Jazz cocktail bar Darkside at Rosewood Hong Kong is celebrating nineties nostalgia with the launch of a new cocktail menu inspired by the lesser-known yet equally enchanting libations of the 1990’s. Helmed by Director of Bars Simone Rossi and Assistant Bar Manager, KT Lam, the award-winning bar is reviving eight modern classics. 

While the modern drinking landscape emphasizes kitchy, vibrant, and technicoloured cocktails to represent the ‘90’s, DarkSide shines the light on a more muted class of cocktails that emerged from the era.

 

The Classics from the ‘90’s cocktail menu begins with the Midori Sour, a sweet and tangy cocktail with its chief ingredient – Midori liqueur – derived from Japanese muskmelons and yubari fruit infused into neutral grain spirits. At DarkSide, the cocktail is re-created with Grey Goose vodka, lemon juice, egg white and London Essence soda water.

 

Rosita, a variation of the Negroni using tequila, first appeared in the 1991 publication of The Bartender’s Bible. The drink moves away from the trend of flavourless base spirits to fuse rougher and more complex spirits, featuring Altos Blanco tequila, bitter fusetti, Rinomato bitter scuro, Mancino Secco Vermouth, Mancino Bianco Vermouth, Riesling wine and peach bitters.

Añejo Highball, arguably one of the greatest modern cocktails that every bartender should know, was created in 2000 by Dale DeGroff as a tribute to Cuban bartenders of the early 1990’s. The version at DarkSide includes Matusalem 15-year-old rum, dry curaçao, lime, angostura bitters and London Essence ginger beer.

 

While variations of this fruit-and-whiskey concoction were likely made for decades prior to its debut, Whiskey Smash first appeared in the 1887 edition of “The Bartender’s Guide” by Jerry Thomas. Legendary bartender Dale DeGross began serving Whiskey Smash at the Rainbow Room in New York during the late 1980’s and 1990’s, reintroducing this classic drink to modern drinkers. DarkSide’s recipe includes the classic ingredient of bourbon, opting for Michter’s Bourbon Whiskey, along with muddled lemon wedges and mint.

While the modern drinking landscape emphasizes kitchy, vibrant, and technicoloured cocktails to represent the ‘90’s, DarkSide shines the light on a more muted class of cocktails that emerged from the era.

The signature cocktail of legendary bartender Salvatore Calabrese, the Breakfast Martini infuses orange marmalade in a sour-citrusy drink of Star of Bombay gin, Cointreau, and lemon.

 

Cable Car, invented by bartending icon AKA The Modern Mixologist, Tony Abou-Gamin, was an homage to San Francisco’s iconic mode of vintage transportation that carries tourists and commuters up and down the city’s busy streets. DarkSide recreates this iconic drink with Nusa Caña spiced rum, dry curaçao, lemon and egg white.

Jasmine was first made in the mid-1990’s by Paul Harrington of Townhouse Bar & Grill in Emeryville, California, as the result of a college friend’s challenge to “create something you’ve never made before.” Inspired by the Pegu Club, the cocktail consists of Star of Bombay gin, Cointreau, bitter fusetti and lemon.

 

Long Island Iced Tea, while not containing a drop of actual tea, is reminiscent of the drink with its iced tea-like appearance and sweetness of the triple sec. It was first invented in 1972 by Robert “Rosebud” Butt as part of a contest entry, while he was working at the Oak Beach Inn on Long Island. DarkSide gives the cocktail new life with premium ingredients including Star of Bombay gin, Grey Goose vodka, Plantation 3 Stars rum, Altos Blanco tequila, lemon juice, Cointreau, and coca cola.

The Classics from the ‘90’s cocktail menu is available exclusively at DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong, with each cocktail priced at HKD170 plus 10% service charge. In the meantime, Darkside will continue to serve "The Art of Mahjong" cocktail list, featuring eight cocktails inspired by the iconic game's tiles. 

 

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DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong

Level Two, Rosewood Hong Kong,

18 Salisbury Road,

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Website: https://www.darkside.hk/

Instagram: @darksidehk