Cocktail Trail KL at HEXA Lounge, Bandar Sunway: Review

HEXA Lounge takes cocktails to a different level – mixologist Kelvin Lee experiments boldly with East Asian elements in his one-of-a-kind potions, employing curious components that range from Chinese bakkwa-like bacon to Japanese flying fish roe.

HEXA Lounge is discreetly located outside the Grand Imperial Chinese restaurant in Bandar Sunway’s Pinnacle Annexe; both Grand Imperial & HEXA are under the same ownership, which partly explains why the Orient’s influence is obvious in pleasingly mellow concoctions like the Jade Of Thousand Layers, with a teacup of ginseng-infused Pu’er tea with Tanqueray 10, Dom Benedictine & chrysanthemum syrup, served with pandan jelly (RM30+) & the Flaming Jade, which marries sake with absinthe, honey, lemon juice & fire-torched rosemary (RM35+).

Savoury Cocktails

Kelvin enjoys inventing savoury cocktails; be sure to order the Silk Road (RM45+), with whisky infused for eight hours with bacon oil, mingling with honey, lemon & balsamic vinegar, adorned with a bacon-wrapped strawberry & basil – it has no right being delicious, but it is. Kelvin pledges that more of such crazy cocktails will be available eventually, including one that can be paired with Grand Imperial’s coveted siu yok.

Duck L’Orange

The Duck L’Orange is another witty enterprise – gin infused with duck oil, combined with Cointreau, orange juice, soy sauce & egg white, topped with more bacon. Certainly an acquired taste, especially for patrons used to sweet/sour/bitter stereotypes.

An Off the Menu Cocktail to Try

Warm, dry sake & Kwai Feh lychee liquor, poured over into shots of tobiko flying fish roe (!) – this is an off-menu item, but it’s worth requesting it if you’re looking for a cocktail with a wholly unique flavour (it tastes like something you’d drink on a dare) & a texture you can chew on. Note however that Kelvin will be away in Amsterdam next week, so head to HEXA this week or after mid-November if you’d like to try this one. HEXA remains open while Kelvin’s gone, as his proteges will take over, but not everything will be available.

Cocktail Trail KL

HEXA Lounge is part of Cocktail Trail KL, an interesting initiative that involves six of the Klang Valley’s most respected cocktail bars – Bandar Sunway’s HEXA Lounge, Damansara Uptown’s Lou Shang Bar, 44 Pop-Up Bar (currently at Bangsar’s DR.Inc), Empire Damansara’s The Bar Kinugawa, Desa Sri Hartamas’ P&C, & Damansara Uptown’s Hyde At 53M. Basically, customers can pick up a Cocktail Trail KL card at the first outlet they visit this month, purchase a cocktail at each of the six outlets, & redeem a complimentary cocktail at the outlet they started at. The offer is currently valid throughout November only.