The slightly solemn, bespectacled bartender behind Bar Shake yearns for the day bars will finally be allowed to seat customers again. In the meantime, he tells us about Bar Shake's specialities—umami Bloody Marys & refreshing Mangosteen Saketinis, anyone?—and tempts us with cocktail delivery options.
Bar Shake’s tagline—KL's most authentic Japanese cocktail bar— is a bold claim! What defines a ‘Japanese cocktail bar’?
Japanese bartending occurs at a very slow pace, which is why the space is never meant to fit more than 20 to 30 people. Most classic Japanese cocktail bars offer seated service only, and the ritual is very intimate and personal with pared down theatrics. The shaking, stirring and presentation all have a very restrained elegance. Our menu combines classic cocktail recipes with Asian and local accents, presented with Japanese flair, for that bit of familiarity.
Bar Shake echoes that of a quiet watering hole in Tokyo, with an obscure entrance, dimly lit wooden counters and shelves
Did you have to tweak the cocktails on Bar Shake’s MCO menu for delivery? Or are the proportions of the ingredients the same when served onsite?
We kept the ingredients, the proportions as well as the process. All cocktails are still made-to-order, with fresh juice squeezed just before the cocktails are being picked up or delivered.
The Bar Shake experience still remains the same, even though you’re drinking from home!
What ingredients go into the Fresh Fruit Saketini?
One hundred per cent fresh fruit and sake. We’re known for our Mangosteen Saketini but we’ve only had White Grape Saketini for the last few weeks. A lot of our regulars have been asking if we’ll be launching the Mangosteen Saketini, and the good news is, we might be able to get our hands on some mangosteens soon, so stay tuned!