Hong Kong’s top 10 festive tipples

Hansu Sour at Zuma

Arkadiusz Rybak has championed the little-known sea buckthorn in this unusual festive cocktail, the Hansu Sour.

Used extensively across Central Asia for its alleged anti-ageing properties, sea buckthorn makes a grand appearance alongside Japanese fruit liqueur, umeshu; Michter’s bourbon, toast, yuzu and egg white in Rybak’s Hansu Sour.

Zuma, 5/F & 6/F, Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central; 3657 6388

Cinnamon Spice at Pirata

For a real cockle-warmer, head over to Pirata for its thermal Cinnamon Spice.

How much more Christmassy can you get then the festive fellows of honey, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, orange peel and cherry Brandy?

Pirata, 29/F & 30F, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai; 2887 0270

Christmas in a Mug at The Optimist

The Optimist is serving up their version of traditional eggnog throughout the month of December.

Sip on the warming Christmas in a Mug with Bourbon, whipped cream, nutmeg and cinnamon for a dose of festive cheer.

The Optimist, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai; 2433 3324

Blackbeard at Quinary

Paying homage to the notorious pirate, Blackbeard by Alex Veringa highlights Doorly’s 5 Year Old rum and Gosling’s rum shaken with a festive mix of whole egg, stout and black cardamom treacle, Vintage Port, coffee liqueur, lapsang souchong tea tincture and black walnut bitters.

Quinary, 56-58, Hollywood Road, Central; 2851 3223

Elephant’s Tea Party at the Envoy

One for sharing, the gin-soaked Elephant’s Tea Party uses Beefeater, Falernum, lemon juice, lime juice and orgeat syrup for a warming spiced tipple, perfect for keeping Hong Kong’s surprisingly chilly winter at bay.

It comes in a picturesque ceramic elephant too, for all Instagram fans out there.

The Envoy, 3/F, The Pottinger Hotel, 74 Queen’s Road, Central; 2169 3311

Gingerbread Sour at Gaucho

One for all gingerbread lovers: a happy coupling of Scotch whisky and gingerbread syrup along with fresh lemon juice, egg white and angostura bitters awaits you at Gaucho.

Gaucho’s Gingerbread Sour also comes with its own gingerbread cowboy.

Gaucho, 5/F, LHT Tower, 31 Queen’s Road; Central; 2386 8090

Flamingo at Seafood Room

Made for sharing, the fabulous and fruity Flamingo is a punchy combination of Absolut Elyx, freshly muddled strawberries, lime and pineapple.

The eye-catching pink flamingos gives a distinctively tropical feel and will make anyone forget the miserable weather outside…

Seafood Room, 26/F, Tower 535, 535 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay; 3708 9668 

Watermelon Manhattan at 12,000 Francs

One of Hong Kong’s newest openings, 12,000 Francs, has championed the humble watermelon in its take on a barrel-aged Manhattan.

A unbeatable blend of Michter’s Rye, La Quintinye Rouge Vermouth, Bitters and PX Sherry, the Watermelon Manhattan is a powerful and punchy way to see through Christmas with the in-laws.

12,000 Francs, Elgin Building, 41-43 Elgin Street, Central; 2529 3100

Chivas Old Fashioned at Bar Butler 

Hong Kong has gone mad for flavourful, Japanese-style cocktails this season, and whisky lovers should make a beeline for the Chivas Old Fashioned at Bar Butler.

Created by Naoya Mizugishi, Japan’s finalist at the Chivas Masters 2016, the Chivas Old Fashioned is a toasty and warming mix of Chivas 12, orange bitters, fig and cinnamon bitters.

Butler, 5/F, Mody House, 30 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; 2724 3828

Spiced Eggnog at Foxglove

Get your eggnog on at Foxglove with bartender, Jay Khan’s decadent Christmas offering, spiced up with Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Amontillado Sherry, egg yolk, sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, milk and cream.

Try seeing if you can limit yourself to just one…

Foxglove, Printing House, 2/F, 6 Duddell Street, Central;  2116 8949