Antonio Lai

SHAKES UP AUSTRALIA

Drinks World had the opportunity to sit down with world-class Hong Kong bartender and bar owner Antonio Lai whilst he was in Australia as part of The Blend program run by Beam Suntory. We find out his thoughts on the Australian bar scene, highlights and what he has taken away from his experience down under.

The Blends of Asia masterclass by Antonio Lai at Tokyo Bird

DRINKS WORLD: The Blend recently invited you to run a masterclass in Australia on Multisensory Mixology. Share with us your experience: what were the highlights for you?

ANTONIO LAI: A highlight for me was in Brisbane where 40 bartenders attended my seminar at noon. That requires a lot of effort considering a bartender’s average shift. They were very responsive; they showed genuine interest and respect, raised questions and were willing to explore the subject as much as I do. That made me truly thrilled and honoured as bartenders are continuously pushing Multisensory Mixology forward in the industry not only in Hong Kong but also in other parts of the world.

Dining at LÛMÉ Restaurant was another major highlight. It was a dinner with non-alcoholic cocktail pairings. The quality was absolutely topnotch and the experience gave me insight on how to work on cocktail pairings with our chef at VEA Restaurant & Lounge in Hong Kong.

DW: Which product from the Beam Suntory portfolio did you really enjoy working with?

AL: I enjoyed working with Laphroaig Select Cask. Its distinct smoky peat flavours made it interesting to sip neat or mix with in a cocktail. Everyone loved the Cleopatra Formosa cocktail that I made with it.

DW: Give us your take on the Australian Bar scene?

AL: Australia has a great, vibrant bar scene. A lot of the bartenders are very talented, serious and hunger for knowledge and are ready to learn.

DW: What were some of your favourite bars you visited?

AL: Boilermaker House in Melbourne and Eau de Vie in Sydney.

DW: Can you take anything away from this experience that you can apply in your own venues?

AL: Definitely. I was inspired by the food-cocktail pairings at LÛMÉ Restaurant, conversations with people in the bar industry, both experts and novices.

DW: This was your first time to Australia— was it everything you expected?

AL: Australia is a fun, dynamic and open-minded country and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. I did not expect the varying business hours for bars and the lockout times in Sydney – this was all very new for me.

Missed Antonio’s masterclass? Don’t stress, we got it covered. Head on over to drinks.world and checkout Antonio in action!