Cover Bar Trigona’s Roselle (Photo: Bar Trigona)
Bar Trigona’s Roselle (Photo: Bar Trigona)
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Bar Trigona, Jann, Triptyk, and other bars across the Klang Valley are serving up celebratory Christmas cocktails
As Christmas quickly shimmies down the figurative chimney, we’re ushering in the holiday season with a compilation of festive cocktails. Paying homage to pillars of Christmas cuisine like cinnamon and cocoa, bars across the city have curated diverse creations to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Some have adopted homegrown approaches to holiday libations, relishing Malaysia’s perpetually tropical Christmases. Whether you’d like to stick to the classics or experiment with offbeat combinations, end the year with one of these innovative Christmas spirits.
Merdekarya’s Eggnog
Above Merdekarya's Eggnog (Photo: Merdekarya)
Merdekarya's Eggnog (Photo: Merdekarya)
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This famed PJ bar and gig space concocts its own delicately mulled and indulgently rich eggnog for Christmas. While not as famous locally, elsewhere, eggnog is a holiday staple reminiscent of spiced vanilla custard. Merdekarya puts a distinctly Malaysian spin on its eggnog, supplanting the usual brandy, rum, or whiskey with langkau—a potent rice spirit from Sarawak. By adding two new flavours to their roster, you’ll be able to experience Christmas in a cup of coffee malt or toffee nut variations. Order Merdekarya’s eggnog by the glass or preorder a whole bottle 48 hours in advance to liven up your get-togethers.
Merdekarya, 1/F, 352, Jalan 5/57, Bukit Gasing, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, +6018-661 4553
SEVEN Lobby Bar’s Kringle Jingle
SEVEN Lobby Bar’s embodiment of Christmas is the Kringle Jingle, a unique twist on gin-based drinks involving hazelnut, cocoa, vanilla and coffee. This gourmand creation redefines the nostalgia of holiday hot chocolate, offering sweet tooths the perfect festive treat.
SEVEN Lobby Bar, 7, Jalan Kia Peng, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, 03-2778 0751
See also: Inside Tatler Dining Malaysia’s first ever Cocktail Festival
Pahit’s Gin Advent Calendar
Pahit is celebrating this Christmas with a 12-gin advent calendar, a clever introduction to the vast multiverse of gin. Specialising in bringing internationally acclaimed gins to the heart of KL, this advent calendar will instead bring 12 miniatures right to your doorstep. The calendar features Premium Kyoto Dry Gin, Sloe Gin, Old Tom, various other flavours, and four bottles of the London Essence Co Premium Tonic Water. Pahit’s Gin Advent Calendar would make a thoughtful gift or be a great way to craft gin and tonics in the comfort of your home.
Pahit, 3, Jln Sin Chew Kee, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur, +601123392756
Jann’s X’Mas Surprise
Jann’s X’mas Surprise uses fresh apple, vanilla, lemon, and a hint of red wine, is evocative of spiced apple cider or mulled wine. This limited edition cocktail infuses Irish whiskey with a refreshing take on quintessential Christmas flavours.
Jann, Chinatown, Four Points by Sheraton, 7/F, 2, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, 03-2035 7333
Don’t miss: 8 cocktail bars to visit for creative martinis
Bar Trigona’s Winter Menu
Above Bar Trigona's Ciku (Photo: Bar Trigona)
Above Bar Trigona's Cassia (Photo: Bar Trigona)
Bar Trigona's Ciku (Photo: Bar Trigona)
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Bar Trigona localises yuletide charm, embracing equatorial produce with five limited-run cocktails available throughout December. (We know this one entry technically has five offerings, but they’re too good not to name them.) Each drink spotlights seasonal ingredients like cassia, ciku, wintermelon, roselle, and dragonfruit. Using ciku sourced from Trigona honey farms in Pahang, the eponymous Ciku mimics an old fashioned, combining ciku infused Trigona honey, whiskey, cascara, and allspice liqueur. If you prefer elegant simplicity, opt for Dragon, a modified gin fizz with naturally fermented pink coconut soda, and dragon fruit cordial. Alternatively, if you’d like to espouse the tropical wholeheartedly, try Bar Trigona’s tribute to Penang’s cherished flower. A play on a classic margarita, Roselle combines handpicked roselle buds, tequila, triple sec, pomelo acids and homemade pomelo salt.
Bar Trigona, 145, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, 03-2382 8670
Triptyk’s Butterbeer
Above Triptyk's Butterbeer (Photo: Triptyk)
Triptyk's Butterbeer (Photo: Triptyk)
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Despite the exclusion of a Patronus, Triptyk’s Butterbeer will whisk you away to wintery Hogsmeade with a potion of wheat beer, whiskey, ice cream soda, butter, and caramel. Triptyk’s take on this sentimental fictional drink is available throughout December.
Triptyk, 88, Jalan Tuba, Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, +6014-320 8050
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About
Chelsea is a Dining Writer for Tatler Malaysia. When she’s not eating or writing about eating, she’s probably deciphering which oat milks froth the best for homemade flat whites.
Work
Chelsea writes about where to find great food and is passionate about exploring the cultural significance of different cuisines.
