Flask Speakeasy was one of the city’s most popular bar openings last year, but since its recent closure due to landlord issues, Taiwanese-American owners Jackson Cheng and Kevin Yu have moved onto greener pastures. Quite literally, since Botanist is a bar dedicated to all things herbal.
With interiors reminiscent of a crossover between an unusually chic laboratory and a green house, Botanist boasts outdoor seating with a view of Julu Lu street life (a few doors down from EGG). Or, sit at the bar and enjoy an equally aesthetic view of the bar's uniformly tall and handsome mixologists – many of whom were brought over from Taiwan – making and shaking their way through the menu.
Botanicals have an inseparable role in distillery and cocktail making, something that Botanist exploits with herbal-infused spirits, seasonal fruit, edible floral garnishes and various fauna. Almost every drink features a ‘fresh’ element.
One of the most successful drinks we tried was the ‘#12’ (RMB90), combining fresh lime, pineapple, pandan syrup and Zubrowka vodka with… beetroot. Sounds weird, tastes great.
The ‘#11’ is similarly pleasant, but wants to be about double the size for its RMB85 price tag, though the combination of cucumber, lime juice, Gordon’s Gin, Frangelico and white cocoa do make for a beguiling and smooth sipping cocktail.
Botanist goes full-on mad scientist with the ‘#13’ (RMB90), a peculiar mix of tomato juice, lemon grass, dried plum powder, soy sauce and Bacardi 8 Years in a hollowed out frozen tomato. This one’s definitely an acquired taste (though an excellent WeChat Moment opportunity...), and we couldn’t help but think the tomato cup idea was a missed opportunity for a unique Bloody Mary.
The ‘#33’ (RMB90) outdoes even the tomato, arriving to the table in a decommissioned light bulb filled with a boozy mix of rose petals, pear liqueur, rose water, Miller’s Gin and white grape vinegar. It’s certainly a gimmick, but hey, we went for it.
Lastly, we finish with a ‘#3’ (RMB90), an icy cold guava cup with rosemary, honey and pineapple juice, which is refreshingly cold thanks to its pre-frosted metal cup, and perfect for summer vibes. One of the better drinks Botanist makes.
Like lots of upmarket bars, cocktails can take more than a few minutes to arrive, especially since the place is full of trendy 20-somethings drinking out of test tube beakers and frozen tomatoes. Needless to say, tit won’t be for you if you like a classic bar atmosphere or cheaper drinks, but Botanist is a serious bar and a trendy choice for drinks with friends this summer.
Price: RMB200-300 per person
Who’s going: young local hipsters, Taiwanese expats
Good for: cocktails, non-smoking, al fresco drinking, small groups
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