Argo, the cocktail bar at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong, has unveiled its new drink list called Combinations. Created by beverage manager Federico Balzarini, the menu promises to explore the full sensory potential of individual ingredients.
Combinations: Argo’s New Drink List
Combinations shines a spotlight on fruits and botanicals that are easy to find in Hong Kong, like pineapple, grapefruit, grapes, corn, cacao, kumquat, bergamot, hops, calendula, and even wood. Federico Balzarini explains that each ingredient is “used in different ways. For example, kumquat can be fresh or salted. Pineapple gets many treatments: juice, peel, and even the leaves. Wood can be represented by cinnamon or the various types used for smoking or aging. This approach enhances the overall flavor and experience, allowing guests to discover different ways to enjoy a single ingredient.”
The Cocktails on the Combinations Menu
The Combinations drink list features 12 cocktails. Here are four that give you an idea of why Argo earned 9th place on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list. The Pineapple Highball is a fresh and fruity cocktail made with barrel-aged rum, fermented pineapple honey, jasmine-infused pineapple, and a tomato-pineapple shrub. It’s garnished with pink pineapple, adding a touch of color and flavor.
The Bergamot & Wood Gimlet offers a surprising twist. The drink comes with a hand cream made from bergamot and sandalwood, which you apply before sipping, intensifying the olfactory experience. The drink itself is a blend of fino sherry, vodka, sandalwood-smoked bergamot, and a mix of citrus. The container is wooden, and even the ice cubes are swapped out for frozen wooden balls infused with sandalwood essence.
If you’re a fan of hops, you’ll love the Cantina Margarita. It’s a twist on the Tommy’s Margarita, made with blanco tequila, mezcal, corn orgeat, and a hop tincture infused with bergamot. It’s served in a glass rimmed with corn salt.
Lastly, there’s the Dr. J Negroni, created by Argo bartenders Jeff and Jack. The creative idea behind this cocktail is to include botanicals traditionally used for their medicinal properties across various cultures. Hence, the mix includes gin infused with raisins, bitter infused with pineapple peel, mole bitters, magnolia berry liqueur, and bergamot essence. The garnish is a pickled pineapple with pineapple sage.
Feeling at Home
“Argo wants to be a fun, friendly neighborhood bar that promotes a sense of community,” says Balzarini. “Besides our innovative cocktails and ingredients, we want guests to feel welcome and enjoy their time here, which is why we’ve also created a simple and accessible drink menu that everyone can relate to.” So, when are you coming back to Argo?
Images courtesy Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
