Latest news with #WorldCocktailMonths
Business Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Times
Sip, savour and explore: Unveiling Cocktail Months at MGallery hotels across the world
[JAPAN & SOUTH KOREA] The first thing you notice upon exiting your plane at the New Chitose Airport in Sapporo, Japan, is the lone ad for Sapporo beer on the aerobridge. If you don't already know, Sapporo, capital city of the northern island of Hokkaido, is famous for being the home of its namesake beer – the oldest in Japan. 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. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up 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.
Business Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Times
How to ace Father's Day
Father's Day is just one week away. If you're thinking of gifting him socks again, please don't. How about taking him on a nostalgia walk through an old neighbourhood? Or surprising him with a birthday cake featuring his face superimposed on Iron Man? Maybe even a shirt from a great new brand that fits him perfectly, or a massage gun his back will truly thank you for? In this week's BT Lifestyle, get a head start on planning the perfect day for that special man, with dozens of gift ideas, gestures, and – for procrastinators – genius last-minute saves to make it look like you've been planning for this all year long. In Travel, we head to Sapporo and Seoul as the MGallery collection of boutique hotels kicks off World Cocktail Months, which runs till end-August. We also check out the set of exclusive glassware that MGallery is launching in collaboration with French lifestyle brand, Maison Sarah Lavoine. In Shopping, payment-solution provider Adyen recently released a retail report highlighting a rising momentum among consumers using AI to help them shop. We dive into its findings. In Arts, a new exhibition at National Gallery Singapore showcases the best of ink art, not just by artists from East Asia, but all over the world. And in Dining, sample some casual French bistro fare amid lush greenery at La Terrace, a new addition to Claudine brasserie in Dempsey. For all this and more, don't miss this week's BT Lifestyle.
