Sip, savour and explore: Unveiling Cocktail Months at MGallery hotels across the world
It is also the perfect destination from which to begin our little jaunt to experience MGallery's World Cocktail Months. A brand under French hospitality group Accor, MGallery is a collection of some 120 international luxury boutique hotels – each one different from the next. Its celebration of the art of mixology started in May and runs till Aug 31 across all MGallery hotels, but our experience begins at the charming Hotel Sosei Sapporo – MGallery Collection.
Japan's original brew
Opened in January 2024, the 118-room hotel is part of the city's historic brewery district, and like other buildings in the vicinity, sports a distinct red brick facade. Artworks such as a large, black iron sculpture of a wild hop pay homage to the area's brewing heritage, while its contemporary guest rooms are decorated with a dark palette and rich textures. The hotel has won accolades for its post-industrial East-meets-West design concept, including being named, just this month, as one of the world's most beautiful hotels by Unesco Prix Versailles, a prestigious architecture and design award.
The hotel has won accolades for its post-industrial East-meets-West design concept. PHOTO: HOTEL SOSEI SAPPORO – MGALLERY COLLECTION
A black iron sculpture of a wild hop pay homage to the area's brewing heritage. PHOTO: HOTEL SOSEI SAPPORO – MGALLERY COLLECTION
Sapporo's historic brewery district, with its distinct, red-brick buildings. PHOTO: HOTEL SOSEI SAPPORO – MGALLERY COLLECTION
Hotel Sosei Sapporo – MGallery Collection sits across the road from the Sapporo Factory, the site of Japan's first government-run brewery, the Kaitakushi Brewery (the predecessor of Sapporo Brewery). Today, Sapporo Factory is a commercial complex housing a mall, cinema, restaurants and a beer bar that still serves lager produced from the brewery's first recipe. Apart from this bar, the hotel is the only other place where you can get a taste of the original brew.
Every MGallery hotel has an M Moment offering a unique, location-specific experience. At Hotel Sosei Sapporo – MGallery Collection, that would be a 20-minute traditional Japanese rickshaw ride through the alleys of Sapporo Factory. The ride includes a stop at the iconic black chimney bearing the Japanese name for Sapporo Beer, topped with a red star.
The iconic black chimney bearing the Japanese name for Sapporo Beer, topped with a red star. PHOTO:CORINNE KERK
But before the alcohol gets to your head, you should pop by the Sapporo Beer Museum to get an understanding of how, during the Meiji period, Sapporo – instead of the original pick, Tokyo – became the site for Japan's first brewery in 1876.
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Suffice to say it involves the region's cooler climate, availability of raw materials like wild hops, the strong insistence of a Japanese man who saw the area's potential, and a young Japanese brew master who defied a travel ban to stow away on a ship and eventually learn German beer-making techniques.
Pop by the Sapporo Beer Museum to understand how Sapporo – instead of Tokyo – became the site for Japan's first brewery in 1876. PHOTO:CORINNE KERK
At the hotel's cosy bar lounge, which sports a sculptural copper fireplace shaped like a brewing kiln, we get our first taste of MGallery's three new limited-edition cocktails – specially conceived in collaboration with Citadelle Gin to go with exclusive glassware created for MGallery hotels by French lifestyle brand, Maison Sarah Lavoine.
Hotel Sosei Sapporo - MGallery Collection's cosy bar lounge, which sports a sculptural copper fireplace shaped like a brewing kiln. PHOTO: HOTEL SOSEI SAPPORO – MGALLERY COLLECTION
Featuring Citadelle Gin Original, fino sherry, a jasmine and lemongrass cordial, and orange blossom, the Crystal Diva cocktail carries floral and herbal notes. It is served in a Maison Sarah Lavoine Nick & Nora coupe and garnished with a white chocolate shard and a touch of jasmine and lemongrass.
