The Cock's Tail Bar: Chinatown's new fifties-inspired bar with Chinese herb-infused cocktails
August 23, 2023
Gin infused with cordyceps flowers and honey dates; mezcal fermented with dried figs & angelica roots - Chinatown's new corridor of cocktails is a distinctive destination for drinks, crafted with classic Chinese herbs and remedies for restorative elixirs.
The Cock's Tail Bar is one of Sultan Road's most atmospheric attractions, inspired by 1950s Malayan traditional Chinese medicine shops, stocked on its shelves with everything from house-blended mangosteen syrup to fermented watermelon for luscious, lovable flavours.
Discover The Cock's Tail Bar now inside Crane KL restaurant, on the street level of a neoclassical building whose walls whisper of nearly a century's worth of history and heritage.
Launched in July 2023, The Cock's Tail Bar remains a well-kept secret for now, but it's fast becoming a regular haven for KL's cocktail enthusiasts.
This narrow space conveys old-school Oriental mystique in every corner. Sink into comfortable crimson chairs under a ceiling of paper umbrellas while watching the bartenders reach for bottles of infused liquors and jars of slow-fermenting fruits on the tall cabinets.
The Cock Tail's Bar has kicked off with 10 cocktails, each exciting to explore.
The Cock Tail's Bar has kicked off with 10 cocktails, each exciting to explore.
The Cock’s Tail “Fairy” (RM45) is as enchantingly aromatic as it sounds - Roku gin laced with nutmeg and cordyceps flowers for a subtle sweet-savoury fragrance, buoyed by the refreshing tang of Midori melon liqueur and apple juice, balanced with bitters and garnished with gold flakes for the final magical flourish.
Sakura Matsuri (RM50) is a symphony of springtime in a glass - Crafter’s Aromatic Flower Gin, blooming with notes of lavender, rose and chamomile, deepened with fermented honey dates, red date syrup, peach syrup, cedrat puree, honey-roasted pineapple syrup and nutmeg juice for nectarous nuances that sum up the harvest of an entire orchard in a single sip.
Cock’s Tail Martini (RM50) is a rich, robustly fruity-floral twist on martinis - vodka and Grand Marnier enhanced with fermented watermelon, apple juice, pink guava juice, hibiscus syrup and butterfly pea flower for stimulating sips that leave us vibrantly shaken and stirred.
Next up, a flirtatious fling with It’s A Sling (RM50) - pandan-instilled Malibu for a tropical temptation of captivating coconut, complete with a tiny umbrella to evoke a beach escapade, splashed with house-made sumac syrup, pink guava juice, blueberry puree and elderflower syrup for a potent potion that's paradise for the palate.
Aged Negroni by Adnan ((RM45) is a mixologist's masterpiece, marrying East and West in an artisanal riff on the Negroni. Crafter’s Aromatic Flower Gin forms the delicate foundation, layered with vermouth imbued with gula Melaka and pandan, plus grilled strawberry Campari and caramelised balsamic vinegar. The result: A wonderland of harmonious flavours, washing over the taste buds for sensuous satisfaction.
Things get even sultrier with A “Malaysian” Fashioned (RM45), a smoky rendition of the Old Fashioned. This isn't the typical American whiskey - The Cock's Tail Bar infuses its bourbon with sengkuang and cinnamon, dark and decadent, brightened playfully with apple juice and mangosteen syrup, sweetly served with freshly torched honeycomb on a brown sugar rim. An impressive showcase of contemporary cocktail inventiveness, harnessing familiar Malaysian produce such as jicama and mangosteens.
Highball Jack (RM50) gently lowers the temperature for a delectably different bourbon-based delight, this time chilled and soothing with a warm, sharp ending - the bourbon is imbued unmistakably with succulent local jackfruit, swirling with the multi-sensory bliss of turmeric-tinged chrysanthemum syrup and ginger ale, dressed with sliced ginger that packs a punch. Remarkably rejuvenating - perhaps the city's sole cocktail that confidently combines jackfruit with chrysanthemum and ginger for a masterfully mouthwatering interplay.
The Flamingo (RM50) might be our favourite - a terrific tiki drink, triumphant with pandan-infused Crafter’s London Dry Gin, house-blended longan Cointreau, yuzu, nutmeg juice and egg white. Velvety with a sophisticated simplicity, a bit tart, a little lively, a lot of fun.
