Booze News: Drinking Buddies Newest Box, Specialty Sake and Tequila, Beer Pong
Thirsty? Wet your whistle with Booze News, our wrap-up of the week's best bar deals, parties, drink concoctions, industry gossip, and more.
El Barrio steps up its agave game
Seekers of smooth tequila need not look further than Nali Patio, where El Barrio is now serving up a new selection of agave-based liquors. Unlike whiskey, which needs years of aging to achieve desirable qualities, the patience that goes into crafting a fine tequila or mezcal more often takes the form of cultivating the agave, which takes 7 years to grow to maturity. Some mid-range tequilas can be aged for as little as a few months, but several of El Barrio's new imports are aged for one to five years, letting them go down the hatch even more easily. If you like caramel in your coffee, you might be interested in the Jose Cuervo 1800 Anejo, while whiskey lovers will appreciate the other dark Jose Cuervo branded spirit, Reserva de la Familia, and intriguing citrus flavor can be found in the white option, Artenom 1414 Reposado. Meanwhile, the restaurant has imported several artisanal mezcals that will make for a lovely dessert to wash down those tacos.
Beyond Yakitori refreshes their sake selection
Sanlitun's Beyond Yakitori have updated their drinks menu to include several pasteurized and unpasteurized sake selections from famous Japanese brands such as Dassai and Kazenomuri. Although unpasteurized, or "raw," sakes are less commonly drunk, they're no less delicious and feature a flavor profile that is described as brighter, fruitier, and fresher. To get you in the mood, Beyond Yakitori are coupling the new drinks with a whole host of deals, including 50 percent off all skewers when you order a bottle of sake or RMB 100 off bottles when shared between two. See those deals and more via this post.
Drinking Buddies release their latest box
Drinking Buddies is back with their latest monthly booze box, just in time to toast the Year of the Rat. As is tradition, they've put together an exclusive box of all-Chinese craft beers for the new year, including brews from Yun Brewing, Hop Fan, and Tacheen, giving subscribers or one-time buyers a taste of China's growing and diverse independent brewery culture. More details on how you can get the box can be found here.
Intercontinental Wine Wednesdays
Intercontinental Hotel teams up with the Sanlitun Sommelier Wine Club to launch a new weekly wine night every Wednesday, 5pm until midnight. For RMB 298, you'll have free-flow access to a selection of 18 different wines and live entertainment. You can also opt to buy by the bottle (RMB 238) or by the glass (RMB 48).
Ladies night and ongoing free-flow beer deals at Oh Yeah! Brewing
The too-good-to-be-true deal at Oh Yeah! Brewing continues into the lunar new year, with free-flow beer for RMB 100 from 8pm until midnight on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. The Guomao-adjacent brewery now also boasts a ladies' night every Thursday from 6pm to midnight, where all ladies score unlimited access to the selected Beer of the Month for completely free as well as half-price on select cocktails.
Pyro Pizza Beer Pong Tournament
Touted as Beijing's original and longest-running beer pong tournament, Haidian's Pyro pizza keep the game alive over the break with sign-ups at 7.40pm with purchase of food or and RMB 40 at 8pm for regular sign-ups. The winning team will receive RMB 300 – not bad for throwing a ball into a cup!
The party continues over at this week's CNY best dining events.
Images: Yamamoto Magazine, courtesy of the venues
