Not a speakeasy, not a whiskey bar, not a cigar bar, The Union Trading Company is just a simple American cocktail bar, no solemnity or modesty, no inhibitions, no speakeasy gimmicks, no deliberate frills, and even a slightly old signage that looks like a slightly raunchy old gentleman. But it's inviting, looking through the glass windows, the small space and warm yellow lighting bring the drinkers together, while the classic American décor evokes a sense of confidence in the quality of the drinks, especially on winter nights, making drinkers want to step in and sit. It's a place for new acquaintances to talk about the world, lively but not noisy.
Regarding the name of the store, which has nothing to do with liquor, founder Lu Yao said, "The Union" is a union and gathering, which is to bring together customers from different industries and backgrounds for the same purpose, while "Trading Company" is a tribute to the golden age of the United States in the mid-19th century, when the gold rush made the railroad develop rapidly, and many trading companies (Trading Company) appeared with the completion of the railroad. Lu Yao believes that their trade is to gather happiness and friendship, so the environment and service are important, wine is not everything, in his opinion, people go to the bar to have fun, wine is just a medium to produce happiness, he wants each guest to leave a little happier than before they came in. As he wished, many of the guests in the bar were familiar with each other and as casual as home, and the bartenders and guests were at ease with each other like old friends.
The first floor of The Union Trading Company is a long and narrow floor, with only one bar and a row of tables for four. If you hadn't walked in and seen the "best bar" award all over the wall, who would have known that this is a bar that has been ranked in Asia's Top 10 for the second year in a row. Founder and keynote speaker Lu Yao is the 2016 Chivas Regal Cocktail Masters China Champion, and you have to try your luck if you want to drink his wine. Other bartenders are also highly skilled, and those who serve in the field may have won the top three in the country in major cocktail competitions.
The seasonally changing wine list is pretty streamlined, with just over 20 in-house seasonal specials and four barrel-aged barrels, and of course, you can ask for classic cocktails that the bartenders know by heart, such as Lu Yao's 2016 Chivas Regal Competition-winning champion mixology 560 State Street and Southern Iced Tea. Southern Iced Tea has almost become a popular product for everyone, with Chivas Regal 12 years old as the base wine, with Zhengshan small seeds, homemade kumquat paste, lemon and honey, a combination of Chinese and Western, sweet and sour fragrance and a soft and long aftertaste of black tea, which is very easy to be accepted by most people. If you're looking for an oaky, full-flavoured vintage, try The Union Trading Company's homemade barrel-aged cocktails.
In addition to wine, The Union Trading Company's snacks are also commendable, Madison's founder and chef Austin Hu is one of the partners, he brought the snacks he ate in the United States as a child to The Union Trading Company, Korean chicken wings with blue cheese sauce has been selected as one of the "four best chicken wings in Shanghai", the skin is crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, the sauce not only has Korean bean paste, chili sauce, tomato sauce, Honey and rice vinegar with a hint of cheese and milky aroma can be paired with a sweet and sour cocktail.
