Latest news with #AlexPun
South China Morning Post
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Drink in Focus: Redemption at Orchard
One of the more welcome changes to Gage Street Market was the addition of fruit spirit cocktail bar Orchard. The venue is Hong Kong's first and only concept specialising in eau de vie , a type of brandy distilled from fruits other than grapes. With that definition, eau de vie seems straightforward enough. But when Orchard opened its doors, founder Alex Pun realised he still had some explaining to do. 'The common misconceptions we encountered were that all fruit spirits were flavoured vodka, or that all fruit spirits are sweet. The reality is that these distinct products are made from distillation of the fruits themselves rather than infusion. Many fruit spirits can be dry or even bitter, depending on the production process.' Alex Pun, founder of Hong Kong's Orchard bar. Photo: Handout Redemption, for example, places prune brandy at the centre of a negroni riff built to accent all aspects of the spirit. 'The base idea,' Pun says, 'was to create a spirit-forward, bitter and sweet cocktail. The negroni is more popular among bartenders and industry people, and I find it is not the most ordered cocktail in a bar. With the negroni's bitter foundation, we came up with the Redemption to make it more approachable.' The prune brandy in question is G.E. Massenez, made from fermented plums. Pun compares it to cognac, whose production is restricted to a specific commune in France and to a regulated method. 'Prune brandy is not restricted to a specific area,' Pun explains, 'and ageing [methods] vary.' In the case of the Massenez, the result is a rich, sweet and fruity brandy compared to cognac, which includes fruit flavours but also has spice and oak depending on how it's aged. Orchard's Redemption cocktail places prune brandy at the centre of a variation on the negroni. Photo: Handout 'Prune brandy is known for its rich flavour profile and smooth texture,' Pun explains. 'People who enjoy brown spirits like whisky, bourbon or rum are likely to appreciate prune brandy as much. Even with cocktails, the spirit's rich and complex character is prominent.'
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Your Hong Kong weekend drinks guide for May 23-25
It's open(ing) season for Hong Kong's bar scene. The last few weeks have seen several new concepts start welcoming customers, and two of the latest and possibly greatest are Bar Oasis and Goose Island Taproom. The former, helmed by Alex Pun of fruit spirit cocktail bar Orchard, is currently in its soft opening phase, while the latter is in full swing serving the best brews out of Chicago. If you're at a loose end on Friday, be sure to head to the new and improved Kai Tak as Kinsman's Gavin Yeung celebrates the former airport's aviation history with a collaboration at rooftop bar Jin Bo Law. Thursday, 22 May Bar Oasis Alex Pun and his team at Bar Oasis. Photo: Handout What: This month Alex Pun – the brains behind Orchard, Hong Kong's only eau-de-vie concept – brings us a modern take on the dive bar with the soft opening of Bar Oasis. Get an early look at the three on-tap cocktails and five signatures that are ready for public consumption, all at the immensely reasonable price of HK$100 each. Pun and his team are still refining the service and concept, but expect speedy, energetic service and great concoctions that reflect the best of dive bar culture all the way from the 1990s. Advertisement Where: Bar Oasis, 28 Hollywood Road, Central When: 6pm-2am (but double check Instagram for the latest opening hours before visiting, just in case). Friday, 23 May Jin Bo Law x Kinsman Jin Bow Law Skybar at Dorsett Kai Tak. Photo: Handout What: The Dorsett The Dorsett Kai Tak 's Jin Bo Law Skybar offers stunning views of the waterfront, and this weekend it's hosting Kinsman's Gavin Yeung (also associate editor at the South China Morning Post's PostMag). Yeung will work with NIP Gin to craft signatures that capture the energy of the defunct airport and Kowloon City, and that highlight the area's unique history and atmosphere. Where: 15/F, Dorsett Kai Tak, 43 Shing Kai Road, Kowloon City When: 7-10pm Saturday, 24 May Goose Island Taproom
