{"id":13982,"date":"2018-04-24T19:25:32","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T02:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pickydiners.com\/www\/?p=13982"},"modified":"2018-04-25T03:14:14","modified_gmt":"2018-04-25T10:14:14","slug":"h-tasting-lounge-offers-cocktails-aesthetic-pleasure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickydiners.com\/www\/h-tasting-lounge-offers-cocktails-aesthetic-pleasure\/","title":{"rendered":"H Tasting Lounge offers cocktails of aesthetic pleasure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mag (@magmei<\/a>) and I were long overdue for a day drinking date. Yes – in Vancouver’s foodie scene, you can’t find that many social media influencers that can taste and handle alcohol like we do. We love our cocktails, with a passion, and a true dedication to discovering the best for our audience.<\/p>\n

After we finished a\u00a0media tasting at Ramen Taka<\/a>, we retreated to\u00a0H Tasting Lounge<\/a>\u00a0for a relaxing cocktail afternoon. The lounge was opened last November<\/a> and was named\u00a0HJU<\/em>:Z\u00a0Lounge<\/em>. But they decided to choose a much more memorable\u00a0name, well almost a little too memorable, something straying away from their Howard Hughs-inspired theme.<\/p>\n

The place is gorgeous regardless, resembling the golden era of aviation in the most refined fashion.\u00a0 The 2,800 square-feet space features gold Art Deco sliding doors and custom-made baby blue velvet seats. And right outside, there was one of the most breath-taking views you could find in Vancouver – the North Shore mountains, the water, and the luscious green of Stanley Park.<\/p>\n

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H Tasting Lounge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We were attended by their star mixologist Dylan Williams<\/strong><\/em>, who also had previously worked at\u00a0Bambuda<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The drinks arrived\u00a0one after another, and we were enjoying this theatrical progression.<\/p>\n

The first act was the Sakura Sidecar<\/strong>, a springtime special, but not on their regular cocktail menu, blended with Hennessy VS, lemon juice, Cointreau, infused Cherry Blossom Green Tea, Pierre Ferrand, and a cherry blossom candy floss cone.<\/p>\n

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The playfulness of the cocktail won me over instantly. I was instructed to tear off a piece of the cotton candy and put it on my tongue before taking a sip of the drink. The sharpness of the iconic cognac, touched by little citrusy notes, instantly merges with the sugar, leaving a warm, rich and delicious sensation on my palate.<\/p>\n

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Dylan would have a bigger role in the next act.\u00a0 The House of Faberge<\/strong> is inspired by the coldest livable place called Yakutsk in Russia, featuring Ciroc vodka, toaster hazelnut, green peppercorn, lactic acid, served in a breakable “egg” made of ice.\u00a0 The bartender puts down the drink but still stands there with a hammer in his hands. And there he goes, breaking the ice with the hammer and the purple liquid is released, fusing into the clear liquid in the glass.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n