New York’s Leo Robitschek in Shangri La pop-up

Leo Robitschek, bar director of New York’s Eleven Madison Park and The NoMad Hotel Bar swoops in on HK for a cocktail take-over.

Leo Robitschek at NoMad bar in New York

Hong Kongers who think that dry January is a thing that happens to other people can try Leo Robitschek’s six new cocktails which will be on offer at the Shangri-La’s Lobster Bar and Grill from 12-13 January in a brief two-day stint.

Strawberry Fields made with Foro Amaro, Campari, Aperol, strawberries, Peychaud’s Bitter and egg white

Working alongside Agung Prabow, head bartender at the Lobster Bar, Venezuelan Robitschek has brought over six cocktails from his two bars in New York all for HK$115 each including his coffee-based cocktail, Gentlemen’s Exchange to the fiery, English Heat and smooth-tasting North Sea Oil.

Other delights include  Strawberry Fields (pictured), Sakura Maru made with Farmer’s Gin, Genever, Cachaca, Genmaicha, sheep’s milk yogurt, and lemon and An American in Rome with Michter’s Straight Bourbon, Foro Amaro, blood orange and lemon.

Robitschek trained in hospitality at the University of Miami before being asked by Eleven Madison Park to reinvent its cocktail programme and, in 2009, he was promoted to head bartender.  His accomplishments were recognised in 2011 at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, where Eleven Madison Park was awarded as the ‘World’s Best Restaurant Bar’.

He was also crowned ‘New York City Bartender of the Year’ by New York’s Eater magazine in 2015.

English Heat – a fiery mix of Farmer’s Gin, Chambery Dry Vermouth, Tuaca, jalapeno-infused agave and lemon