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Negroni Week 2022 Hong Kong @ The Dispensary
- 08/10/2022
Negroni Week in Hong Kong 2022
Negroni Week is an annual event that celebrates one of the world’s most iconic cocktails. The Negroni is a simple mix of campari, gin, and vermouth, but its unique flavour has made it a favourite among bartenders and mixologists around the world. From Sep 12 -18, 2022, bars and restaurants across Hong Kong participated in Negroni Week, offering their own unique twists on the classic cocktail. All proceeds from Negroni Week will go towards charities chosen by each participating venue. So whether you’re a fan of the classic Negroni or you’re looking to try something new, be sure to head to your nearest participating bars during Negroni Week and support a good cause.
The Dispensary in Tai Kwun Hong Kong
The Dispensary is Listed on “The 50 best Hong Kong bars” by Time Out. The two restaurants, Cantina and The Chinese Library, reflect the unique east-meets-west heritage of Hong Kong with a stunning bar at its heart – The Dispensary. Occupying a prime location on the first floor of the historic Police Headquarters Block, the former Police Officers’ Mess.
In the early 1900s the Police Headquarters Building housed over 200 constables from different cultures who lived and worked together all under one roof. The police force devised their own bar on the first floor which is exactly where The Dispensary stands today, presenting a collection of east-meets-west-inspired cocktails.
Nepali Veteran Mixologist
Mr. Dilip Thapa, Bar Manager of the Dispensary, is a veteran mixologist who have 16 years of experience working in different luxury posh bars in Lan Kwai Fong Hong Kong such as Armani, Tonic and Liquid. Dilip also have years of experience to blend in food with cocktails.
Back in 2006 when he just started to work as bartender, there were only a few bars in Hong Kong that could offer a wide selection of classic cocktails. Dilip notices that the “cocktail trend” started to catch on around 2011.
According to Dilip, “customers are getting more sophisticated. They care not only about the vibes and environment, but they also like to know more about the cocktail ingredients in depth, and the story behind creating the cocktails. “
The Dispensary Signature Negroni Variations
The Dispensary has been participating in the Negroni Week since it opens in 2017. And during the Negroni Week all the participating bars create their own signature Negroni twist.
Negroni Twist "Metamorphosis"
Metamorphosis is a Negroni twist created by Dilip, featuring Campari, gin infused with caterpillar fungus tea from Nepal, and red vermouth.
Dilip comes from Nepal which is home to many unique and exotic plants and animals, some of which are used in traditional medicine. One such plant is the caterpillar fungus, which is prized for its healing properties.
Dilip’s father used to be a mountaineer in Nepal. The best caterpillar fungus grows on high altitude mountains and his father knew where to find them and would bring back to city for trade. Dilip knew this amazing ingredient from his father since he was small. And during the pandemic, Dilip thought it will be nice to have negronis that can boost your immune system. And this inspired him to create this one-of-a-kind Negroni twist – Metamorphosis.
As the final touch, agave worm salt is added to give an interesting “smoky taste” to the drink. Agave worm salt is a type of salt that is made by combining regular salt with the larvae of the agave worms. The agave worm is a type of moth that feeds on the agave plant. The larvae are harvested and then ground up into a powder, which is then combined with salt. This mixture is then left to sit for a period of time before being used.
Negroni Twist "Samurai"
The “Samurai” is a Japanese-inspired twist on the classic Negroni cocktail. It features campari, umeshu (plum wine), and burbon whiskey, and is served with a lotus leaf. The campari gives the drink a bitter edge, while the umeshu and burbon add sweetness and depth of flavor.
Umeshu is a Japanese liqueur made from plums. The fruit is steeped in alcohol and sugar, resulting in a sweet, tart beverage with an alcohol content of around 15%. In addition to its unique flavor, umeshu is also said to have health benefits, including the ability to improve digestion and reduce stress levels.
The lotus leaf helps to add a bit of earthy herbal taste and an oriental touch to the “Samurai”.
Chill your Negroni with Style and Elegance
The perfect negroni is all about balance. The bitter taste of the gin, the sweetness of the vermouth, and the acidity of the Campari all come together to create a complex and refreshing cocktail.
But if your negroni is too warm, it can throw off that delicate balance. That’s why it’s important to chill your cocktail with big, crystal clear ice cubes. They melt more slowly than smaller cubes, so your drink won’t get watery as quickly.
Next, stir your drink vigorously in a tumbler for at least 30 seconds and pour the negroni to a rock glass with big ice cubes in it.
However you might want to savour your negroni and keep them chill for a longer while. Why don’t you give it a spin with Crystocraft SMOOTH-SPIN Glass? Before you take a sip, spin the glass for 10-20 seconds so that the ice cubes inside will chill the negroni quicker – a unique and elegant way to enjoy your negronis!
Smooth-Spin Rock Glasses for Bars & restaurants
This unique SMOOTH-SPIN rock glass rotates smoothly on its patented stainless steel metal base as you lightly spin it.
We can also tailor made the base to the size of your rock glasses which your bars and restaurants are currently using.
The SMOOTH-SPIN stainless steel base is available in 4 choices of color: stainless steel / rose gold / jet black / aluminium. We can also engrave your bar logos and names on the base.
Please feel free to contact us for more information.