Hi! Biz Mezcal (RM50) is a cocktail of complexity - mezcal that's uniquely fermented with dried figs and angelica roots, indulgently swoon-worthy with hibiscus syrup, calamansi juice and apple juice, weaving together earthiness with elegance in mesmerising, memorable style.
Tie Guan Yin could be the cocktail to end on, sending us out into the night on a soul-warming, spirit-soothing high. Presented like time-honoured Chinese tea, this oolong is transformed into an adult adventure with Chase Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin, heady with house-made mangosteen syrup, honey and peach bitters - as wholesome as a cocktail in KL can be.
The Cock’s Tail Bar
78, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur.
Open Wednesday-Saturday, 4pm-1am; Sunday-Monday, 4pm-12am.
Sakura Matsuri (RM50) is a symphony of springtime in a glass - Crafter’s Aromatic Flower Gin, blooming with notes of lavender, rose and chamomile, deepened with fermented honey dates, red date syrup, peach syrup, cedrat puree, honey-roasted pineapple syrup and nutmeg juice for nectarous nuances that sum up the harvest of an entire orchard in a single sip.
Cock’s Tail Martini (RM50) is a rich, robustly fruity-floral twist on martinis - vodka and Grand Marnier enhanced with fermented watermelon, apple juice, pink guava juice, hibiscus syrup and butterfly pea flower for stimulating sips that leave us vibrantly shaken and stirred.
Next up, a flirtatious fling with It’s A Sling (RM50) - pandan-instilled Malibu for a tropical temptation of captivating coconut, complete with a tiny umbrella to evoke a beach escapade, splashed with house-made sumac syrup, pink guava juice, blueberry puree and elderflower syrup for a potent potion that's paradise for the palate.
Aged Negroni by Adnan ((RM45) is a mixologist's masterpiece, marrying East and West in an artisanal riff on the Negroni. Crafter’s Aromatic Flower Gin forms the delicate foundation, layered with vermouth imbued with gula Melaka and pandan, plus grilled strawberry Campari and caramelised balsamic vinegar. The result: A wonderland of harmonious flavours, washing over the taste buds for sensuous satisfaction.
Things get even sultrier with A “Malaysian” Fashioned (RM45), a smoky rendition of the Old Fashioned. This isn't the typical American whiskey - The Cock's Tail Bar infuses its bourbon with sengkuang and cinnamon, dark and decadent, brightened playfully with apple juice and mangosteen syrup, sweetly served with freshly torched honeycomb on a brown sugar rim. An impressive showcase of contemporary cocktail inventiveness, harnessing familiar Malaysian produce such as jicama and mangosteens.
Highball Jack (RM50) gently lowers the temperature for a delectably different bourbon-based delight, this time chilled and soothing with a warm, sharp ending - the bourbon is imbued unmistakably with succulent local jackfruit, swirling with the multi-sensory bliss of turmeric-tinged chrysanthemum syrup and ginger ale, dressed with sliced ginger that packs a punch. Remarkably rejuvenating - perhaps the city's sole cocktail that confidently combines jackfruit with chrysanthemum and ginger for a masterfully mouthwatering interplay.
The Flamingo (RM50) might be our favourite - a terrific tiki drink, triumphant with pandan-infused Crafter’s London Dry Gin, house-blended longan Cointreau, yuzu, nutmeg juice and egg white. Velvety with a sophisticated simplicity, a bit tart, a little lively, a lot of fun.
Hi! Biz Mezcal (RM50) is a cocktail of complexity - mezcal that's uniquely fermented with dried figs and angelica roots, indulgently swoon-worthy with hibiscus syrup, calamansi juice and apple juice, weaving together earthiness with elegance in mesmerising, memorable style.
Tie Guan Yin could be the cocktail to end on, sending us out into the night on a soul-warming, spirit-soothing high. Presented like time-honoured Chinese tea, this oolong is transformed into an adult adventure with Chase Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin, heady with house-made mangosteen syrup, honey and peach bitters - as wholesome as a cocktail in KL can be.
The Cock’s Tail Bar
78, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur.
Open Wednesday-Saturday, 4pm-1am; Sunday-Monday, 4pm-12am.