Tucked away in United Valley, a newly opened F&B complex that loyal That’s readers will recall as the home of Shrine bar, Tour is an intimate spot that offers a unique take on drinking.
Specializing in pairing small bites with cocktails, the Torontonian front man Mack Ross is a shaman with spirits. Inside, a row of six bar seats position visitors within earshot of him. Ross’ conversation overflows with knowledge and banter, talking customers through the thought process behind each drink. Whether you’re an amateur or an expert drinker, he takes everyone on a geographical and historical tour with each order.
Upon arrival, you’ll be handed a special menu so good that you can eat it, and we mean that literally. Made from rice paper, customers are expected to tear it up and make either a sweet or savory miniature taco, by filling the paper with finely chopped peanuts topped and light mint chutney, or melted Hershey’s chocolate.
This innovative nibble acts as a prelude to the running theme across the specials – an accompanying snack paired with the cocktails on offer. Highlights include a Negroni topped with a grilled cheese toasty (RMB80), a whisky sour with a zingy lemon tart (RMB85) and the ‘Citrus Paradisi,’ topped with a scoop of baked coconut ice cream (RMB85).
Sounds like a gimmick, apart from the fact that it totally works. Ross, who is creatively responsible for the entire menu, demonstrates his skills by successfully pairing experimental snacks with drinks that make perfect sense together.
The bar has a lot more depth behind the specials, however, with 23 flights of over 100 liquors available. For RMB100, you can sample three different tasters of gins, whiskeys and rums among others. Referred to as ‘tours,’ ordering one of these reveals another glimpse into the world of distillery, and it’s easy to spend hours sat listening to the stories that the bar’s alcohol virtuoso tells.
We later learn that the bar’s main investor toured across Scotland, before returning to Shanghai adamant on opening a bar under the name ‘Tour.’ And that’s what you get, whether it’s an Indian spiced whisky or a Dutch gin, there’s always something to excite and capture the imagination. A genuine passion is obvious, which both foodies and drinkers alike can appreciate.
Price: RMB80-300 per person.
Who’s going: Young expats
Good for: Dates, catch-ups, peckish drinkers
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