Asia’s unmissable cocktail bars are a satisfying mix of the established and the new – proof, if ever it was needed, that the continent’s impeccable bartenders are up and shaking, says Rachel Tranter Davies.

Charles H. at the Four Seasons in Seoul, Korea, is one of our top bars to watch in 2017

The booze scene in Asia is booming. World-class bartenders, cool and quirky venues and a big focus on perfectly crafted cocktails are the order of the day – and not just at Asia’s hot new openings.

A number of well-established watering holes are still managing to press people’s buttons and keep up with the rush of the new.

Asia’s enormous size and inherent diversity mean that one overall trend is hard to pin down. But if there is a uniting movement, it is the big focus on serves that really showcase the base liquor.

Premium and craft spirits have taken hold in the region and bartenders are coming up with innovative and interesting ways to show them off. From bottle-ageing to unique infusions utilising anything from flowers to herbs, going into the new year, the spirit remains king.

Click through the following pages to discover the Asia Pacific’s top bars to watch in 2017.

The Tippling Club – Singapore

First up is the incredibly well-known and much-loved Tippling Club. Often to be found on Asia’s top restaurants and bar lists, The Tippling Club opened in 2008, but if recent activity is anything to go by, this venue has not peaked yet.

Head bartender Joe Schofield, formerly of The Savoy in London, has just launched the memory-evoking Sensorium Menu, a new cocktail programme that places the focus on aroma. Schofield has worked with a perfumer to create 12 fragrances, which he incorporated into 12 unusual cocktails.

Each serve is designed to stimulate olfactory nerves, resulting in a drinking experience that stirs up memories with each sip. Take Campfire, a comforting concoction of marshmallow milk, burnt syrup, ash and gin, reminiscent of starry nights spent huddled around a campfire.

Zuma – Hong Kong

Zuma is pretty well-established in the Asian bar scene, consistently winning both industry awards and anecdotal acclaim. The bar itself is beautiful, the drinks selection vast – Japanese sake and fine whiskies feature heavily – but the magic is in the cocktails themselves.

Inspired by head bartender Arcadiusz Rybak’s love of travel, the cocktails at Zuma are not only delicious but like nothing you’ve ever tasted before. Take the Sakura Hanami Martini, created around the concept of Hanami, the Japanese tradition of “flower viewing”.

As with all of his cocktail creations, Arcadiusz starts with a casual sketch to ID the flavours he wants to use, and, in this case, he then came up with an incredible blend of Japanese-style gin, sake, vermouth and Arcadiusz’s own sakura-infused vodka. Zuma may be a well-known nightspot, but ignore it at your peril.

Charles H. – Seoul, South Korea

A relatively recent opening, lifting its first shaker in October last year, Charles H. at the Four Seasons – so named after Charles H Baker, the American cocktail writer – was on SB’s radar last year, and looks set to come into its own in 2017. The bar has the mantra that behind every good drink is an unforgettable story, and this shines through every aspect: setting, service and, of course, the serves themselves.

It is managed by the Four Seasons hotel group, so you expect a certain level of decadence, but this is on a whole new level. Korean craftsmanship meets all-out opulence for décor that is totally breathtaking. And the cocktails aren’t bad either. The menu is divided into four destinations frequented by Charles H., each featuring five to eight cocktails that showcase the flavours of the area.

It is clear that head bartender Chris Lowder has spent an inordinate amount of time researching the best ingredients to put together a cocktail list inspired by exotic tastes.

The Other Room – Singapore

To reach this secret drinking house evocative of Prohibition-style hidden drinking dens, guests at The Other Room have either been recommended by someone they know, or introduced by the hotel (JW Marriott) concierge.

There are no signs or advertising of any kind, so this gem is truly hidden away. Unlike some speakeasy bars, The Other Room has a sophisticated and authentic feel, with not a single commercial label on any of the many bottles lining its beautiful bar.

This is because head bartender Dario Knox has created his own range of 170 spirits, which are either cask or spice- finished, and presented in the bar’s own house-labelled bottles. Here is where it gets interesting: alongside the cocktail menu, The Other Room serves these one-of-a-kind spirits in a tasting flight, where the original is served with one of Dario’s many variations for a real sensory journey.

Bar Trench – Tokyo, Japan

Bar Trench opened its doors in 2010, a tiny 12-seater retreat with a sympathy for all things herbal. Garnering attention primarily as a dedicated absinthe bar reminiscent of a bohemian café during La Belle Époque, Bar Trench’s focus is now on serving classic cocktails and modern concoctions as well, from vermouth to absinthe-imbued libations.

Head bartender Rogerio Igarashi Vaz is a Japanese-Brazilian who learned his craft in Japan, but always looks to incorporate some South American vibes in his drinks. Bar Trench is an eclectic mix of old and new with a blend of jazz, folk and obscure Latin beats that set the mood and make the drinks even more delicious.

L’escamoteur – Kyoto, Japan

You know you’ve arrived at this gem when you come across a sign depicting a rather dapper chap on a penny-farthing. Climb the tiny staircase to the first floor and you are greeted by sets of pulleys attached to bicycle wheels that whir and whizz when the door opens.

A Chesterfield is suspended from the ceiling and a heap of birdcages and bookshelves are filled to the brim with candles, globes and other wonderfully haphazard pieces of paraphernalia.

L’escamoteur opened on Valentine’s Day of this year (fitting – it’s a true love story) and is way ahead of its time for Kyoto. It is quirky, cool and has an injection of fun that can sometimes be found lacking in Japanese cocktail bars. Part of L’esca’s charm is its ability to balance the contemporary and the classic in a unique way.

Created by the magician mind of owner Christophe Rossi, the bar was born out of a desire to stir up a feeling of wonderment. Enter L’esca and you are immediately transported to the turn of the century, invited to the house of a crazy apothecary, and enveloped in a world of weird and wonderful elixirs to brighten your mood and tantalise your taste buds.

Mixing old French liquors, herbs and Japanese-born spirits, the cocktails at L’escamoteur are a type of medicine for the soul, and are as unique as the setting. Rossi has created an atmosphere and energy in the bar to promote a feeling of awe – that wonderment that is often lost in our busy, modern lives.