MGallery's three limited-edition cocktail creations. PHOTO: CORINNE KERK
The Timeless Negroni, on the other hand, is earthy and rich, with Citadelle Gin Original infused with sandalwood, red vermouth, as well as Italian bitters instilled with pineapple and pandan. An oval ice cube floats intriguingly in the cocktail, which is presented in a Maison Sarah Lavoine Old Fashioned tumbler.
Finally, sitting in a Maison Sarah Lavoine Coupe is the Honey 75, a salty, zesty twist on a French 75 featuring Citadelle Gin Original, fat-washed with local olive oil, verjus, salted local honey, and an orange and cardamom syrup, and then topped with Pommery champagne. The garnish? A piece of honeycomb with edible micro flowers.
All three are also available as mocktails.
Guest mixologist, Mongkol 'Lek' Saengchud from V Villas Phuket – MGallery Collection. PHOTO: CORINNE KERK
These drinks are mixed to perfection by guest mixologist, Mongkol 'Lek' Saengchud from V Villas Phuket – MGallery Collection, (the signature cocktail of which, christened Solar Eclipse, is a must-try). Despite making a ridiculous number of cocktails through the night, the gentle giant that is Lek is cool under fire – responding to the stream of non-stop and overlapping orders with equanimous utterances of 'of course', instead of, say, a punch to the face.
Japanese hospitality warmly received, our next stop is Hotel Naru Seoul – MGallery Collection, South Korea.
Cocktails in Korea
The 196-room hotel is located in Mapo, right by the Han River and a four-minute walk from Mapo station. With its 25-metre indoor pool and outdoor infinity pool both heated and overlooking the city and river from the 20th floor, it doesn't take long for us to head there for a relaxing swim.
The heated infinity pool on the 20th floor of Hotel Naru Seoul – MGallery Collection beckons. PHOTO: HOTEL NARU SEOUL – MGALLERY COLLECTION
However, we also made time for the hotel's M Moment, which takes visitors on a 50-minute guided tour of the unique artworks specially created for the hotel.
The hotel's elegant Lobby Lounge on the 20th floor. PHOTO: HOTEL NARU SEOUL – MGALLERY COLLECTION
As evening descends, cocktails can be had on the 20th floor in the bright and elegant Lobby Lounge with its double-volume space, or the oriental herbal pharmacy-inspired Bar Voisin on the 22nd floor. Doing the honours was guest mixologist Tan Dat Nguyen from Hotel des Arts Saigon – MGallery Collection.
Bar Voisin on the 22nd floor of Hotel Naru Seoul - MGallery Collection. PHOTO: HOTEL NARU SEOUL – MGALLERY COLLECTION
At both locations, you get stunning vistas of the city and river as the sun sets – tipple in hand and grateful you're not one of the many drivers stuck in peak-hour traffic in the distance, their headlights adding to the shimmering view you now enjoy.
Sunset, as seen through a glass window at Hotel Naru Seoul – MGallery Collection. PHOTO: CORINNE KERK
While you're there, taste a few of the hotel's signature cocktails. One of our favourites is Life Like A Ginseng, a refreshing summer drink comprising gin, ginseng concentrate, anise liqueur and lime soda finished with a tall ice cube and a ginseng root.
Life Like A Ginseng, a refreshing summer cocktail. PHOTO: CORINNE KERK
You should also try the Ssanghwa-tang – a cocktail version of the traditional Korean herbal tea often enjoyed with honey or an egg yolk. A perfectly spherical 'yolk' sits atop a mixture including pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, clove, cinnamon, sesame, Korean medicine and red and white wine.
The Ssanghwa-tang – a curious-looking cocktail served in a ceramic mug. PHOTO: CORINNE KERK
The 'yolk' is in fact a handmade citrus ball held together by a thin membrane. It bursts in your mouth to release a light and surprisingly neutral-tasting liquid, which contrasts with the slightly medicinal, spicy and nutty flavours of the rest of the drink. It is, in a way, a fascinating example of why there is just so much to explore in MGallery's World Cocktail Months.
The writer was a guest of Hotel Sosei Sapporo – MGallery Collection and Hotel Naru Seoul – MGallery Collection, both part of the Accor hospitality group.
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