The 19th-century novel The Scarlet Letter: A Romance, in which – spoiler alert – the letter is A and stands for Adulteress, inspired the Hollywood comedy Easy A, starring a sassy red-haired Emma Stone. More recently, however, it also inspired Scarlet A, a new speakeasy in Gulou in which Scarlet stands for Scarlet, the whisky-loving bar owner.
The bar in question has far more in common with the roaring 20s than 17th-century puritanical New England, capturing hints of old-school glamour and prohibition-era ruckus. The space – hidden behind a heavy door and a pair of sliding shelves – is lean but substantial, with three distinct indoor and outdoor areas. Classy and (once you’re in) welcoming.
More importantly: from the fun flavor-profile map on the menu to the presentation, the cocktails are inventive, refreshing and very well-priced, with a menu curated by BBC (Sanlitun’s resident cocktail mecca Bottle, Boot & Cigar).
We enjoyed the Don Diego (RMB90), a smoky-sweet concoction of mezcal, Aperol and lime. Our jaunt also saw Jack, the bartender, whip up a Hester Prynne (named for the heroine of The Scarlet Letter, RMB55), a becoming gin, raspberry and egg white cocktail, and an Al Capone (a spicy rum-based drink infused with chocolate, RMB65).
Overall, Scarlet A is a distinct nod to literary and pop-culture nerds that lets the flavors do the talking. If it’s a sin to look and taste this good, Scarlet A is unrepentant.
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