Booze News: Half Off Champagne, World Class Indian Bartender, Natural Wine Festival

Feeling thirsty? Wet your whistle with Booze News, our wrap-up of the week's best bar deals, parties, drink concoctions, industry gossip, and more.

Jul 20: India's World Class Bartender at Opera Bombana

Typically, Opera Bombana appeals to foodies rather than barflies, but that's about to change. The high-end Italian restaurant will host one of the biggest guest bar shifts of the summer this Saturday, helmed by none other than India World Class Bartender Devender Kumar. Aside from winning that globally recognized competition in 2012, Kumar was also named Bacardi Martini Grand Prix India Flair champion in 2009, before ranking fifth globally in the world finals in Italy. He's now working at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Opera's sister establishment in Hong Kong.

No word yet on what cocktails he'll be making. However, he will be selling those mixes for RMB 78 each, which is far below the going rate at many overpriced lounges around town, making this guest shift a can't miss event for local cocktail lovers. Kumar will be serving those drinks on Saturday from 6pm-midnight.

Jul 21: Natural Wine Festival at The Merchants

The Merchants has invited Shanghai natural wine bar No Name Wine to host a pop-up natural wine festival in Beijing this Sunday, Jul 21. No Name Wine has curated an extensive list of more than 30 wines from natural wine producers. From 2.30-6.30pm, you'll be given eight tasting vouchers, which you may redeem from a selection of 30-plus delicious natural wines from South Africa, France, Italy, Spain, Chile, New Zealand, Portugal, and more. Presale tickets for the eight tastings are priced at RMB 198 or RMB 228 on the door. You can then pay RMB 98 for an additional five pours. Find out more, including how to book, in this WeChat post.

Jul 21: Aperidisco at Bottega

Bottega Xinyuanli, meanwhile, invites Aperol spritz enthusiasts to a refreshing summer afternoon party this Sunday, 3-9pm. For RMB 120, you'll get one spritz as well as access to a buffet from 6-9pm that features pizza romana, croquetta, arancini, and more. From there, prices of spritz will start at RMB 45 and get RMB 5 cheaper for every glass you order (until you hit RMB 30). Music will be pumped by DJ Giando, and the decor will be tropical, making for a thoroughly summery Sunday. 

Daily (5-8pm): Half Off Champagne at Union

Newly opened Opposite House lounge Union has a new promotion that'll make you want to pop bottles and celebrate. Every night from 5-8pm their entire collection of Champagne will be sold at half price. From Charles Heidsieck (typically RMB 175 per glass, RMB 780 per bottle) to Billecart Salmon (usually RMB 3,500 per bottle), and a number of midrange options, this deal opens up the Champagne playing field with prices that you're unlikely to find anywhere else.

Daily: Beijing's Longest Happy Hour at Caravan

Ritan Park-neighboring bar and bistro Caravan is giving us all the reason we need to go day drinking (not a difficult feat, to be sure). Their happy hour stretches from, get this, 11.30am-7pm and covers Asahi (RMB 20) Vedette (RMB 30), mixed drinks and house wine (for RMB 35 or RMB 100 for three), and all other cocktails for RMB 50. Hey, it's 5 o'clock somewhere.  

Great Leap's New Cans of Silver Needle White Ale

Great Leap's online store is now selling its latest canned craft beer: Silver Needle White Ale. Its title is derived from the Chinese tea of the same name in its recipe, giving the beer a fragrant tea aroma and flavor. Though this might go over the heads of the uninitiated, most Chinese patrons will delight in Great Leap's creative inclusion of this renowned ingredient. After all, silver needle white tea is considered one of the best variety of white tea, with one expert calling it "unique" and "precious" because it is made entirely of young, yet to be opened tea silver buds, with nary a leaf or stem to be found (unlike other teas). All that gives the tea a "mellow light, yet quite refreshing flavor" that should suit this 5.2 percent ABV beer quite well. For more information, and to order cans of your own, check out Great Leap's WeChat account.

Thirsting for caffeine instead? Check out this surprisingly good café on (yup) Sanlitun Bar Street. 

Photos courtesy of the bars and restaurants, platingsandpairings.com, townandcountrymag.com