Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of China, one handcrafted cocktail at a time. Async, a new Lower East Side bar, offers a flavor-filled tour of the country through its unique drinks menu.
At Async, a new cocktail bar on the Lower East Side, Chinese cocktail culture is on full display. The brainchild of Droveen Zhang, currently the head bartender at the award-winning Epic Bar in Shanghai, the drinks menu translates varying regional flavor profiles into drinks.
Upon arrival, patrons receive a rolled suede scroll that doubles as a map of China, featuring nine cocktails each inspired by and linked to a different region’s flavors. The ‘Silk Road Negroni’ , for example, represents Xinjiang‘s rich fruits, with its red date cognac, dried grape, fig leaf vermouth, Fernet-Branca, and walnut bitters.
Each cocktail forms some connection to its region’s crops, cuisine, or culinary traditions. The ‘Spicy Madame’ nods to the Hunan region and its iconic dish, chopped chili fish head, while the ‘Jasmine Breeze’ embodies the Fujian region’s tea culture. The ‘Mystic Rainforest’ taps into the Yunnan region’s inclusion of tropical fruits in savory dishes.
The menu also features cocktails inspired by other regions, such as the ‘Flaming Tropic’ from the Hainan region and the ‘Tsingtao Orchard’ cocktail, which incorporates the lager from the Shandong region. Beijing‘s famed Beijing Roast Duck is celebrated with the ‘Imperial Smoke’ , while the ‘Frozen Forest Martini’ utilizes Asian pear, pine nut, ginseng, and cedarwood to taste like a sip of the snow-covered forests in Dongbei‘s Greater Khingan Range.
In addition to the cocktails, Async‘s food menu expands on the theme of regional exploration, with dishes such as Ningbo seafood white wine pasta, yellow fish croaker rolls, and steamed rice cakes drizzled in osmanthus syrup. The minimalist space puts the spotlight on the food and drinks, while the sleek, moody design balances out potentially kitschy elements.
Zhang‘s ability to translate China‘s regional flavors and cultures into intriguing yet accessible cocktails make for a notable entry point for Chinese cocktail culture in New York. Async’s menu will satisfy sweet, savory, or spicy cocktail enthusiasts, providing a refreshing way of interacting with diverse Chinese cuisines.
Chinese cocktail culture has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century.
The country's first cocktail bar, the Shanghai Club, opened in 1919 and served classic drinks like the Old Fashioned and Martini.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Chinese cities like Shanghai and Beijing became popular destinations for Western expats, who introduced their own cocktail traditions to the local scene.
Today, Chinese bars and restaurants offer a unique blend of traditional and modern cocktails, often incorporating local flavors and ingredients.
- observer.com | Async Maps a Flavorful Tour of China, One Cocktail at a Time
