Union

When you walk into a bar, there is a saying that you must know your bartender. And when you walk into Union, you must go straight to the bar (which is a given anyway, if you did not book a table minimum 3 days beforehand, you're not getting in) and you must get to know your bartenders or as we say these days, Mixologists. As you reach the bar stool, you will see two very serious gentlemen very intensely whipping, shaking, rubbing and stirring all sorts of colourful liquids. They are Kiki Moka the head Mixologist that is responsible for the cotton candy, pop-rocks and vintage cocktails at Loewy, working side by side with Erickson Marolop creating one of the most original cocktails in Jakarta, dare we say Indonesia.

Kiki focuses on the classic cocktails and adds a twist of wizardry and a lot of ingenuity to it. This is quite evident in the Pineapple and Cinnamon Julep, where a generous amount of Bourbon is served over crushed ice, pineapple juice, cinnamon powder and also served with a skewer of sugar coated, char-grilled pineapple wedges which is divinely refreshing. If you have enjoyed the previously mentioned, then you will have no problem luxuriating on sugary and bitterly goodness of Old-Fashioned classic enjoyed since the 19th century. At Union, this classic is served with a twist as the sugar cube is gently rubbed with ginger, smoked with Orange Bitters and served with dry ice. The dry ice in the drink creates a smoke with all the sensational ingredients infused and is placed in a silver teapot and poured into a jam jar for your delightful consumption. With his tools and the meticulous manner in which he prepares his cocktails, Kiki is surely the Wizard Mixologist of Indonesia.

Erickson on the other hand, is more flamboyant with his drinks and derives a lot of inspiration from mostly anything Japanese. Take for example his Ogura Cocktail with muddled red beans, Russian vodka and hazelnut beer. This sweet, foamy cocktail with a creamy finish will surely be a favourite choice for the ladies. Another one of his creations is the Royal Jasmine Martini that is simply aromatic, tasty and easy to drink thanks to the honey and green tea flavoured spirits. But overall, we can conclude that his masterpiece is the Truffle Popcorn of which his inspiration draws from a Japanese corn snack, commonly munched on in the cinemas. This vodka based drink tries to resemble a popcorn through caramel syrup and corn infusions. A good portion of the entire glass is covered in salt so that when you take a sip it feels like you have dipped your hands into a bag of sweet and salty popcorn. The finishing touch is the spray of truffle oil over the cocktail for the standing ovation finish. He should be recognised as the Rebel Mixologists for his bold and daring cocktails.

With almost 40 unique and original cocktails, Union is THE place (as we mentioned before) where it is highly recommended that you know who your bartenders are as they can whip up anything catered to suit your needs. The other great thing about Union is that the cocktails are not superficial nor overrated and most importantly they are created by the most talented local mixologists in the country. This is the hub where local mixologists are made and where tantalizing cocktails are born.