New Shuangjing Bar Bronze Boasts a Vast Whiskey List

Kyle Mullin | Nov 16, 2016 5:36 pm | Add a comment | 2434 reads

The bar may be called Bronze, but a better name for its whiskey selection would be “sterling.” Indeed, this new Shuangjing venue has dozens of varieties on offer, including Speyside, Highland, and Japanese options.

Several of those choices are very pricey, like a RMB 600 glass of 18-year-old Yamazaki, or a RMB 350 glass of 25-year-old Caol Ila. And while those high-end options are bound to impress connoisseurs (especially in Shaungjing, which lacks such fancy options), the bulk of Bronze’s whiskeys range between RMB 100-200 for a glassful, including Kilchoman Loch Gorm (RMB 100), 20-year-old Benriach (RMB 120), Highland Park Sigurd (RMB 150), and more.

If those options still strike you as too steeply priced, fear not. Bronze also has a few even cheaper choices that will attract thriftier patrons. These entry level options include a 12-year-old Caol Ila (RMB 70 for a glass). It boasts a delicious slow burn bitterness that’s not overpowering, and proved to be subtle, smooth and inviting enough to tempt even the most wary whiskey newbies.

From there, we tried the RMB 80 15-year-old Glenfiddich. This Canadian single malt scotch may be only 10 kuai more than the Caol Ila that we pleasantly downed a moment before, but it’s flavor was robust enough to satisfy much more seasoned barflies, thanks to a sharp sourness that’s guaranteed to leave your lips pursed, your eyes watering, and your taste buds begging you for one more thrilling sip. There is also a more limited selection of wines and gins by the glass ranging in price from RMB 40-100. The best of the former include Coralba Ambassador (RMB 40) and Flying Kiwi Pinot Noir (RMB 50); and among the latter Tanqueray (RMB 40), Ransom Dry Gin (RMB 60), and Monkey 47 (RMB 100).

As we knocked back the whiskeys, bartender Allen Ling also offered us some cocktails that he was experimenting with for an as yet unfinished new menu section (be sure to check the web version of this article later in November for updates on Bronze’s cocktails). Ling, who worked at top-notch Courtyard 4 haunt Janes and Hooch before moving on to Bronze, is an amiable host who is eager to recommend the right whiskey to suit each of his customer’s palates (and budgets). He was even more generous with the cocktails, mixing different ingredients like cracked eggs, a vast array of bitters, and fruit slices, before handing the glasses over to customers, free of charge, to hear their feedback. His hospitable demeanor was as smooth as the high grade whiskeys on offer, meaning Shuangjing now has an elegant, high end lounge specializing in whiskey on par with any other in Beijing.

Bronze
Daily 5pm-late. 2-06 Tianzhijiaozi, Dongbo Jie, Chaoyang District (no phone)
朝阳区天之骄子东柏街小区底商2层06号

This article originally appeared in the Nov/Dec 2016 issue of the Beijinger, which you can read here via Issuu, via the PDF here, or in hard copy at all of your favorite venues across town.