The Tuxedo ： 'Postmodern Cocktails' from COA Mixologist

By Heather Millet

Seemingly without warning, The Tuxedo bar has taken a 007 leap into our lives on an unsuspecting Huangpu street corner.

Photo by Charms Jong

It is an establishment that feels exclusive, while providing a gracious atmosphere and smiling, well-dressed staff. It just may be the ultimate undercover venture for classic cocktail aficionados. 

Photo by Charms Jong

That's Shanghai 2022 Mixologist of the Year, Robin Leung (previous Senior Bartender of COA Hong Kong and Lead Mixologist of COA Shanghai) has put his passion for agave spirits into creating a menu of 'postmodern cocktails' – a reinterpretation of the classics using contemporary methods that bring a fresh face to beverages we all know and love.

Robin Leung, That's Shanghai 2022 Mixologist of the Year. Photo by Charms Jong

The bar stretches at an angle into the building from its large brassy doors, with darkened wood ceiling beams and softened white light.

Rich leather seating and a black granite bar top create a 1920s secret club sensation, and the energy of this establishment is taste; there are no gimmicks, tricks or hijinks at The Tuxedo.

Speaking to this was the fact that The Tuxedo launched their Highlight Night with a guest shift by Taki Li of Hong Kong's Bar Leone, number one in Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024, and just last week crowned second in The World's 50 Best Bars 2024.

READ MORE: Best of: Hong Kong – Lorenzo Antinori of Bar Leone

Tuxedo #310 (RMB138): Gin, Siete Misterio, Blended Vermouth, Bergamot, Absinthe. Photo by LEO

The Tuxedo name is taken from a twist on the classic martini invented in 1893 at the Waldorf Astoria New York. Martinis of many forms grace the menu, but The Tuxedo #310 (RMB138) is purely smooth, strong and chilled faithfully by a frozen grape.

While the ingredients suggest a myriad of flavors, the bergamot is not a starring role in this drink, rather supporting the immutable martini character, while the absinthe is misted over the surface.

Soufflé Martini (RMB108): Rum, Marmalade, Coconut, Coffee, Chocolate. Photo by LEO

For a martini that runs more toward the imagination, the Soufflé Martini (RMB108) is a play on an espresso martini, but with a velvet foam raising perilously above the rim of the glass.

In a playful piece of flavor profiling, The Tuxedo menu sees drinks listed with levels of 'bowtie' for their different characteristics, and the Soufflé Martini receives three out of five bowties for foaminess.

The Salveray Coconut Rum in the drink is by celebrity Chinese singer Jay Chou, in partnership with Bruno Mars; like his music, the martini is straight forward and dessert-sweet. 

Robin Fizz (RMB98): Siete Misterio, Lime, Tonic, Cardamom, Grapefruit. Photo by Daibo

Leung's self-titled Robin Fizz (RMB98) sees a Siete Misterio Mezcal base supplemented with cardamom and grapefruit. It receives one bowtie for smokiness, one bow tie for fragrance, and four bowties for bubbles.

The high level bubbliness comes from the fact the bar adds extra carbonation to the grapefruit soda they use. While many cocktails are overtaken when grapefruit is added, in this case it lends full attention to the mezcal, yet remains extremely easy to drink.

Continuing the homage to Leung's agave spirit background, he has also included a few Mexican classics, such as a Michelada served without heavy adaptation, and a Margarita riff.