Okay, okay, so we’re a little late to the party on this one, but as the old saying goes: better late than never. With that mantra in mind, this month we are excited to introduce you to ATOC, operated by former McCawley’s Guangzhou boss Tait Dalrymple.
Located in a small corner unit on Huaxun Jie, ATOC bills itself as a casual cocktail bar that deals in quality beverages – from Carlsberg imported all the way from Europe to mixed bevvies overseen by cocktail queen Pixie, the bar’s drink manager.
On our visit, Dalrymple tells us that ATOC is very much focused on beverages, stating, “We don’t do any food, we just concentrate on drinks.”
Image via Tait Dalrymple
Upon posting up at the bar’s long, patio-facing tabletop, we trouble Dalrymple for a glass of his much-hyped imported Carlsberg (RMB30), which, we were pleased to discover, tasted fresher than the brand’s domestically brewed suds.
After polishing off the frothy, cold Danish beer, we decide to put booze sorceress Pixie to the test. Her whiskey sour (RMB50) has received high praise from local bargoers, and it lives up to our expectations, with the drink’s flagship citrusy taste and soft, foamy top executed perfectly.
Pixie tells us that her mojito is also exemplary, although we instead opt for a Bloody Mary (RMB50) – which does not disappoint.
With just the right amount of zest and a perfectly-balanced, savory flavor, ATOC’s Bloody Mary is among the best we’ve sampled in Guangzhou.
Image via Matthew Bossons/That's
We finish our liquor-fueled escapades with Pixie’s ‘pink toddy,’ a cheeky play on a classic Scottish beverage. Like its forerunner, the hot toddy, the pink toddy comes served hot, but with Jim Beam bourbon instead of Scottish whisky. Other tweaks to the recipe include the addition of cranberry juice and rose syrup. The pink toddy is one of a line of new beverages ATOC’s head mixologist is rolling out for the winter months.
While there is no kitchen at ATOC, Dalrymple tells us that outside food is allowed in the bar and that guests are welcome to order eats from nearby restaurants – such as Skewerz, which is located right next door – to enjoy while they drink.
Before leaving, we question the hospitable proprietor about the bar’s name, which is an acronym for ‘A Touch of Class.’
“My uncle had a bar slash bottle shop that was called A Touch of Class in Gisborne, in New Zealand,” Dalrymple says. “So it’s basically in memory of him.”
Price: RMB50
Who’s going: Australians, lots and lots of Australians
Good for: quality cocktails, quality banter
Nearest metro: Wuyangcun (Exit B), 10 minutes; Zhujiang New Town (Exit B1), 10 minutes
Mon-Fri 3pm-3am, Sat-Sun 11am-3am; see listing for ATOC.
[Cover image via Matthew Bossons/That's]
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