What a joy to get a little tipsy dipsy with friends by the mesmerizing Victoria Harbour! With the excitement for Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, Harbour City collaborates with Hong Kong craft gin N.I.P and over a dozen restaurants to throw a month-long cocktail party “Sip Sip Hurray”. Two world-renowned mixologists have created a collection of 6 brand-new cocktails, namely “HK Ginspiration”, with the locally crafted N.I.P Gin as the base, bringing the essence of made-in-Hong-Kong craft and the art of mixology to all food enthusiasts! From 26 October to 30 November 2023, grab your chance to savour the 6 “HK Ginspiration” cocktails and many more special drinks at the designated restaurants in Harbour City. You can even get to greet the guest mixologists who will surprise you with a specially crafted cocktail. Time to experience the ultimate fusion of gastronomy and spirits, all amidst the stunning beauty of Victoria Harbour!
Local craft gin distillery N.I.P invited renowned mixologists to create brand-new cocktails for HK
Harbour City and local craft gin distillery N.I.P have joined forces to present “Sip Sip Hurray”, a celebration of the local craft spirits culture, and invited two globally acclaimed mixologists, Shelley Tai and Lorenzo Antinori, to create 6 brand-new cocktails with the theme of “HK Ginspiration”. Shelley is a native Hongkonger who moved to Singapore a few years ago to lead a famous bar Nutmeg & Clove, while Lorenzo is an Italian mixologist who sees Hong Kong as his home after living around the world. Despite their diverse backgrounds, both mixologists share a deep affection for Hong Kong and pour their passion into creating the “HK Ginspiration” cocktails. The 6 cocktails use N.I.P Rare Dry Gin or N.I.P CATNIP Gin Series No. 2 – Dahongpao as their base. Both showcase the unique flavours of the city – the former gin brings flavours of osmanthus, aged tangerine peel, ginger, and goji berries; and the latter highlights the aroma of Da Hong Pao, a prestigious cliff-grown tea in Wuyi. From base spirit distilling to mixological creations, “HK Ginspiration” cocktails offer you a 100% “Made in Hong Kong” tasting experience, indulging you in the charm of the city.
Brand-new cocktails perfectly paired with culinary delights at Harbour City
As a gastronomic hub of Hong Kong, Harbour City offers all sorts of global cuisines with nearly 100 distinctive restaurants. In the month of “Sip Sip Hurray”, over a dozen restaurants will present an unprecedented dining experience, not only serving “HK Ginspiration”, but also unveiling a variety of new cocktails, all perfectly paired with culinary delights to tantalize your taste buds. From 28 to 29 October and 11 to 12 November, Shelley and Lorenzo will make surprise appearances at restaurants in Harbour City, including Amelia, ANA TEN, Harbourside Grill, and Palco, personally crafting “HK Ginspiration” for guests and offering an exclusive “cocktail omakase”.
| Shelley Tai | ||
| Date | Time | Restaurant |
| 28 October (Sat) | 6-9pm | ANA TEN |
| 29 October (Sun) | 6-9pm | Amelia |
| Lorenzo Antinori | ||
| Date | Time | Restaurant |
| 11 November (Sat) | 4-7pm | Palco |
| 12 November (Sun) | 6-9pm | Harbourside Grill |
Apart from the guest bartending sessions, food enthusiasts can also enjoy the 6 “HK Ginspiration” cocktails at the 7 designated restaurants from 26 October to 30 November. Whether it’s a gathering with friends or a romantic date, come to Harbour City to sip on fine cocktails, savour exquisite cuisines, and enjoy the transformation of Victoria Harbour from a sunset-drenched evening to a vibrant nighttime spectacle — a feast for both the eyes and taste buds.
Upon spending of designated amount with “Sip Sip Hurray” cocktail order at designated restaurants, you can receive a limited-edition Harbour City x N.I.P Rare Dry Gin in a classy leather sling bag. Designated restaurants include 818 THE SEAFOOD, Amelia, ANA TEN, Azure 80, CaN LaH, Check In Taipei, Duck Victoria, Harbourside Grill, HEXA, Palco, Paper Moon, and Voynich. Please enquire with restaurant staff for redemption details.
Apart from the designated restaurants, you can also enjoy “HK Ginspiration” at Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival at Central Harbourfront from 26 to 29 October. As the main sponsor of the Wine & Dine Festival, Harbour City will present the 6 brand-new cocktails at Harbour Lounge, where guests will receive a “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” cocktail coupon that can be redeemed at Harbour City. In addition, Lorenzo will host the “Made in Hong Kong” Cocktail Workshop at Tasting Theatre. Visit the official website of Hong Kong Tourism Board for more details.
New Cocktails created by the restaurants
New Food Pairing
About Shelley Tai
Shelley Tai, a Hong Kong native who started her bartending career at 20, has learnt the ropes of mixology at reputable clubs and restaurants, including FINDS, Drop, and Quinary. Having actively participated in various competitions, Shelley was named Diageo World Class HK & Macau Bartender of the Year 2019 and Global Top 8. In late 2020, she was invited to take the helm of Nutmeg & Clove, a renowned bar in Singapore. Under her leadership, Nutmeg & Clove has once again been listed as Asia’s 50 Best Bars, as well as Top Ten in Tales of Cocktail Spirited Awards and Asia Pacific Best International Cocktail Bar. In 2022, she opened the cocktail bar Last Word, and led it to be a Top 10 Nominee for Best International New Bar in the Tales of Cocktail Spirited Awards.
About Lorenzo Antinori
Lorenzo Antinori was born and raised in Rome. He entered law school at the age of 18. To earn money while studying, Lorenzo got his first ever job behind the bar and fell for the industry immediately. He was hooked by the craft behind cocktails and left the dream of a law profession behind. He worked at iconic establishments such as Dandelyan and The American Bar in London. Then, he joined Charles H., the signature bar of Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul. As he moved to Hong Kong, Caprice Bar peaked at No. 10 of Asia’s 50 Best Bars under his leadership. He also led ARGO to make a stunning debut as the 3rd of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars and the 28th of the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2022. After living in Hong Kong for 5 years, Lorenzo now sees Hong Kong as home. He established a beverage consultancy firm and opened his first bar, Bar Leone, in Hong Kong.
About N.I.P
Hong Kong Craft Distilling Co. was set up with a mission to build a community that appreciates craft spirits and bring to the world flavours that showcase different sides of Hong Kong. The company predominately focuses on craft gins, with N.I.P being the first main brand. N.I.P, meaning “Not-Important Person” as the opposite of V.I.P, was created to showcase what a “Hong Kong Spirit” is all about. The founders, two N.I.Ps, believe that one can achieve something remarkable or anything that he/she is passionate about – even without any background or V.I.P status – through grit, belief, persistence, and most importantly, the courage to take the leap of faith.
