Motorcycles and Cocktails Collide at Quirky Garage-Neighboring Bar Mokihi 1%ers
If you were to guess the drink of choice for any road weary characters from Easy Rider or Sons of Anarchy, fancy cocktails might be the last thing that springs to mind. And yet Beijing bikers can easily get their fill of both at a nondescript Sanyuanqiao garage, where mechanics and bowtied bartenders practically work side by side.
Yes, Beijing’s Japanese speakeasy mastermind Moto Uchiyama has found the quirkiest setting yet for his latest bar, Mokihi 1%ers. The now six-month-old venue (we'll be the first to admit it took a while to venture this far out) ups the ante on its already tough to find predecessors like Mokihi No: 3 in a dingy corridor at 3.3 Mall and the original Mokihi on Lucky Street (he’s also very well known for founding pioneering Apothecary a few years back when such establishments were a rarity in the capital).
And while 1%ers may live up to its name for unadventurous Beijingers, he garage is located on a side road directly across from Mason Flo, those of us willing to venture out will be not only be amused by the novelty of it all, but also gleefully buzzed by the deservedly well reputed cocktails to be had at every Mokihi.
That being said, it’s easy to almost ride past it – the bar has Rider’s Club in the window, rather than the Mokihi logo, in reference to the entire garage and not just the bar. But once your step inside, in full view of a row of bikes, and pop open the door immediately on the right, you’ll ride to a whole other world. That entirely different setting is, of course, on par with the other oasis-in-strange-places Mokihis – a woodgrain bar and walls, jazz and folky country playing from the speakers, a pair of vested and bowtied bartenders at the read, with top-notch spirits in hand.
1%ers also has the good fortune of being manned by Zoey, a soft-spoken mixologist who maneuvers her shaker with the speed and force of a piston. She speaks English fluently, meaning that she can direct your cab to this tough-to-find bar if you call for help.
A few of her favorite cocktails include the PPGP (RMB 90), made with Smith & Cross rum, fresh pineapple juice, ginger and honey syrup, along with fresh lime juice and a pineapple leaf (which makes for an quaint aesthetic touch). It’s not quite tart and booze-loaded enough to make you sputter like a bike that won’t start, but almost, making for a strong and citrusy cocktail that won't leave you licking your teeth.
A solid alternative is the milder Asakusa (also RMB 90). This Pandan vodka-based cocktail includes fresh cucumber slices and cucumber liqueur, along with lemongrass syrup and fresh lime juice, all of which exude a light and refreshing slice of summertime.
The Hell’s Angels wannabees might instead prefer the perfectly named Not Beer (RMB 90), which features Hob dark rum, maple syrup, egg white-esque Aquafaba chickpea brine, and a splash of IPA with soda, making for a comparatively rugged combination, at least after the Asakusa. An even stronger choice might be the Smoky Sour (RMB 100), made with Mcarthy’s whiskey, malt syrup, fresh lemon juice and an egg white (proving that, hey, even road warriors like frothy, fluffy textures).
There’s also dozens of high-end spirits on hand, be they Japanese blended malts like 17-year-old Tsuru (RMB 130 for a glass, or RMB 2080 for a bottle) and 21-year-old Taketsuru (RMB 280 per glass, or RMB 4480 for a bottle); Japanese single-grain whisky like Chita (RMB 110 per glass, or RMB 1760 for a bottle); a range of gin and vodka, and plenty more. It’s as solid a booze list as an upper-tier Beijing cocktail bar, squeaking the very snazziest of Sanlitun haunts.
After all that, you might be too tipsy to knock back the kickstand, let alone zoom off into the sunset on your hog, so we recommend you track down a designated driver to help weave you back home. While it may be a bit far to find, 1%ers will more than satisfy your booze cravings and your thirst for adventure once you hit the road to find it.
Mokihi 1%ers
Daily 6pm-2am. 8 Xiaoyun Lu Chaoyang District (152 1040 0589)
朝阳区 朝阳区霄云路8号
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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
Photos: courtesy of Mokihi 1%ers, Kyle Mullin
