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Header image courtesy of Pablo Hong Kong (via Facebook)
Mention mezcal and several misconceptions may follow—no, it does not cause psychedelic hallucinations, nor does every bottle have to include a maguey larva to be considered legit.
Oft compared to tequila, mezcal in fact refers to all types of spirits crafted with agave that are produced in Mexico. Its distinctive smoky fragrance is due to a distillation process that charrs the raw ingredients using wood and charcoal. Each drop offers earthen notes with hints of fruitiness or floral twists that can be used to add complex layers to your mixes. Combat the sweltering heat with the best mezcal cocktails in Hong Kong.
A pioneer in bringing the mezcalería concept to Hong Kong, Coa transplants to the city the intimate vibes of a cosy Mexican watering hole. Its impressive 41-page-long liquor selection is centred around highlighting the dimensions of agave spirits, with a rotating weekly menu of cocktails that bring to the forefront a special ingredient.
For a concoction that evokes the vivid and dazzling elements of mezcal joven (“young” mezcal), La Paloma de Oaxaca is the choice to go for, blended with tequila blanco, grapefruit soda, lime, and the formidable worm salt. If you want to first become familiar with the liquor itself, the Introduction to Mezcal series walks you through a multitude of the aforementioned spirit and highlights the diversity of the terroir.
Coa, Shop A, LG/F Wah Shin House, 6–10 Shin Hing Street, Central | (+852) 2813 5787
Its name a reference to the vibrant uniqueness of Pablo Picasso (despite his Spanish origins), this restaurant and bar re-imagines mezcal with a Southeast Asian touch. Its signature is the mezcal Negroni, which balances the sugary taste of vermouth and bitterness of Campari with the scorched edge of mezcal. For those who crave spice—a sensation mastered by both of Pablo’s formative cuisines—the signature spicy margarita draws some heat from tequila Blanco, blended herbs, and chilli.
Pablo, Shop G80–G85, Tsim Sha Tsui Centre, 66 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Known as a hipster hangout, this beloved yakitori joint is exactly the kind of place to gather with friends for a casual night out. Conjuring up whiffs of the char-grilled process that goes into producing mezcal is their roster of grilled chicken, each seasoned with perfectly tailored spices and flavourings. Compliment shared plates with a bright and refreshing Del Maguey-based mezcal mule, made special with the Japanese-inspired twist of ume plum.
Yardbird, Shop A–B, Winsome House, 154–158 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan
Splashed in colour, the Día de los Muertos-inspired fronting of this establishment will draw you in immediately, setting the tone of cheery fun. As if to complement the loud décor and eye-catching murals, the golden Maracuja mixes tangy-sweet passionfruit soda with El Macho’s house mezcal and dazzles as the perfect drink for summertime tipples. What’s more, their cocktails are served in delightful glassware inspired by Mexican calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls)—definitely worth snapping some Instagram stories of.
El Macho, 1 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun | (+852) 2523 2488
Helmed by Daniel Eun, formerly the head bartender at New York’s legendary Please Don’t Tell (PDT), the libations at this contemporary Mexican restaurant expertly meld together innovative yet elegant combinations. Elevating mezcal from its roots as “the poor man’s tequila,” The Weather incorporates gin, amaro, bitters, and also kombucha to flesh out a journey that traverses the whole gamut of flavours. If you prefer to feel a piquant kick, go for the ruby-hued The Marathon Continues, which dials up the fuego with tajin and adds a zing of ginger for a cool burn.
11 Westside, 1/F, The Hudson, 11 Davis Street, Kennedy Town | (+852) 9300 8068
Reflecting the punchy and playful ambience of the multi-coloured interiors, the bill of fare at Te Quiero Mucho pays homage to cantina culture, with mixers that highlight the fresh flavours in Mexican cooking.
Drawing on Aztec emperor Moctezuma’s favourite drink, the Chocolines is a sweet delight that fuses mezcal with amaro and borghetti. A more refreshing option that contrasts the signature mezcal flavour with sweet fruity hints is La Adelita, which blends lychee, rose syrup, and lemon juice.
Te Quiero Mucho, The Sheung Wan, 286 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan
Flirting with the familiar, Terrible Baby is adept at bending the rules with a cheeky flair. Straight from the source, its Oaxacan mezcal is expertly blended into well-loved cocktails to give them a little twist.
Opting to embellish the smokiness of the small-batch Los Javis Espadin mezcal with contrasting tart notes, Tommy’s Margarita is a sharp drink that refreshes as it jolts you with spiced agave. For a highball that packs a similar but slightly subdued spike, the Mezcalito—calamansi juice muddled with ginger beer—is the way to go.
Terrible Baby, 4/F, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei | (+852) 2710 1866
A saloon-style inn that focuses primarily on bourbon and tequila drinks, the mezcal mixes at Honky Tonks Tavern are nonetheless worth raving about. After all, the Wild West did its fair share of encroaching into Mexican and Spanish territory! Mucho Danger elevates the spicy and sour combination, drawing upon jalepeño for the fire and a tri-citrus mixer of lemon shrub, lime, and orange juice for the tang.
Manifest your ideal destiny by sipping on the auspiciously named Rich & Famous, a powerhouse of a drink that brings together the flavours of bourbon, mezcal, Aperol, and Australian amaro, dashed off with yuzu and lime to tie it all together. If you are a lone ranger looking for a mellowed drink that retains smoke and depth, opt for the tequila-tinged Don’t Drink the Water, which stays light thanks to elderflower, lime, and mandarin shrub.
Honky Tonks Tavern, Man Hing Lane, Central | (+852) 5428 5627
The familiar La Paloma cocktail served at the chic tapas bar of the same name replaces the customary tequila for its “smokier cousin,” re-interpreting the compound concoction by using fresh grapefruit and plain soda. Perhaps it stands as a nod to the Spanish influence in the invention of mezcal, as well as a result of the interconnectedness between the remnants of conquistador culture and Mexico today.
La Paloma, 189 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun | (+852) 2291 6161
Always down for an adventure, Alisa’s general approach to life (and anything, really) is to “just go with the flow.” She believes that the most unforgettable moments are the most spontaneous ones. One thing she will always be certain of, however, is her love for the band My Chemical Romance and potato-based food.
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