Raising the bar

SHIBUI YAKITORI BAR KL

Ground Floor, No.147, Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur

Business hours: Noon to 1am (Tuesday-Sunday)

Tel: [phone]

Shibui Yakitori Bar KL transports guests to a cosy izakaya offering grill-to-order skewers, refreshing sake and creative cocktails.

Sake selections include Kizakura Junmai Daiginjo, Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo and Manotsuru Junmai Ginjo Toki.

Those wanting fruitier flavours can try the lychee-infused sake and asam boi-infused sake.

As for the sake-based cocktails, the Lychee Saketini Slushie is a sweet and sour libation worth trying.

Lychee Saketini Slushie from Shibui Yakitori Bar KL is a sweet and sour libation

Mixed with lychee, lemon and sake, this cocktail is approachable and easy to drink, suitable for pairing with a platter of yakitori skewers.

The Wasabi Collins, on the other hand, mixes wasabi peach, lemon, London Dry Gin and soda.

Guests can also try the Jim Beam or Jack Daniel’s highball series.

THE LOCKER & LOFT, No.40A, First Floor, Jalan SS20/10, Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Business hours: 5pm to 1am (Tuesday-Thursday), 5pm to 2am (Friday and Saturday), 4pm to 1am (Sunday)

WhatsApp: [phone]

Liquid Nasi Lemak by The Locker & Loft.

Neighbourhood watering hole The Locker & Loft is offering some locally inspired cocktails.

The Liquid Nasi Lemak, for example, is topped with a skewered cucumber ribbon plus a side of toasted peanuts and anchovies and served with a smidgen of sambal on a small banana leaf.

The gin-based concoction has the award-winning Gin Malaya, coconut milk, ginger, lemongrass, cucumber, pandan syrup and, of course, sambal.

Gin Malaya is produced by Crossbill Distillery in Glasgow, Scotland.

One of Locker & Loft’s other cocktails, The Torch, is also mixed with torch ginger (bunga kantan).

It is muddled with gin, Aperol, lemon, egg white and pandan syrup to make a delicious floral concoction that is memorable.

THE RC BAR

RC Bar showcases Monsieur Gin in five signature cocktails this June.

Level 1, The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur

Business hours: 11am to 11pm, daily

Tel: [phone]

RC Bar is showcasing Monsieur Gin this June, highlighting several gin cocktails featuring the spirit.

There are five signature cocktails to choose from, priced at RM50 each.

The Verbena Tonic is a crisp, refined highball with bright citrus notes that pairs well with verbena botanicals.

For something refreshing, the Green Garden cocktail mixes cucumber juice, honey syrup and lime juice with the gin.

The Golden Orchard blends apple juice, ginger syrup, lemon juice and aromatic bitters.

Also check out the Monsieur Reserve cocktail and Herbal Sky cocktail.

BENANG, THE SECOND CHAPTER

Jalan Medan Setia 2, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur

Business hours: 6pm to 3am, daily

Tel: [phone]

Savour signature cocktails at the haberdashery-themed Benang, The Second Chapter.

The light South Malaya cocktail is a mixture of Demonio de los Andes pisco, hibiscus tincture, fresh lemon, lime and aquafaba.

For something more adventurous, order the Dangerous Margarita, a concoction of 1800 Anejo tequila, mezcal, oleo saccharum, saline and a red wine float.

Whiskey lovers can opt for the slightly creamy and spirit-forward Malaysian-French Connection cocktail of Hennessy VSOP, Hennessy-infused coconut cream, coconut milk and fresh pineapple.

The No Nut Tonight is a must-try. The cocktail is a combination of Johnnie Walker, hazelnut extract, saline solution, and lime.

Guests can also order classic cocktails, whiskey by the dram, wine and draught beer.

There are bar snacks for those feeling peckish.