Discover what cocktails might have tasted like during the Roaring Twenties at DarkSide, at the Rosewood Hong Kong.

The sophisticated sultry jazz and cocktail parlour, currently ranked No. 17 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, proudly unveiled its latest collection of novel drinks inspired by the iconic cocktails of the 1920s and 1930s.

Each cocktail is a tribute to its classic predecessor, telling a story of history, glamour, and creativity, capturing the essence of the Roaring Twenties. The collection was crafted under the direction of Bob Louison, the new Director of Bars at Rosewood Hong Kong, together with Assistant Bar Manager Toby Lo and their team of award-winning mixologists.

New Menu: Classic Cocktails, Reimagined

The cocktail scene at DarkSide is experiencing an enticing comeback of reimagined classics from the flamboyant eras of the 1920s and 1930s. Eight new cocktails round up the cocktail parlour’s newest collection, offering patrons and guests a taste of history alongside DarkSide’s modern mixology.

Here is the Classic Cocktails Menu at DarkSide:

Blood and Sand: This cocktail combines DarkSide's Blended Whiskey with Mancino Rosso Vermouth, brightened with orange and citrus, and a splash of Cherry Heering. The drink's origins can be traced back to the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, and it is thought to be a tribute to Rudolf Valentino's silent film of the same name, which depicts the life of a bullfighter and pays homage to the glamour and drama of the time.

Brown Derby: A “true testament” to Hollywood’s glamorous past, crafted with Matusalem 15 Rum, Michter’s Bourbon, grapefruit, honey, and maple. This cocktail was born at the Vendome Club, the epicenter of celebrity culture on Sunset Boulevard during the 30s.

Mai Tai: A tropical twist with a blend of Jamaican and Agricole rums, Cointreau, and a splash of absinthe, recalling its possible 1933 origins in tiki lore.

Champs Elysees: A more sophisticated pick, this cocktail combines Remy Martin VSOP Cognac and Chateau Laubade VSOP Armagnac. It’s inspired by the classic Sidecar and named after the famed Parisian Avenue, promising a burst of citrusy and herbal notes.

Fallen Angel: Tailored from Harry Craddock’s writings in the Savoy Cocktail Book, this drink provides a mysterious allure with NIP Gin and crème de menthe and invites drinkers to muse over the angel’s fate.

Scofflaw Cocktail: Featuring Michter’s Rye Whiskey, Mancino Secco Vermouth, grenadine, citrus, and bitters, this cocktail invites guests to relish the rebellious spirit of its origins. This was aptly named for those who defiantly enjoyed spirits during Prohibition and first appeared in 1924 at Harry’s Bar in Paris.

Bloody Maria: The cocktail brings new life to the classic with the zing of Altos Blanco Tequila and Siete Misterios Mezcal, layering tomato and spice in a refreshing blend that dates back to the drink’s storied creation in 1920s Paris.

Hanky Panky: For rich herbal complexity and character, this cocktail blends the Fernet Hunter and Fernet Branca with Monkey 47 Gin and Mancino Rosso Vermouth. The drink was created by Ada Coleman at the Savoy to please the martini cravings of a regular patron. Legend has it that he said, “By Jove! This is the real hanky-panky!” upon tasting it.

All drinks from the Classic Cocktails Menu are exclusively available at DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong, with each cocktail priced at HK$170 + 10%.

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Location:DarkSide, Level Two, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Opening Hours: 5 PM to 12 AM (Sundays-Thursdays), 5 PM to 1 AM (Fridays-Saturdays)