Booze News: Winter Drinks Galore, Wine Parties & More

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

Modernista unveils “The Magnificent Seven” hot drinks menu

Dongcheng restaurant/bar Modernista unveiled a slate of winter drinks with their own personal touch this week, which they’ve affectionately dubbed The Magnificent Seven, available every night from 6pm onwards. These include takes on classics such as the Ginger Honey Rye Toddy, made with spicy ginger water and rye whiskey, as well as the Lavender Milk Punch and Spiced Rum Chocolate.

Head on over to try the Spiced Rum Chocolate, Cherry Coffee Chocolate and Lavender Milk Punch at RMB 20 off tonight, Saturday and Sunday respectively. You’ll also be able to try one of their latest dishes – the Pear Shaped Potato Duck Bomb – tonight and this weekend only.

A board of winter specials arrives at Nina

Fans of the hutong-based aperitivo bar Nina received an early Christmas gift in the form of a board of winter drinks. This list includes the Hot Toddy, made with bourbon, lemon and honey (RMB 50); the Penicillin which includes scotch, lemon, ginger and a float of smoky Islay Scotch (RMB 60), and the November Sour, made with bourbon, lemon, Earl Grey tea, and nutmeg (RMB 60). Sip on these to keep warm as the temperatures continue to drop!

Wine Fest & new winter happy hour at Café Zarah

Enticing wine lovers to try their exclusive wines – some of which are only sold by the bottle – Zarah is hosting a Wine Fest this Saturday, Nov 20. Head up to the hutongs and sip on selected new varietals like Heracles Primitivo from Masseria Surani of Italy and the Skyline of Gobi Chardonnay from China for RMB 40 a glass. Plus, if you order a bottle, you can enjoy free bruschetta as well.

The venue’s wine supplier EMW will also be offering lucky draw prizes throughout the evening, including bottles of wine and free tickets to an upcoming tasting on Dec 1 (an RMB 220 value). These deals and prizes are only available tomorrow night from 6pm ‘til late, so don’t miss out.

Also, this evening – Friday, Nov 19 – they’ll be debuting their Winter Happy Hour: 4pm-9pm all draft beers are RMB 35, while wine and Prosecco is 30 percent off by the bottle and RMB 35 per glass. Then, from 6pm-9pm, all cocktails are RMB 40 per glass.

Great Leap debuts something completely different

If you’re looking for tipples that are a little more mellow than beer and altogether different from the regular offerings of a capital brewery, Great Leap has got you covered with a slew of... something that's not quite beer... not quite wine... but a new sort of beverage fermented entirely from glucose with added hops for flavor that's described by the team as tasting like "a combination of beer and sparkling wine". Dubbed Right On Time Bubbly, the beverages come in a variety of flavors, like passionfruit, raspberry, grapefruit, blood orange, and the vague yet intriguing "original" and "premium" varieties each of which is priced at RMB 40 a glass.

Members deals & Beer University at Commune Reserve

It’s good to be a member at Commune Reserve. Sign up at the venue by scanning the QR code and, once you’re signed up, you can enjoy BOGOF on all tap beers from 2pm-5pm every day. But wait, there’s more! Every Wednesday night is members’ night, meaning you – if you're a member, of course – can enjoy BOGO on all beers on tap and in the cellar from 9pm-1am.

The restaurant has also started their Beer University, which happens on the third Wednesday of every month from 7pm-8.30pm. Each session, valued at RMB 168 per person, features a special beer tasting of six beers (5 oz each) geared around a different theme each time, with a sharable snack included.

READ: New in the Neighborhood: Thai Edition

Images courtesy of the venues