserves to be shared. Here are a few drinks I can't recommend enough:

Sirap Selasih
This reminds me of the merriment of a kenduri or an open house. Probably because I associate that with rose sirap water. This drink creates a unique memory that anchors firmly in your tastebuds. The use of gin adds a layer of complexity to this drink, finished off strongly with the bitter notes. An incredible drink that's visually inviting even with the use of frog egg jellies! A signature drink from Joel that is worth a place on anybody's order.

Paloma's Date
The neutrality of this drink in every sense is incredible. Yet, it doesn't lose its striking notes of flavour to the combination of bland ingredients. Oddly, the combination of red date water and grapefruit completely reminded me of the ginseng candies that I had in my childhood. The mellow sweetness with streaks of light bitterness gives it this glow that makes it an oddly addictive drink. You'll have to try this because the taste on the tongue succeeds at illustrating a review where words fail.

Pekoe Park City
Strong. Just strong upon first sniff. Yet, the scent of the jasmine tea comes through well despite the strength of the alcohol. That's a testament to the fantastic mixology on offer here at Sparrow. A subtle lingering zing from the honey leaves a lasting sweet memory on the tongue. If you needed a stiff drink that can calm the nerves, this would be it. This is honey jasmine tea with a knockout punch.

Hummingbird's Dream
This is now my drink of choice at Sparrow. Hands down, without a doubt. And to think that the bartender, Shirmy made this on the fly with just the instructions of wanting a gin based alcohol that is citrusy in taste. That's just a natural knack for mixing right there. Visually, it looks like a watered down sirap bandung that would just be far too sweet but you cannot be more wrong upon the first sip. Delicately balanced between a refreshing cooler and a stiff drink, garnished just right with a dash of sour on the layer of egg white, this simply tastes right as it sits on your tongue.

Tips:
i) To find this sparrow, go up to the place where the scent of coffee on your nose is bright as a bulb.
ii) Sparrow is open on the first Sunday of every month but the subsequent Tuesday would be an off day. Normal operating hours are from 18:00 till 01:30 on Tuesday to Saturday.
iii) If you want to taste something strong with a fizz, ask Joel for my drink - Smoke on the Water.

1 Like

30 Shades (RM40)
A wondrously light and refreshing drink. Perfect glass to start your night off in the right alcoholic direction. The pairing of Earl Grey tea with gin produces a mild concoction that is meant to tease rather than overwhelm your senses. It is soothing all the way through, from your tentative sip to the lingering taste after. It may have 20 shades less but the drinking experience of this is far more pleasurable than reading its literary namesake.

The Last Word (RM40)
You get a brilliant fragrance of herbs from the chartreuse, particularly juniper upon the first sip. Then comes the more subtle taste of Hendrick's; a notably lighter gin that seamless slips into the missing piece of the puzzle here. Topped off with a dash of lemon for a citrusy finish, you have an enjoyable beverage. Admittedly, the two skewered maraschino cherries were more eye candy than anything else as it adds an extravagant sweetness when dunked into the drink but it does give it the cry for attention the drink deserves every time you glance at your glass.

Kazi's Ron 47 (RM40)
There is a menu version of this called Ron 47. Do yourself a favour and request for Kazi's version. The difference is significant and distinct. The production of this is a month of smoke and brew done by Kazi himself. Gimmicky as it sounds, the effort merits this drink an individual mention of their own compared to the menu version. Now to the drink itself - this is a stiff sniff, with no intrusive odours or flavours to mask the true scent as it is served neat, poured straight from the decanter. It is the type of drink that you take a whiff of and instinctively recoil in self defense. Only thing I can say is the brave will be rewarded. This drink goes down smoother than silk, sharply contrasting the dangerous scent it emanates. The fragrance stung so sharply that I jokingly told Kazi that it should be renamed Subsidized Petrol instead, in reference to the smell and the original name. He may have taken a liking to it so perhaps order this in that name instead and be greeted by a cheeky grin and mischievous look from Kazi himself.

Tip: The cocktail menu is changed every fortnight. However, if you know what you like, the bartenders are more than happy to oblige to any individual drink requests. If you find nothing on the menu excites you, be brave and speak to the bartenders for something off menu and perhaps unearth a hidden gem of a drink or two for yourself. Special thanks to Glen and Kazi for entertaining the above drink requests.

3 Likes

Lemongrass G&T (RM19)
Lemongrass infused London Dry Gin, tonic water and limau katsuri. The probable use of Fanta tonic water makes the base mixer far too sweet. The over pressed limau completely overwhelms whatever potential lemongrass infusion was done to the gin. This tasted a lot more like a limau ais from the local mamak than it is a G&T with a local twist. It even has the annoying limau seeds that prevent you from having a having a bottoms up!

Lychee Ginger Martini (RM26)
The smell of this drink is sharp, similar to the flavours of shisha tobacco. Not my cup of tea already. Taste wise, the use of lychee and ginger in this drink is peculiar. It simply doesn't work as both flavours are simply too strong, as if two thespians lumbering for the spotlight on stage. In the end, it leaves nothing more than the I welcomed lingering taste of cough syrup after you put the glass down.

Tamarind Whiskey Sour (RM28)
First off, this isn't sour which begs the question as to why call it that in the first place. Next, the taste of whiskey is non-existent. True, the smell of citrus is strong given the large orange peel garnishing the drink but it only tastes like a slightly too savoury asamboi drink with a vague hint of alcohol in. Confusing would be a simple word to describe this.

Kopi-O-Martini (RM35)
Standard cocktail mixed deliciously. Good strong taste of the kopi-o complemented well by equal parts in alcohol. Good amount of foam on top with an overly generous amount of coffee beans. Simplicity at its best here.

Soya Cincau with a Twist (RM28)
This is it! This is the drink that is truly unique and represents the taste of Malaysia well at Barlai. This simple thirst quencher hits all the right spots with only the vaguest of hints alcohol in it because it is seamlessly integrated in the drink. Perfect amount of gula Melaka adds fragrance to the body of this drink, blending effortlessly with the Bailey's Irish Cream. The only complaint you can have of this is that it's far too easy to drink! Go on, have another one.

3 Likes

The place held much promise in terms of the ambience and decor. A quick glance over the counter displayed an array of respectably well-stocked alcohol shelves. Service from the friendly staff was exceptional.

The cocktails menu offered diverse selections - creative local takes on classic favourites and some new inventions. Prices are reasonable, ranging between RM25 to RM35 on most cocktails. In total, 4 cocktails were ordered - a grapefruit Eclipse, the self-explanatory Kg. Pandan Don, a hibiscus-infused gin based BangPow and a bartender special called MadaAsghar, flavoured with apple and winter melon.

Decent alcohol strength in each cocktail but the lack of distinct difference in taste on many of the cocktails were disappointing. Each cocktail looked aesthetically pleasing and promising a distinct local flavour that would tantalize your tastebuds. Yet, each drink left only a sweet taste on the palate that failed to hit the right spots. The promise of individuality lingers in each sip but the inability to be the showstopper prevails.

Overall, the cocktails tasted were unique and possess great potential but it left me wishing it was more.

3 Likes

Food should feed more than hunger, drinks should cure more than thirst.

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