A cocktail fit for a king. Inspired by King Alfonso X of Castile, The Wise King in Hong Kong draws flavor from the 13th century and the legacy of a man who came to be known far and wide as “The Wise.” What was the 1200s like? Well — according to this bar — endless snacking on tapas and drinking of alcoholic libations were what was all the rage back then in the hip royal circles that mattered. This modern classic cocktail bar shines a light on the very start of the Renaissance period, where expansion of knowledge, culture, and exploration was on the way in.
This cocktail, called the El Sabio, also means “the wise” in spanish. It uses spiced peach and pineapple red wine reduction as a base, which is topped with a Spanish sparkling Cava. It’s a fitting Spanish twist on the bar’s concept. The drink makes you feel majestic in a fascinating old world way. Though it’s a relatively simple drink with only two ingredients, it has so much flavor and mouthfeel, with that slight bit of fizz coming from the Cava carrying up the aromatics from the spiced fruits reduction to your nose.