Flavor Lounge is one of the first professional cocktail bars in Chongqing. The first and second stores in Proud World and Liujia Pier are named "Flavor Lounge" and the third store is named "Flavor Tiki".
FL is recognized as a leading bar in Chongqing, maintaining an excellent standard over the years and has a high reputation among local and foreign drinkers. The first to open the Proud World store adopts the style of an old-fashioned British pub, with leather sofas and black tables and chairs arranged in an orderly manner under the burgundy walls in the grid windows. The long-established restaurant has the largest collection of classic cocktails and whiskeys in the Flavor Lounge, and it is also the store with the largest number of foreign customers. The professional and rigorous attitude of Flavor Lounge is evident in the details. In the case of the classic Ramos King Fizze, made by hand rather than mechanically, the gin is mixed with lemon juice and sugar, as well as the "soul" of this wine: egg whites and cream, which when fully shaken to form a cloud-like foam, with a soft mouth and sweet and sour fruit aromas. In addition to classic cocktails, there are also a number of whiskies on sale at the store, and while the fine drinks are not as good as those in professional whisky bars, they are already quite impressive for entry-level drinkers. The whisky puck is chiseled by hand, and the pucks have a larger contact area and a slower melting rate than the machine-made ice cubes, which ensures that the liquor will not be diluted in a short period of time, so that the taste of the whisky will not be weakened.
The second store on the bank of the Jialing River is positioned as a modern bar. The three-metre-high wine cabinet extends from the first floor to the second floor; Under the large crystal chandelier, there is a bar counter several meters long, giving guests more space to communicate. The second store usually doesn't sell classic cocktails, and the dozens of cocktails on the wine list are developed by the store's bartenders, ranging from classic adaptations to new creations, and are unique in terms of color, shape and even utensils, making it the most popular among the three stores. The cocktail menu of the second store is divided into Chongqing series, classic extended series and creative series, among which hot pot punch, Chongqing girl, mountain city and other local specialties are the most popular.
The "hot pot" in hot pot punch is not just a gimmick. When making, the hot pot base is boiled, the aroma is extracted, and it is added to the nine-square grid-shaped utensils. Jiugeri uses Irish whiskey, sherry, homemade Lao Yin tea, red dates and wolfberry syrup. On the palate, it is light and fruity, with a sweet and sour fruity flavor, which seems to be quite heavy, but not too much. Due to the cumbersome manufacturing process, this cocktail needs to be ordered one to two days in advance.
If hot pot binji is a tribute to Chongqing in hot pot culture, the mountain city shows the beauty of the fog capital. Based on jasmine vodka, fresh orange juice and passion fruit and mango puree are added, and a layer of vanilla foam is spread on the surface to increase the aroma. This cocktail is crisp, rich in aroma and restrained, reminiscent of the clouds that haunt the mountain castle all day long. When this cocktail is served, the bartender will also deliberately use dry ice to create a cloudy landscape around the glass, which is quite visual.
As for Flavor Tiki, which has been open for the shortest, it is mainly Hawaiian-themed. The second-floor windows cast an orange glow, mimicking the sunset, while the chandelier on the ceiling simulates starlight. Flavor Tiki's cocktails highlight the holiday vibe, with a refreshing taste, low alcohol content, and dazzling colors, which are favored by ladies. These three stores have very different styles and strong distinction, but they have the same rigorous attitude towards production, so it is not an exaggeration to call FL the most professional bar in Chongqing.
The waiter at Flavor Lounge is proactive and friendly, while the bartenders are very friendly. For those interested in cocktails and whiskey, it is recommended to choose a counter seat to mingle with the bartenders. In contrast to the satisfying production and service, the choice of music is casual, and the loud pop music does not match the calm and elegant tone of the bar.
