The Cock’s Tail Bar KL – Hidden Bar, Chinatown 

The Cock’s Tail Bar KL – Chinese Medicine x Cocktails – Drinking That’s Good For You

Words: Monica Tindall
Photos: Han Sen Hau

Run by the same friendly team behind The Crane, Puteh Beach Bar and Puteh Rooftop Bar, The Cock’s Tail Bar is bound to be a success. The group is known for curating vibrant settings, hiring a knowledgeable team and having a top-end sound system (they have a background in events and are masters with light and sound). This new hidden bar, down a side alley between REXKL and The Crane, combines the aforementioned with cocktails inspired by Chinese medicine, local herbs, spices and sustainable practices. 

There are over 20 cocktail bars in this strip alone in Chinatown, so how do you stand out? Food and beverage executive, Adnan Nitu, says he aims to curate beverages that are sustainable and also beneficial to health. Utilising traditional herbs found in Chinese medicine and working with the kitchen at The Crane to prevent food waste, he ferments, preserves and turns leftovers into syrups and tonics to complement various spirit bases. Additionally, the small intimate setting is ideal for conversation with present but not intrusive background music, and a chill vibe.

The Cock’s Tail Bar KL Menu

Food can be ordered from The Crane in the same building, which we highly recommend as part of responsible drinking. Pizzas are easy to share, and there are a bunch of plant-based recipes, too, that make a diverse crowd happy. The cocktail menu is quite a read, describing each beverage in detail. We begin with something light and refreshing and work our way through to more intense flavours.

Cock’s Tail Martini

The Cock’s Tail Martini (RM 50) is a unique take on the classic martini. It combines sweet watermelon fermented in vodka with a dash of hibiscus syrup for a subtle floral twist. The blend of apple and pink guava juices adds a fruity touch and a nice zip of acidity. However, the true magic here is the butterfly pea flower ice cubes. They’ve been frozen with Cointreau and sugar syrup, so they melt slowly and contribute flavour to the drink rather than diluting it. 

The Flamingo 

Adnan draws influence for the next drink from the social birds, which habitually flock together and are a little pink, Flamingo! (RM 50). This sweeter, slightly creamy, tiki-resembling (although not made with rum) cocktail blends pandan-infused gin, longan, Cointreau, yuzu, cranberry juice, and a touch of frothy egg white. It has quite a depth of flavour thanks to the nutmeg, balancing spice, sweetness and tartness, while the creamy egg white adds a velvety texture. And, the Chinese medicine health benefits of this concoction? Longan: apparently, beneficial for your circulation.

Hi! Bis Mezcal 

Things get a little more serious with the Hi! Bis Mezcal (RM 50). Angelica roots, said to be good for those with diabetes and heart disease, have been fermented and infused in Mezcal with the essence of dried figs. The drink is given colour and sweetness with house-made hibiscus syrup, mint leaves, zesty calamansi and apple juice. The fruit flavours have a delicious smokiness woven throughout. A garnish of dried figs and Maraschino cherry provides a colour contrast and a light bite at the same time.

Tie Guan Yin 

One of Adnan’s signature cocktails, Tie Guan Yin (RM 45), combines Chase Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin, oolong tea, house-made mangosteen syrup, honey and peach bitters. It is refreshing with a complex blend of flavours. The oolong tea provides a delicate and floral note, while the mangosteen syrup adds sweetness and fruit. Furthermore, this Chinese tea is hailed for its anti-aging properties – I’ll take two! It’s served in a shiny navy-blue teapot with a mini bowl of biscuits and a vase of dried lavender, evoking memories of tea on the porch with grandma.

Aged Negroni by Adnan

The Aged Negroni by Adnan (RM 45) is a good introduction for new Negroni drinkers. It’s softer and easier to drink than the traditional blend of three different alcohols. It’s layered and complex, with Crafters Aromatic Flower Gin lending subtle floral notes to the richness of gula Melaka-pandan-infused vermouth. Housemade caramelised balsamic vinegar introduces a hint of sweetness and acidity. It’s served in a Champagne coupe, indicating immediately that it’s not a classic but rather a spin on such. Adnan says it’s a Negroni for everybody, you still get the punch at the end, but the first sip eases you into it.

Reasons to visit The Cock’s Tail Bar KL: a fun find with the thrill of the chase thanks to its entrance through a side door down a back alley; good place to sip and chat with upbeat music that fills in the background rather than competing with conversation; Mon’s top pick is the Cock’s Tail Martini; Han Sen was rather partial to the Hi! Bis Mezcal; and Syarool appreciated the sweet tropical flavours of the Flamingo.

The Cock’s Tail Bar KL
Hidden inside The Crane
78, Jalan Sultan, City Centre,
Chinatown, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
@cockstailbar

The Cock’s Tail Bar Opening Hours
Sun-Mon: 4 pm – 12 am
Tuesday: Closed
Wed-Sat: 4 pm – 1 am

Find more KL bar recommendations here, and stay up-to-date on the latest gourmet and travel happenings around Malaysia here and here.