Vida Rica Bar at Mandarin Oriental, Macau is serving cocktails inspired by famous Asian and Portuguese legendary tales. To complement its first volume of Legends & Cocktails, the bar will display illustrations by female artists of these epic stories, transforming it into an art gallery and highlighting cocktail-making as an art form.
Each of the eleven cocktails is served in a glass that best represents the legend that inspired it and these myths are chosen on the basis that they best represent their country of origin. Selected in partnership with the New Woman Development Association of Macao (NWDAM), eleven Macau-based female artists have created illustrations depicting these stories, while the bar’s resident mixologist Jacob Shteyntsayg, who holds a Masters in Gastronomy, has created each cocktail. He will offer cocktail pairings to guests dining at the bar and mocktail versions of each cocktail too.
Bed and breakfast rates are available at the hotel, priced from HKD 2,499 for two people sharing. All eleven illustrations are available for purchase, and proceeds will be donated to charity.
This first volume includes:
- The River of Tears, Portugal
Fashion designer Sanchia Lau has illustrated the story of a princess and a shepherd forming two beautiful lakes on the Azores island of São Miguel with their tears after the king forbade them to meet again when they fell in love. Seedlip citrus and apricot foam are among the ingredients in this citrusy, strong cocktail, which has a long finish.
- Giant of The Seas, Macau
Visual artist Anita Ao portrays this mythological character made famous by Portuguese poet Luís de Camões. Silky, spicy and smoky, this cocktail is made with almond milk, sea salt solution and other exotic ingredients.
- City of Dragons, Hong Kong
Art teacher and printmaker Winky Lam’s picture is inspired by the tale of how Kowloon (Nine Dragons) got its name. According to Chinese folklore, each of its eight mountains has a dragon living in it. A ninth dragon was added in deference to the emperor wanting to name the area, because emperors were considered sons of dragons. This cocktail is silky, sweet and sour.
- Monkey King, China
Illustrated by Christina Wu, the Monkey King is represented in cocktail form as a suitably strong, fermented and complex drink and is made with shiitake mushroom infused bourbon and other unusual ingredients.
- Law of The Jungle, India
An award-winner in the Macau Fashion Illustration Contest in 2016 and 2017, Ayabie Lai portrays the “man-cub” Mowgli from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Featuring elements such as cumin tea and saffron syrup, this cocktail is smooth, spicy and complex.
- Fairy Lady, Philippines
Illustrator Sara Yang’s picture shows Maria Makiling, a mountain fairy who stops floods, storms and earthquakes and protects the livelihoods of her mountain’s villagers. With a creamy, fruity and tropical flavour, this cocktail includes pisco and banana liqueur among its palate teasers.
- The Prince, Thailand
With artworks exhibited in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, Luna Cheong illustrates the tale of a charismatic, handsome prince who symbolises strength and dignity and loves the ocean and exploring foreign lands. Featuring coconut rum and pandan cordial and three other flavours, this cocktail tastes smooth, piquant and with a hint of herbal.
- Birds of Prey, Japan
A much-exhibited illustrator, who’s worked with cultural, creative and government agencies in Macau and China, Yolanda Kog depicts the Tengu (heavenly dogs), who appear part-human and part-bird of prey, and the Buddhist high priest Sojobo, their mythical king. Japanese whisky and rhubarb bitters are among the ingredients giving this cocktail its fruity, pungent and complex nature.
- Eyes on the Horizon, Vietnam
Award-winning Taiwanese artist and printmaker Ieong Mei Cheng represents the legend of a brother and sister separated following an accident when they were young. They later married as adults unaware of their past, then separated again. Núi Vọng Phu mountain is said to be the sister after she turned to rock while waiting for her brother’s return. Cognac and tamarind paste are two of the elements giving this drink a citrusy and smoky taste.
- Faceless Man, Korea
The twelfth-century Koryo dynasty story of a man commanded by the gods to make twelve masks and not speak with anyone until finished is illustrated by MA arts student Lei Ieng Iong. Unfortunately, the mask-maker broke the rule while making the eleventh mask and was struck dead by the gods. To this day, this mask is known as the Imae mask and has no chin. Bitter, sour and versatile, this cocktail contains gin and Suze among its ingredients.
- The Ruler, Singapore
Stage and costume designer Heidi Ng is also a widely exhibited artist. Her picture shows Sri Tri Buana, a 13th century ruler of Sumatra, who coming upon the island of Singapore, following a stormy voyage, named it Singapura (Lion City) after finding a lion there. Silky, fruity and exotic, this cocktail has five elements, including Cacao and Vanilla Liqueur.
Vida Rica Bar opens daily from 5pm to 12am on Monday to Thursday and 5pm to 1am on Friday and Saturday.
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