So, what does a multi award-winning bartender have in common with an artisanal fragrance label known for premium soy wax candles since 2016? Truthfully, not much… unless, of course, the folks behind the label are like regular customers of the talented mixologist, yes?
But looks like Shawn Chong – the man behind one-time must-visit local fine cocktail boudoir Omakase + Appreciate and the Bartender of the Year at The Bar Awards KL in 2018 – is set to prove otherwise as he begins a new adventure this month creating awesome cocktails inspired by Lilin+Co’s range of scented candles for SEVEN Lobby Bar and Lounge, nestled at The RuMa Hotel and Residences on Kuala Lumpur’s Jalan Kia Peng.
Apple + Cinnamon is a mix of whiskey, passionfruit syrup and apple cinnamon jam. A flamed cinnamon stick brings it all together
In this off-the-beaten track kind of collaboration, a selection of Shawn’s brand new, tasty cocktail creations are served alongside accompanying custom canapés specially prepared by The RuMa’s very own Executive Chef Tyson Gee. Customers who purchase all four cocktails on the special menu will receive a complimentary 65g Lilin+Co premium soy wax candle.
And what nice candles they are, too! Lilin+Co premium soy wax candles are carefully hand-poured in small batches with a focus on meticulous craftsmanship, quality materials and sustainable practices. An appreciation for simplicity, design and function resonates within its eco-friendly candles, handcrafted for the ultimate sensorial experience. Certainly not the candles you’d reach out for in a blackout, but more those you’d be lighting up during an intimate dinner-for-two.
So, yes, the challenge for Shaun was to develop cocktails to match such a hipster-centric creation! “The process of creating these cocktails was almost the same as creating cocktails for a food-pairing event,” he revealed. “The scents from the Strawberry & Champagne, Mimosa & Mandarin, Lychee & Black Tea and the Naughty or Nice Mulled Wine excited the senses a bit more than the others. I then used the nosing notes from the candles to inspire the ingredients for the cocktails.”
And here are some more details on the four different drinks just to whet your appetite:
Orange + Martini
Strawberry + Bubbly (mocktail)
Strawberry syrup, peach syrup, orange juice and soda
Orange + Martini
Vodka, Cointreau and Campari
Apple + Cinnamon
Whiskey, passionfruit syrup and apple cinnamon jam
Lychee + Cypress
VSOP, lychee liqueur and oolong tea
We’re sure you must be sooo ready for a drink right about now, right? Better make your reservations at +603 2778 0888 then.
