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Four Seasons Hotel's new innovative bar Argo – the latest project from Four Season's beverage manager and Time Out's 2020 Bartender of the Year, Lorenzo Antinori – just docked in Hong Kong, and it's here to challenge the way we think about drinks. Officially opening its doors on July 15, the new bar replaces the former Blue Bar located in the hotel's lobby and marks the second phase of the hotel's renovation.
Compared to Caprice bar, located on the sixth floor of the hotel, which has a more formal setting and focuses on seasonal ingredients, Argo is more relaxed and highlights innovative spirits and offers a cocktail menu with ingredients at risk of becoming endangered in the future. The 'Here Today, Gone Tomorrow' menu celebrates six staple ingredients – coffee, honey, rice, cacao, vanilla, and apples – that face an uncertain future because of climate change or the way it is being cultivated. Spirit aficionados can explore new bottles – available in 50ml shots, tasting flights, or as a classic cocktail – with the help of the bar's spirit bible, 'Field Guide to the World's Innovative Spirits', that highlights each bottle's unique story and origin. Interesting bottlings include the world's first AI-created gin Monker's Garkel, lab-made whisky Glyph, Argo's very own signature gin crafted with Never Never Distilling Co ($880 a bottle; or with a martini glass at $1020), and other quirky spirits that break away from traditional production. I enjoyed so many cocktails from the menu, but must-tries include the Single Origin Negroni ($140), a well rounded Negroni with subtle chocolate flavours, aged in cocoa pods from Malaysia; Argo Martini ($150) – served two ways: citrus or savoury – made with the bar's signature gin and it's not shaken or stirred but topped with seasonal hydrosols, also known as 'flower waters,' produced by distilling fresh ingredients like herbs and fruits with water; and a delicious clarified milk punch – a crowd favourite – Bark, Leaf & Love ($140) served in a ceramic glass.
Read the full feature here. And check out what made Argo number one on Time Out's list of coolest bars in the world.