Top 10 Hong Kong whisky bars

Whether imbibed on the rocks, neat, with a few drops of water or with a debonair solitary ice cube, Hong Kong has well and truly fallen in love with whisky and there’s no shortage of hideouts to discover a wee dram.

The Scots make up a sizeable and some say, spirituous population in Hong Kong.

Ever since Wiliam Jardine co-founded trading company, Jardine, Matheson & Co in Canton (now Guangzhou), whisky has been free flowing in the region and the cut on alcohol duty in 2008 has certainly helped feed drinkers’ whisky desires.

From whisky masterclasses to unusual pairings, Hong Kong cannot get enough, and this being Hong Kong there is a plethora of dingy drinking dens, glitzy hotel bars and relaxed pubs to get one’s hands on a dram.

Click through to find some of Hong Kong’s finest whisky bars.

Angel’s Share

Angel’s Share has been around for a few years now and is a firm favourite on the whisky circuit.

The main attraction has to be the full-sized oak barrel with 180 litres of ever-revolving single malts for drinkers to draw directly – at the moment it’s the Glenlivet 1995.

There’s also an impressive single malt list (1936 Macallan, anyone?) as well as plenty of offerings from Nikka, Hibiki and Miyagikyo to keep the Japanophiles happy.

Angel’s Share, 2/F, Amber Lodge, 23 Hollywood Road, 2805 8388

Stockton

Hiding away down a dark alley in Central, Stockton brings the majesty of Edwardian London to Wyndham Street.

The leather sofas alone will make you feel like curling up and spending the rest of the night ensconced, and fine whisky aficionados will be relieved by Stockton’s patrician mantra of: “Any request for Jaegerbombs or such lark will be met with disdain and possible requests for immediate departure.”

With a collection of 150 whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, America and Japan, the menu is also geared towards cocktails – offering a “Athole Brose” with Scotch and wild honey and a “Cherry Tart” with Makers Mark and vanilla.

Stockton, 32 Wyndham Street, 2565 5268

001

Another tucked away venue, this time between two stalls in Graham Street behind an innocuous black door.

Modelled on a speakeasy, 001 really does take its whisky seriously with a quarter of its collection exclusive to the bar and a generous selection of Macallan Grand Reserva 1979, 1980 and 1981 and a Yamazaki 25 year old.

As it is so difficult to find (especially after a few), a kindly bartender told us that it’ll be on the immediate right as one heads down Graham Street from Wellington.

001, Graham Street, 2810 6969

Nocturne

Drinkers who are more comfortable with a straight-up Old Fashioned instead of cocktails with a confusing list of unknown ingredients gathered-at-midnight will want to head to Nocturne, fortunately fairly visible on Peel Street.

Nocturne models itself on a Japanese whisky bar and offers 150 varieties of Japanese, Scotch, Taiwanese and Bourbon whiskies off their drinks menu — some of which are rare discontinued labels.

Nocturne even has its own wine cellar for any members of your party averse to a hearty dram of firewater.

Nocturne, 5 Peel Street,  2884 9566

b.a.r. Executive

Pretentious name aside, the Executive Bar in Causeway Bay has crowd-pleasing views of Happy Valley Racecourse and the harbour and prides itself on being a Japanese “shotto” bar (the clue is in the name).

A favourite of Japanese post-work drinkers and the odd Causeway Bay resident, Executive Bar has a decent Happy Hour from 5pm-9pm and ladies can also take advantage of the buy-one-get-one-free offer every Tuesday and Thursday.

Choose from a wide list of whisky from Scotland, Ireland, America and Japan.

Executive Bar, 27/F, Bartlock Centre, 3 Yiu Wa St, Causeway Bay, 2893 2080

The Black Bird

Offering a cool, urban chic atmosphere with a welcome roof terrace in Central, the Black Bird has had rave reviews from the likes of The Guardian, Time Out and the SCMP – for those who like to know they’re drinking in the most rated places.

Black Bird is particularly keen on Bourbon and its list includes Makers Mark, Knob Creek and Woodford Reserve, Baker’s 7 Year, Booker’s 7 Year and Basil Hayden 8 Year as well as Blanton’s Original Single Barrel.

“Upscale without the downside. No fanfare or fuss. And definitely no Jazz” is the Black Bird’s mantra. Sheung Wan residents, (db HK included) will be familiar with its sister restaurant, the Black Star.

The Black Bird, 6/F No.8 Lyndhurst Terrace, 2545 8555

Tokoro 

Not a stand-alone bar but housed inside the Langham Place Hotel in Mong Kok, Tokoro is not kind to the wallet but it’s an essential visit for those looking for a high-end whisky and fine food experience.

Overlooking the sprawling suburb of Mong Kok, Tokoro offers a wide range of Scottish single malts, Scotch, Bourbon and Japanese whiskies which can be enjoyed with stylish sushi, sashimi and Wagyu beef.

Fine whisky enthusiasts will also find Johnnie Walker Blue Label and 18 year old Yamazaki.

Tokoro, Langham Place Hotel, Langham Place, 555 Shanghai Street, Mongkok, 3552 3330

Whisky @ Stables

Nestled inside the old horse stables of Hullett House with views over the House’s white-stucco colonnades dating from 1881 and its sweeping lawns, Whisky@Stables is a great place for those wishing to recreate the feel of drinking in colonial Hong Kong.

Offering over 100 various whiskies from around the world, including Scotland, Sweden,  Japan, Taiwan, and India, the intimate bar also boasts 10 whiskies from small batch independent bottlers. The culinary team has concocted a concise menu featuring tantalising, playful Whisky Bites and Whisky Sweets to delight guests’ non-whisky companions.

Whisky @ Stables, Hullett House, 1881 Heritage, 2a Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, 3988 0000

Safe Bubbles & Malt

Hidden behind what looks like a giant bank vault is in fact, new whisky and Champagne bar Safe Bubbles and Malt.

Claiming to hold Asia’s largest whisky collection with over 700 bottles of premier brands, Safe is also home to the Hong Kong branch of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and hosts a good selection of 200 bottles of bubbly.

Those looking to spend vast amounts of cash on good whisky can do it here. A bottle of 1999 Yamazaki will set you back $1,388 and the 12 year old $2,380 both impeccably served with trendy “globular” ice cubes.

Safe Bubbles & Malt, Shop 2, 1/F Manhattan Avenue, 255 Queen’s Road Central, 2505 9988.

The Canny Man

No whisky bar list would be complete without mentioning the place that honours Hong Kong’s Scottish forefathers and bearers of the first whisky.

The Canny Man in Wan Chai really is an institution and has its own whisky club for those who like to sit, drink and have a general moan about how much things cost in Hong Kong.

With a brilliant selection of Scottish single malts (of course), the Canny Man at least has kept its prices well, canny and currently offers the Tuesday night whisky flights were drinkers can trial a 12, 15 and 18 year old Glenlivet for $198 instead of $288.

The Canny Man B/1 Wharney Guang Dong Hotel, 57-73 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, 2861 1935