O'Bar Brings You New Boozy Festive Drinks This Holiday Season

Margaux Schreurs | Dec 5, 2016 5:30 pm | 2 comments | 1665 reads

There's nothing us Beijingers love more than a seasonal drink, otherwise why would all of our most frequented bars be putting out hot, festive drinks?

RELATED: Fangjia Hutong's Mimi e Coco New Hot Drinks Menu and Happy Hours

O'Bar is no different. Attila Balint, who you might recognize from Atmosphere Bar (the highest bar in Beijing, located in the China World Summit Wing) but has since joined the Nuo Hotel Beijing team as the F&B beverage manager, tells us a little about the hotel bar's newest seasonal concoctions.

What are your main influences for your new seasonal cocktails?
Winter is knocking on the door and it’s time to appreciate slightly heavier drinks. We have also replaced the based for these concoctions, instead of using a white spirit we are grabbing some aged ingredients. The drinks might be on the sweeter side as a result. We want to take care of our friends that they get enough energy during the winter months.

Which one is your favorite one to drink, and why?
I really enjoy the Do Me a Favour cocktail (pictured below), because of its complexity and multi-layered drinking pleasure.

Which one is your favorite one to make, and why?
I love to prepare all of them, for me is no difference which cocktail I prepare. I work on a perfect drink every time to ensure that my guests have unforgettable liquid enjoyment at O’Bar.

How did you combine seasonal flavors with Chinese local ingredients?
First of all, I’m using pear which helps to protect your lungs during the polluted days. I combined the Chinese five spice with honey and walnut to create a silky, creamy texture. Last but not least, a few drop of bitterness and some blended scotch will round up the whole drink. 

How else will O'Bar be bringing a festive atmosphere?
We have got a closed and heated winter garden where everyone can enjoy the sunshine and the cold nights, outside under the stars. The O’Bar winter terrace is very unique in town, and if this doesn't tempt you enough, there is also an awesome DJ, great bar snacks, and a countdown party on December 31. 

More stories by this author here.

Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Photos courtesy of Nuo Hotel

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mrxuejia's picture mrxuejia Submitted by Guest on Tue, 01/03/2017 - 01:56

I have gone to O'Bar over a dozen times to Smoke Cigars and have my afternoon business meetings with my high networth clients, and every time I have gone to O'BAR I have experienced mediocre Bar service. Not from the wait staff, but from the drink service staff.

I aways order top shelf Whiskeys or Rums, and 9 times out of 10, I keep sending my drinks back becouse the bartender adds machine made ice to my top shelf spirit. Machine made ice is used for mixed drinks, but not for top shelf spirits in which you need to use a BIG CUBE OF ICE.

Then from the 9 times out of 10, 50% of the time the bar staff, strains the top shelf drink that has been water down by the machine made ice and then adds it to the new glass with the cube ice, instead of poring a new drink. So then this 90 Rmb to 120 Rmb top shelf spirit, is all watered down and tasteless, including taken about 15 minutes to get back to me. And this has happen not when the venue is filled with clients that you can use the excuse that it's busy, but when there has been no more than 10 people.

Then over the past months I have seen the complementary snacks at O'Bar change from assorted nuts to CHEAP OLD POPCORN, that you get at the movies.

This type of experience is what I would expect at a sleazy bar joint in Sanlitun, but not at the Nou Hotel's signature lounge O'Bar, that boast the best service and that it's the most luxurious hotel in Beijing.

When I voiced my opinion to both the GM and the New Bar Manager they ignor my concerns.

"In the land of the blind, the one eye man is king" I have both eyes open and see right thought you, your service is subpar and mediocre...

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