Sanlitun's Sleek New Cocktail Bar Scandal is 2018's Best Opening So Far
When you hear "cocktail," what images spring to mind? For us, shakers, rows of gleaming spirits and ice – lots and lots of ice – and perhaps a smooth bartender are the operative ingredients when it comes to the art of mixology. One element we wouldn't automatically think of would be sous vide, but it just so happens that the newest kid on the Sanlitun cocktail block, Scandal, uses the method to create every single one of its drinks.
While the technique might best be known for producing perfectly tender steaks, Scandal’s co-founder Kevin Song assures us that when turned to drinks, the vacuumed-sealed cooking method translates into more precise preparation, and helps to consistently maintain high-quality aromas and flavors across drinks no matter how rushed off their feet the bartenders may be.
Scandal’s menu, currently encompassing a slim seven cocktails (all RMB 80), displays their unusual ambitions and willingness to experiment. The drinks all have simple names: Pandan, the Coffee Bean, and the Coriander Seed, which represent the key aroma of each cocktail. The most popular choices so far include the Almond and the Chestnut, the former a nutty and creamy concoction with a white rum base, the latter a sweet and full-flavored tipple with a bourbon base and a clever dash of porcini mushroom syrup to tie up the earthy notes.
Similarly, the Rosemary proves a great example of Scandal’s aim to challenge drinkers with their original and innovative offerings. Using a rosemary-infused cachaça base, the drink also includes novel ingredients of green pea puree and yellow mustard, and is topped with dehydrated okra. Sporting a bitter and bold taste with a dry finish, this one didn't quite land on its feet and won't quickly become our go-to choice.
While this might all sound a little bit like an episode of MasterChef, there’s also plenty on offer at Scandal for the less adventurous. Aside from cocktails, the bar is well-stocked with over 50 kinds of gin and two dozen Scotch whiskeys as well as others from Ireland, America, and further afield. We also appreciated the little flourishes and attention to detail, such as the crystal glassware, which has been custom-made in Shanxi.
The atmosphere of the bar is also more traditional cocktail-glam than molecular gastronomy kitchen. Tucked between a Japanese restaurant and an izakaya, Scandal’s entrance is easy to miss – but sets the mood off the bat with its pink neon sign above a thick velvet curtain. Slipping past the curtain is like entering another world – matcha green walls, palm trees, and a marble floor project an atmosphere of tropical elegance with a European twist.
Center stage on the ground floor is a commanding, rounded cocktail bar, while the first floor's dim lighting, cozy sofas, and velvet-covered walls offers a more private area to while away an evening. Song describes how after leaving d lounge he traveled the world, collecting inspiration from colonial Havana and the Mediterranean, bringing those warm impressions back with him to Beijing in the form of this vibrant and textured interior.
People say spring is the season of hope, but for us Beijingers, it may just be that January is the month of hope. Why? After a whole year of frustrating brick-based closures, we’re pleased to see the seeds of a few new small businesses finally sprouting. Off to a solid start, we’re excited to see how Scandal grows.
Scandal
Tue-Sun 7pm-2am. Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu (across from Rock and Roll Club), Chaoyang District (6508 5150)
朝阳区工体北路4号（滚石俱乐部对面，桥长居酒屋旁边）
More stories by this author here.
Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure
Photos: Tracy Wang
