2011 Reader Bar & Club Awards: Best Bartenders
Voting in the 2011 Reader Bar & Club Awards is well underway – vote here if you haven’t already! Today, we’re taking a closer look at drinks. The key to any good cocktail is good alcohol, and proper proportions, but mostly a good bartender. These are the people whom you've nominated as the city’s best bartenders, the people behind the bars that could probably turn water into wine and still leave from for adding their own personal flair to the end product. In no particular order:
Paul Mathew, Flamme
Who: The mind behind the drinks at Flamme is also a bar consultant, cocktail blogger at his website Blood & Sand, and co-owner of acclaimed London bar The Hide
Drinks to Try: The Passionate Englishman, Burnt Brandy and Peach Sour
Jack Zhou, First Floor
Who: The steady hand at the helm of one of Beijing’s top beer-drinking spots can also put a handy drink together
Drink to Try: Mojito
George Zhou, George's
Who: A former winner of our “Best Bartender” crown during his time at Q Bar, Zhou now works magic at his own bar, George’s. One of the pioneers of Beijing’s cocktail scene dating back to his time at Midnight (in the space now used by Terra)
Drink to Try: Butterscotch Martini
Ah Jian, Second Floor
Who: The McCartney to Jack Zhou’s Lennon, Ah Jian is as studious a pupil of the art of cocktails as you’ll find in Beijing.
Drink to Try: Lychee Lemon Martini
Stephanie Rocard, Mao Mao Chong
Who: Always innovating, creating well-balanced drinks, but never afraid to knock you out with a hefty dose of liquor, Stephanie (and husband Stephen) has built a reputation for Mao Mao Chong as one of the highest-achieving cocktail bars in Beijing.
Drinks to Try: Mala Mule, The Jing Fling
Kanetaka Daiki, Glen
Who: Winner of a “best young bartender of the year” in his native Japan, Kanetaka’s precision service sets the right tone for enjoying Glen’s secluded members club-style vibe.
Drink to Try: Classic martini
Motonari Uchiyama, Mokihi (and Twilight)
Who: One of the unsung heroes of Beijing’s cocktail bar scene finally gets some recognition. As well as opening now-defunct cocktail bar Er, Motonari has been a player in three of the best bars to open in Beijing in the past two years: he’s rarely seen behind the bar at Apothecary these days, but you can regularly catch him quietly stirring up great drinks at Mokihi and Twilight.
Drinks to Try: Smoke martini (available at both Mokihi and Twilight), any of Mokihi’s Old Fashioneds
You've met the nominees, now let us know who you think the best is! Click here to cast your vote – the balloting ends on May 9.
Photos: Judy Zhou, Sui
