Chinese cocktails take local ingredients global

Mexico City's Casi Casi bar makes its debut in China during the 2nd SIP Cocktail Festival by Pernod Ricard in Shanghai in September. HE QI/CHINA DAILY

Long queues snaked outside the booth of Guangzhou's Hope & Sesame speakeasy-style cocktail bar at Shanghai West Bund Art Center in late August. Founder Bastien Ciocca wiped down his shaker and reached for a pot of slow-brewed winter melon tea base — the heart of his signature cocktail, a drink that weaves traditional Chinese herbal tea culture into classic mixology. Over three days, nearly 2,000 servings were poured, attracting even visiting international bartenders who pushed through the crowd for a taste of the No 1 bar in Asia.

Produced by Pernod Ricard, the 2nd SIP Cocktail Festival took place Aug 28-30 and brought together more than 40 pioneering bars from across the globe. More than a cross-border showcase of flavors, the industry event stands as a vivid case study of the business momentum and industrial upgrading of China's cocktail sector.