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The Star
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Gem for bespoke cocktails
Rye has sophisticated vibes with a retro feel for cosy evenings. — Photos: JAROD LIM/The Star Hidden from plain sight on the ground floor of Hilton Petaling Jaya in Selangor is Rye Bar. This stylish hideaway offers an intimate setting for after-work drinks and social gatherings. Not far from the lobby, the bar is tucked away beside a staircase and is easy to overlook because of its discreet signage. Step inside, though, and one is greeted by an interior that speaks of sophistication, with subtle retro elements. Warm lighting sets the tone for a cosy and comfortable evening. A stage in front of the bar plays host to live bands performing soul, jazz and R&B from midweek through the weekend. Hilton Petaling Jaya general manager Andre A. Gomez described Rye as a destination to celebrate good music, great food and exceptional drinks. Blue Hawaii. 'Here at Rye, we want to craft a tasteful experience with our unique selection of single malts, whiskies, bourbons and gins,' he said at the bar's launch. 'While the bar proudly serves classic cocktails, we're excited to introduce new varieties and creative twists in the near future.' In addition to its collection of whiskies and spirits, Rye also has a curated list of cocktails. One of the highlights is the Ryegroni cocktail, a refreshing twist on the classic Negroni. Crafted with bourbon whisky in place of gin, it is paired with Campari and house-made Rosso (red wine) instead of adding in traditional sweet vermouth. The spirit-forward drink is finished off with a thin orange peel strip for aroma and a pop of colour. Citrusy aroma from the orange peel and Campari's slight herbaceous, spice notes layer the drink with depth and flavour. Ryegroni (below). Another standout is the Peachy Blinders cocktail, inspired by British period crime drama Peaky Blinders but reimagined with Malaysian flair. Using aromatic bunga kantan gin as its base, the cocktail is mixed with peach and almond syrups and lychee fruit puree. Whipped aquafaba lends it a silky foam crown. The result is a light, creamy and refreshingly unique drink. Then there's the Resstini, an after-dinner indulgence with its sweet profile coming in to party. It features a blend of fat-washed whisky, espresso, stout reduction, and passionfruit, topped with a hint of Emmental. Its bittersweet profile is a hit with coffee and spirit enthusiasts, making it the perfect nightcap. At Rye's launch, guests also enjoyed timeless classics such as tropical Blue Hawaii and iconic Jungle Bird, both paying tribute to Hilton's rich cocktail heritage. The former's distinctive bluish hue comes from a mix of Blue Curaçao, light rum, vodka and a sweet-and-sour blend – a tropical creation by Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort's head bartender Harry Yee in 1957. Peachy Blinders. The Jungle Bird, on the other hand, is proudly Malaysian. Created in 1973 by Hilton Kuala Lumpur's then-beverage manager Ong Swee Teik, it combines dark rum, Campari, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and pineapple juice. Rye can accommodate up to 50 guests, making it ideal for curated tastings, themed evenings, corporate functions and exclusive celebrations. The bar also hosts live performances and monthly ticketed live music nights, complete with prizes to be won. RYE, Hilton Petaling Jaya, Level 1, Jalan Barat, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. (Tel: 03-7955 9122 or 017-643 4862) Business hours: 4pm to 1am Wednesday to Sunday (except on eve of public holidays and public holidays). This is the writer's personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
New York Times
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The Watch World Calls This Collector ‘Condition Nick'
In the late 1990s, as a college student at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., Nicholas Pelzer aspired to be an actor or hip-hop poet. With those goals in mind, he was a fan of the actor Will Smith, who straddled both professions. So when Mr. Pelzer graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications, his parents gave him an especially appropriate gift: a stainless steel Hamilton Ventura, the angular watch worn by Mr. Smith in the 1997 film 'Men in Black.' 'I think they tried to give me something that was both useful and would resonate with me, knowing what a big fan I was,' Mr. Pelzer, 46, said over a cup of tea at a cafe in Midtown Manhattan, near his workplace as a senior director at a nonprofit philanthropic investment organization. Horology hadn't been part of their deliberations, although Mr. Pelzer had been wearing a beat-up Seiko. As he put it, 'I wasn't a watch guy before that.' Mr. Pelzer wore the Ventura, a reissued model that he said cost his parents a couple hundred dollars, for nearly a decade. During that time he settled in New York City, where he switched gears and earned a master's degree in public administration from Baruch College and a doctorate in education from Columbia University. Gradually, he began to learn more about the Ventura, which Hamilton introduced in 1957 and initially was made famous when Elvis wore it in the 1961 movie 'Blue Hawaii.' 'I went down a rabbit hole of Googling it,' he said. 'I found out that it was based on a design from the '50s, and the first battery-powered mechanical watch.' And by 2013, he was collecting watches from a variety of brands, including 1970s stainless steel chronographs by Seiko and Hamilton, and a rugged Omega Flightmaster from the same era. On eBay, he bought a few Venturas, too — the watch still was an obsession with him — although these purchases, Mr. Pelzer said, 'weren't in great shape.' In 2016 he found a more collectible watch, in good condition, that had distinctive contours similar to the Ventura: a 14-karat gold 1960 Hamilton Electric GE Pacer. He purchased it online for a few thousand dollars from Jarett Harkness, a watch retailer in Texas who specializes in vintage electric timepieces. Then in 2018, Mr. Pelzer bought another, even rarer watch from Mr. Harkness: an 18-karat gold 1958 Hamilton Electric Ventura that was produced in limited quantities, intended for sale in South America. The watch cost about $10,000, and Mr. Pelzer also traded in a few more moderately priced watches from his collection as part of the deal. But the Electric Ventura had never been worn, a big part of the timepiece's appeal for Mr. Pelzer. 'His nickname is 'Condition Nick' because he always wants the best example of any watch he's interested in,' Mr. Harkness said. 'He's not one to settle for so-so. I think someone in New York gave him that nickname — he told me that they called him that. I thought it was pretty appropriate.' Mr. Pelzer said he couldn't remember who gave him the nickname, but added that it was apt. 'I'm a stickler for condition,' he said. 'I try to find the best version of anything that I get. In vintage watches, there's an understanding of some use. 'It's not like I expect everything to be new old stock, but I don't want something that's overly polished, I don't want something that's banged up, I don't want something that it looks like it's been fooled around with.' His collection of more than 40 timepieces now includes a few Omega Speedmasters, including a limited-edition 1969 Apollo XI version; a couple Breitlings, including a limited edition 1960 chronograph stamped with the logo of Kronometer Stockholm, a now-defunct Swedish retailer; and quite a few Hamiltons. Along the way, he also has sold many of his timepieces, including a Rolex Daytona that he purchased from Oliver & Clarke, a vintage watch retailer in Los Angeles, and sold to finance renovations on his home in New York's Riverdale neighborhood, where he lives with his wife, their young son and his mother-in-law. 'He's a very disciplined collector,' Mr. Harkness said. 'If something comes in, something usually has to go out.' Mr. Pelzer said he did have a dozen or so watches in what he called his 'main box' and about 30 more in a safe deposit box. But 'I don't even describe myself as a collector,' he said. 'I just happen to have a bunch of watches. I collect what makes me smile.'
