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Hong Kong is in full swing for summer with new happy hour deals, a new found love for tea cocktails and an abundance of new bars and restaurants opening. We prepare to welcome, for the first time to Hong Kong, Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023, which will be revealed on July 18th at The Rosewood Hong Kong and embrace love, diversity and inclusivity this Pride month with a series of events for all.
We celebrate Father’s Day with new F&B experiences launching across the city.
Multi-functional and multi-concept venues blossom across the city as cafes by day turn into wine and cocktail bars by night.
We toast to whisky and discover more from our guest contributor Eddie Nara on how this spirit is gaining more momentum in Hong Kong.
PRIDE MONTH EDITION
JUNE 2023
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03
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Where and what to drink in Hong Kong this summer
Ways to treat your dad for Father’s Day 2023 in Hong Kong
Hong Kong restaurant news and happenings this month
Things to do in Hong Kong for Pride Month 2023
Get ready to embrace love, diversity and inclusivity this Pride month in Hong Kong at a series of events being held across the city, from drag queen shows to a hotel display of IG-friendly rainbow installations
TRENDING
F&B
Gishiki Lounge: revamped cocktail menu inspired by noh theatre
INNOVATIONS AND COLLABORATIONS
Somm and Censu team up for degustation dinners with sake pairings this June
Tea cocktails are the drink of the summer this year
The Praya
Le Bec Fin
The Green Door
Cantonese | Shek Tong Tsui
French-Japanese | North Point
Cocktail Bar | Central
WATCH THIS
The Savory Project
Maggie Choo’s
Intervals
Cocktail Bar | Central
Speakeasy Bar | Central
Bar | Hong Kong International Airport
Eddie Nara
Spirits Advocate and Educator
We discover what’s exciting spirits advocate & educator Eddie Nara here in Hong Kong… With many new bars and bartenders, spirits brands are becoming more active together with a rise in cocktail competitions …all create opportunities for people to acquire more spirits knowledge. Furthermore the blended whisky category in general, and the minority or often neglected countries (producing whiskies) are getting more attention by producing and releasing premium ranges . People are looking for old bottling whiskies too (1980’s or before). Whisky food pairing still has a lot of potential as many people are still skeptical, though Chinese food is the most popular cuisine to pair to, followed by Western, particularly meat/steak dishes; people are exploring pairing with Japanese cuisine too given its popularity here in Hong Kong. I have also seen whisky pairing with coffee and tea. The type of whisky drinkers here in Hong Kong is evolving too…I observe more and more female drinkers and often they like the peaty/smoky styles . Whisky has lower calories compared to most other popular drinks such as wine and sake too - perhaps another reason could be my influence (just kidding!). Generally younger drinkers are coming to whisky too. Ways to encourage consumers to try whisky…from food pairing, to masterclasses, whisky fairs and pop up experiences such as the recent Johnnie Walker one at Landmark. Some of my favourite ways to savour whisky include at home or any of my favourite bars… occasionally I would drink at a friend’s house and also when having cigars. This summer I am working with a popsicle brand in Hong Kong to create cocktail flavoured popsicles bringing more ways to experience spirits.
“ Spirits brands are becoming more active together with a rise in cocktail competitions… all create opportunities for people to acquire more spirits knowledge.
DISCOVER MORE
Mortlach Whisky X Spring collaboration
Rosewood Hong Kong launches a bar-hopping journey featuring Barcelona’s Paradiso
HK Clubbing
Time Out
Diageo World Class Competition Hong Kong and Macau 2023
Glenmorangie X Cova
SCMP
The Honeycombers
Glenmorangie X Two More Glasses Father’s Day masterclass
Hennessy X.O Kim Jones limited edition
Wai Shing
TimeOut
Summer sale: hot sellers at up to 46% off
Wai Shing online
Watson’s Wine
Wai Shing
Whisky festival
The Singleton 12 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky with clink glasses
The Club
Wai Shing
Sainte Marguerite en Provence
Won Soju
Domaine Philippe Lecler
Jay Park’s Won Soju launches in Hong Kong
Famed Gevry Chambertin estate debuts in Hong Kong
Sainte Marguerite en Provence launches in Hong Kong
This refreshing and complex rosé wine from Provence is now available in the city.
