Sora at Rosewood Phnom Penh reveals two imaginative new menus for its indoor bar and Whisky Library.
In partnership with Proof Inventive consultancy, the brainchild behind each menu ideas, the lodge’s indoor Sora Bar welcomes 12 nuanced and progressive cocktails to its portfolio. Divided into 4 chapters, every affords three beautifully-crafted drinks (together with one non-alcoholic possibility) showcasing the complexities of a quintessentially Cambodian ingredient. The venue’s trendy and intimate Whisky Library affords six new whisky cocktails, every celebrating the historic points of Japanese Samurai warriors.
Sora Bar
Influenced by the ferocity and energy of the Japanese dragon Tatsu, the God of the Seas blends brown rice-infused London Dry Gin with dry vermouth and rice vinegar and is completed with a sea smoke spray. Elegant, dry and spirit-forward, the fragile rice notes lend a silky-smooth end to this distinctive, smoky twist on a Dry Martini.
The subsequent featured character is the fabled Tanuki, a shape-shifting raccoon-like spirit identified for its love of sweets – embodied within the wealthy and {smooth} Shapeshifter. The distinct caramel notes of this completely balanced cocktail come from Cambodian palm sugar and a fat-washing approach known as ‘florage,’ which infuses Diplomático rum with cashew nut butter. The drink is then stirred with miso for umami and whisky for back-bone, and offered with a facet serving of cashew nuts.
In Japanese folklore, Kitsune the fox grows extra tails over time, imparting larger knowledge and ingenuity. This beloved creature evokes the advanced and full of life aperitivo-style Sora 75 – a twist on the traditional champagne cocktail, French 75. The famend Kampot Pepper takes centre stage in its story. Globally revered because the world’s most fragrant pepper, it lends floral and spicy fragrances to this clear and refreshing drink. The colourful concoction combines passionfruit with crimson Kampot Pepper aromatics, topped with glowing sake and Kampot Pepper sugar mud as garnish.
Named for the legendary long-nosed winged Tengu, The Crow Collins infuses Plantation rum with banana flowers to create a fragile, naturally pink concoction. The protecting Pinocchio-like Mountain spirit gives each visible and sensory inspiration, with reverence to a number of points of the Cambodian staple – the banana. The drink celebrates the nuanced flavours of your entire banana plant, together with leaves, flowers, and fruit. This refreshing and dry Highball ends with a barely bitter end and notes of citrus from makrut lime.
Whisky Library
A complicated house encompassing the widest number of darkish spirits in Cambodia, this cosy lounge boasts 24 forms of nice cigars and exudes rustic intimacy. Serving a whisky-based vary of stirred, thrown, and constructed cocktails, the bar’s new menu unfolds as a customized handwritten journal, paying tribute to the Tenka-Goken – the legendary 5 nice swords of Japan. Considerate touches of symbolism embrace a diamond-shaped index reflecting the diamond sample discovered on katana deal with wrappings.
The Imperial is a light-weight and earthy tipple that includes dry figs infused in Scotch whisky, plus Campari, Japanese umeshu, and a splash of ponzu. Named after the Imperial Museum which homes Onimaru – the Demon Sword – this cocktail is served on a steel tray with a bowl of figs.
The Rosary recollects the compelling Buddhist story of the sword Juzumaru Tsunetsugu – a blade used not for conflict, however for peace – with a symbolic rosary wrapped round its hilt. Embodying the spirit of this lore, this tackle the traditional Japanese Highball options Westward Whiskey to deliver a refreshingly dry end to the drink, which is paired completely with a cigar.
Paying homage to 2 distinct Asian cultures, the drinks honour native Cambodian elements and are curated to inform tales of Japanese folklore.
