Introduction to Async
Async, a cocktail bar that pays homage to China’s various regions, has recently opened on the Lower East Side. New York City already boasts a packed roster of bars serving up cocktails directly incorporating Japanese flavors, or at least reflecting Japan’s meticulous, creative cocktail culture: Katana Kitten, Sip & Guzzle, Shinji’s, Bar Goto, Bar Moga and Martiny’s, to name just a few. You can find innovative interpretations of Korean cocktails at Orion Bar, Oiji Mi and Atomix. Chinese cocktails, however, have proven harder to find, barring spots like Brooklyn’s Cantonese hotspot Bonnie’s. New York has over 2,200 Chinese restaurants, so where are the drinks specifically highlighting those flavors and pairing with those dishes?
The Concept Behind Async
As of this April, they’re at Async, a new cocktail bar tucked in the back of YongChuan, a Chinese restaurant on the Lower East Side. Droveen Zhang, currently the head bartender at the award-winning Epic Bar in Shanghai, created the drinks menu at Async, translating varying regional flavor profiles into drinks. The goal is to shine a brighter spotlight on China’s cocktail culture for an American audience by giving bar guests a tour of China, which begins from the moment they enter the space. Patrons receive a rolled suede scroll upon arrival; unfurled, the menu doubles as a map of China, featuring nine cocktails—each inspired by and linked to a different region’s flavors.
Zhang’s Vision
Zhang jumped at the opportunity to come on as a consultant and create a cocktail menu for a New York bar, seeing it as a chance to expose more Americans to his country’s drink culture, relatively unknown here. After visiting the United States to compete in cocktail competitions over the years, Zhang found himself intrigued by New York cocktail culture, in particular, and wanted to showcase China’s own flavors and techniques in the city.
Regional Cocktails at Async
Each Async cocktail forms some connection to its region’s crops, cuisine or culinary traditions. For example, the Silk Road Negroni represents the Xinjiang region. Composed of red date cognac, dried grape, fig leaf vermouth, Fernet-Branca and walnut bitters, the flavor profile conveys the rich sweetness of Xinjiang’s fruits. The Spicy Madame features cherry tomato, chili, sour soup, tequila, lemon juice, simple syrup, Tabasco sauce and bitters, crowned with a shiso leaf, nodding to the Hunan region and its iconic dish, chopped chili fish head.
Exploring China’s Regions Through Cocktails
The Jasmine Breeze embodies the Fujian region’s tea culture, with jasmine tea, black tea and winter melon syrup alongside gin, lemon juice and sparkling water. The Mystic Rainforest taps into the Yunnan region’s inclusion of tropical fruits in savory dishes, with banana, pandan syrup and mezcal. The Hainan region’s yellow lantern chili pepper stars in the Flaming Tropic, providing spice that’s countered by lush mango puree, green kumquat and calamansi juice with rum. Tsingtao beer hails from the Shandong region, which is emphasized with the Tsingtao Orchard cocktail, incorporating the lager.
Food Menu and Ambiance
The food menu expands on the theme of regional exploration, with a Ningbo-focused edge that aligns with YongChuan’s original concept. There’s a Ningbo seafood white wine pasta, yellow fish croaker rolls and steamed rice cakes drizzled in osmanthus syrup. Rounding out the selection with more regional cuisines are a Sichuan mapo pasta, peking duck tacos and dishes like salted egg yolk calamari and seaweed popcorn chicken. The sleek, moody design of the lounge-like bar balances out potentially kitschy elements like the suede map menus. The interior is minimalist but comfortable, with leather banquettes underneath a ceiling covered in LED panels designed to mimic the look of the Northern Lights, shifting colors and patterns in response to movement.
Conclusion
Zhang’s ability to translate China’s regional flavors and cultures into intriguing yet accessible, easy-drinking cocktails make for a notable entry point for Chinese cocktail culture in New York. Async’s menu will satisfy sweet, savory or spicy cocktail enthusiasts, and at the same time, provides a refreshing way of interacting with diverse Chinese cuisines.
FAQs
Q: What is Async, and where is it located?
A: Async is a cocktail bar located on the Lower East Side, tucked in the back of YongChuan, a Chinese restaurant.
Q: Who created the drinks menu at Async?
A: Droveen Zhang, the head bartender at the award-winning Epic Bar in Shanghai, created the drinks menu at Async.
Q: What is unique about the menu at Async?
A: The menu is presented on a rolled suede scroll that doubles as a map of China, featuring nine cocktails, each inspired by and linked to a different region’s flavors.
Q: What types of cocktails can I expect to find at Async?
A: Async offers a range of cocktails that incorporate regional Chinese flavors, including the Silk Road Negroni, Spicy Madame, Jasmine Breeze, and more.
Q: Is the food menu at Async also focused on regional Chinese cuisine?
A: Yes, the food menu at Async expands on the theme of regional exploration, with a Ningbo-focused edge and dishes from other regions, such as Sichuan and Hainan.