Won Soju, rapper Jay Park’s soju label, officially launches in Hong Kong, in partnership with KAVE as their official distributor,
Links Concept, the leading wine importer and distributor in Hong Kong, has been handpicked as the exclusive importer and distributor of Domaine Philippe Lecler.
The Macallan
Monkey Shoulder & Tullamore Dew
The Macallan
WATCH THIS
Father’s Day tasting experience at DarkSide X The Macallan
The Macallan X Erik Madigan Heck
Whisky promotions
DarkSide is launching an exclusive whisky tasting experience with The Macallan from 1-30 June in celebration for Father’s day.
The Macallan has produced a collection of captivating visuals to illustrate the distinct aromas and flavours of its famous Double Cask Collection in collaboration with acclaimed visual artist Erik Madigan Heck.
Buy Money Shoulder Blended Malt Whisky or Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey to get a $100 Watson’s Wine voucher.
Mark your calendar for: World Whisky Day 2024 May 18th
WHISKY 101 Why is it called whisky?
MARKET OBSERVATIONS
• The shift from blends to single malts has become more pronounced over the last few years and is set to continue. • Premiumisation in single malts continues and there is increasing consumer interest in and knowledge about whisky . • High taxes, global supply chain issues and limited supplies of single malt Scotch are expected to hinder category growth. • Hong Kong consumers will travel abroad which might shift some volumes to travel retail . • Premiumisation has been an ongoing trend and overall demand is strong. However, the size of the category will be constrained by higher excise duties and limited producer allocations . • Single malt Scotch showed great resilience in 2022 with all tiers increasing volumes, even though prices went up. • There has been considerable interest in Japanese single malts but, as prices have skyrocketed and supplies are extremely limited, the craze has calmed down a bit.
A guide to Scottish Whisky
Whisky leading brands by category
The term ‘whisky’ derives originally from the Gaelic ‘uisge beatha’, or ‘usquebaugh’, meaning ‘water of life’. Gaelic is that branch of Celtic spoken in the Highlands of Scotland. What exactly is single malt whisky? Single malt whisky is often associated with Scotland and the whisky made there, yet many are unaware that single malts can be made anywhere in the world. Single malt, single barrel, single cask, single grain. The whisky world enjoys many diverse categories. The word ‘single’ in single malt whisky tells us that the liquid has been produced at one, single distillery. While a single malt can contain whisky from many different casks, all of this whisky must have been produced by one distillery. How old is a single malt? A single malt is defined as whisky made from malted barley, at a single distillery, aged for at least three years in either American oak or European (Spanish) oak casks, and bottled at a minimum ABV of 40%.
Whisky/Scotch
Owner
Johnnie Walker The Macallan King Robert The Claymore Famous Grouse Ballantine’s Chivas
Diageo Edrington Ian Macleod Emperador Edrington Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard
A guide to food & Whisky Pairings
Source: IWSR 2023 Market Analysis Report
10 Facts you didn’t know about Johnnie Walker
DISCOVER MORE
Best Whisky Bars in Hong Kong
How to pair Whisky with Cantonese Food
INTEL INSIGHTS
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June 4th
International Cognac Day
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June 10th
World Gin Day
WATCH THIS
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June 17th
July 2nd
June 3rd - June 29th
June 9th - July 23rd
World Martini Day
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Johnnie Walker Blue Label pop-up at Landmark
SummerFest 2023
Zuma Catamaran
June 18th
Father’s Day
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June 25th
International Rosé Day
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 7th
July 17th-18th
October 26th-29th
RNG Wine X New Wave South Africa Wine Dinner
Asia’s 50 Best Bars moves to Hong Kong
Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
John Ng @johnnghy
Beckaly Franks
Andrea Mura @chefandreamura
@beckalyfranks
Academy Chair Hong Kong/Macau @50bestbars
Bartended and Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2023
Chef
DISCOVER MORE
Please note events/news are subject to change during these unpredictable times. This newsletter is produced for MHD HK internal consumption only. All images are copyrighted and not for use.
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