We are a habitual bunch. Once we find a drink we like, it tends to become our friend for life. But are we boring our bartenders to death? I set out to find the answer by asking some of Ho Chi Minh City’s best bartenders in the game what we are all ordering, what they wish we would order, and what’s the next big thing in drinks.
Most Ordered Cocktails in HCMC in 2018
Kata Simon (Below Whiskey Den): Negroni, Gin Fizz, Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour
Richie Fawcett (Shri & The Studio Saigon): The Nguyen Trai (served in a handbag), The Bason Shipyard (served in a scale model galleon) & Mojito
Jay Moir (Layla): Mojito (mainstream crowd). Kiwi Basil Delight (Layla crowd)
Nguyen Canh Nguyen (Rabbit Hole): Ramos Gin Fizz
Matyas Busek (The Lighthouse & The Lost Boys): Old Fashioned
Our Bartenders’ Wish List
Kata Simon (Below Whiskey Den): Adonis and low ABV cocktails
Richie Fawcett (Shri & The Studio Saigon): Greyhounds, Salty Dogs & Cape Codders
Jay Moir (Layla): White Russian (simplicity at its best)
Nguyen Canh Nguyen (Rabbit Hole): Lion’s Tail
Matyas Busek (The Lighthouse & The Lost Boys): Brandy Crusta
Crystal Ball Predictions
Kata Simon (Below Whiskey Den):
“Chemistry tricked cocktails. More and more bars are playing around with these techniques”
Richie Fawcett (Shri & The Studio Saigon):
“Highballs and rice-washing based drinks”
Jay Moir (Layla):
“Recently Vietnam has caught on to the gin scene, but I think the spritzer/botanical style drinks are going to make it onto the stage. Rum is creeping in, but I still think it will be sitting back as a passenger for a while”
Nguyen Canh Nguyen (Rabbit Hole):
“The no wastage movement, but you need to be an individual for that, unique, not just following trends. It’s a lifestyle, you need to simply live it to understand the idea behind it, and of course, develop it”
Matyas Busek (The Lighthouse & The Lost Boys)
“Low ABV — it’s not quite here in Saigon yet, but it will come soon”
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