Drink Recipes: Fresh Cocktails from Thailand

Cocktails are en vogue in Thailand now as visitors and locals alike seek out and experiment with new flavours, allowing the country to make its mark on the global spirits scene. “Singapore has its Sling, New York has its Manhattan, and now Bangkok has its Tom Yam Siam,” says Malcolm Omond, director of food and beverage at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok.

The complex Tom Yam Siam, for example, incorporates spirits infused with chili, kaffir lime and lemongrass. It is one of the selections on the Hotel’s bold new cocktail menu inspired by some of the most recognisable flavours in Thai cuisine. “We’re giving our guests an opportunity to try traditional Thai ingredients in a different, innovative way,” Omond says.

The Aqua and Lobby teams, who are Thai, created the drinks using only fresh, local ingredients, including Thai fruits, which have stronger, more condensed flavours than other varieties. “It’s been very much a collaborative creative process, with many people involved and many, many cocktails being tested, before we finally settled on this list that we hope guests will enjoy,” says Omond. “We wanted to create something new and interesting for our regular local guests, but also a ‘must-drink’ cocktail for visitors to Bangkok.”

Indulge in the new cocktails at Aqua—the Hotel’s tropical garden outdoor lounge—and The Lobby as well as Spice Market, one of the restaurants at the Hotel. Or, you can try them at home following one of these recipes.

• Try the Tom Yam Siam
• Try the Mango Sticky Rice
• Try the Mekhong Kran
• Try the Tangerine Lemon
• Try the Thai Tang Mou
• Try the Chili Bloody Mary