As a cool bar hidden in the residential area of Zijing West Road and emphasizing the attributes of the community, it is very low-key compared to other bars in Wuhou District. But among veteran whisky and cigar lovers, the collection and professionalism of the cool bar is among the best in Chengdu. Several of these bottles are 50 years old, which are the treasures of the town, and they are also very rare in the southwest, attracting many drinkers to come and see the real face.
The Macallan 50 years old, known as the 'Rolls-Royce of single malt whisky', is an old-school winery with the smallest stills in the region and a high proportion of sherry casks, renowned for producing sweet wines with intense fruity aromas. Every once in a certain time, the "50 Years" series, which is limited to the world, is infused with more than 50 years of ageing and special artistic design, so it has a high collector's value and has become a coveted treasure for whisky lovers.
In addition to the Macallan 50-year-old collection, Cool Bar's deliberately aged wine list lists hundreds of whiskies, as well as a detailed description of each distillery, and drinkers who have never been exposed to whisky recommend that they not only explain the differences between different whiskies, but also recommend the right liquor for customers. Laphroaig is the store's flagship whisky brand, a classic Islay peat-flavoured whisky brand that has been around for 200 years and is recognised as the most iconic whisky distillery. It is also one of the few remaining distilleries in Scotland that insists on its own malting. During the seven-day germination process, the barley is manually sprinkled to control the temperature and humidity to control the degree of smoke and create the desired malt smell. The main wines in the store, such as Laphroaig 1989, FEIS LLE2007 50.3, Laphroaig FEIS LLE2008 55, and Laphroaig FEIS LLE2009 57.5, have a unique barley aroma in a smoky peaty flavor. If there is a particular preference for smoky flavors, the bartender will set the whisky at around 4 degrees Celsius, which is the condition where single malt lovers can taste its flavor the most.
There is no minimum cost at the cool bar, cocktails and a single glass of whiskey cost between 60 and 120 yuan, and an entry-level bottle of wine for five to six people is also around 600 yuan, which is quite cost-effective. Like the full-bodied whisky, the cocktails at the Cool Bar are on the heavy side, with the Michire 12 stars being the best example. It is based on Rémy Martin VSOP, blends Campari and Dry Sweets, and is finished with orange bitters, with an impressive fruity aroma and a full-bodied texture.
The cool bar's outyard has been carefully remodeled to be filled with quirky and colorful tropical desert plants – agave, cactus, sisal, side orchid – and the succulent clusters that dot it out – in keeping with the bar's theme. Inside, leather sofas and wooden tables and chairs are elegantly lit, and four rows of wine cabinets on the walls are stocked with more than 300 whiskies. The private room inside has a wine bureau held by the store from time to time, and you can take out the best products and share them with whisky lovers.
In addition to wine tasting, many guests also come to taste cigars. The cigar cellar is home to some of the most famous cigar brands in Cuba and around the world, and the temperature and humidity are kept between 18 and 20 degrees and 65 and 75 degrees all year round, keeping the cigars in good condition. There is also a store store for guests to bring their own cigars. However, there is no smoking area in the store, so you can meet cigar smokers in the lobby, which can be a nuisance for customers who are not used to the smell of tobacco.
The slogan "No waiters, only bartenders" is a slight exaggeration, but the gentle and polite attitude of the staff and the professionalism of the wine are indeed rare in Chengdu's bars.
