Speakeasy bar Charles H in Seoul, South Korea, has recently unveiled an exciting new cocktail menu inspired by the vibrant energy of New York City. The menu, designed by head bartender Odd Strandbakken and beverage creative director Alyssa Heidt, pays homage to the city that was a favorite of Charles H. Baker Jr., the American author after whom the bar is named.
Concealed within the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, Charles H bar takes its guests on a journey back to the Prohibition-era speakeasies of New York with its new cocktail creations. According to Strandbakken, Charles H Baker Jr.’s books remain essential guides for bartenders, and the new Big Apple-inspired menu aims to celebrate his legacy while immersing patrons in the nostalgic ambiance of New York’s cocktail culture.
The menu features five distinct drinks, each with its own unique twist. The NYC Flight, a round of Manhattans, is named after different neighborhoods in New York, such as Bay Ridge, Bushwick, and Little Italy. Another standout is the Yellow Taxi, a mezcal-based cocktail with a hot dog-inspired smoky float and ginger jelly garnish, offering a delightful chili kick.
One of the highlights is the All Day Mary, crafted with freshly juiced Korean vegetables and a New York-style ‘Everything Bagel’ salt rim, drawing inspiration from the renowned cold-pressed Bloody Mary at Dante, a highly regarded bar in New York. Additionally, the menu includes the Old Fashioned Highball, a fusion of two classic cocktails featuring mandarins from Jeju Island, and the Knickerbocker mocktail, a non-alcoholic version of the Knickerbocker cocktail with a ‘rum-flavored base of burnt caramel, nutmeg, and vanilla bean’ combined with local bokbunja juice.
In addition to the new menu, Charles H is hosting a ‘Companion Series’ sponsored by Pernod Ricard, where mixologists from various bars across Asia will make guest appearances throughout 2024. The series, inspired by Charles Baker’s book Gentleman’s Companion, aims to bring together some of the world’s best mixologists for collaborative and immersive experiences.
The upcoming lineup includes Rogerio Igarashi Vaz from Tokyo’s Bar Trench on 30 January, Tamaryn Cooper from Singapore’s 28 Hongkong Street on 27 February, and Manhattan Bar in Singapore in March. Heidt expressed excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing the bar’s commitment to sharing life’s finest pleasures and bringing together like-minded individuals.
