Following in Raffles’ grand tradition of concocting exotic new cocktails, Mr Kong Len, the bar captain at the iconic Elephant Bar in Raffles Hotel Le Royal, brings us the “Fifth Pillar”.
While infusing locally sourced orange skin and homemade orange bitters with Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin for 15 days, Kong roasted a blend of rock salt, kaffir lime leaves, and orange zest. All the ingredients were then shaken and strained into a chilled martini glass.
Kong said he was inspired to support Cambodia’s orange and lime farmers, and wanted to create a drink that offers the zesty twang of citrus with the refreshing botanicals of gin.
The Elephant Bar first opened in 1929; early guests at the bar included Charlie Chaplin and W. Somerset Maugham. And it was here in the 1960s that the Femme Fatale was created especially for the visit of former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
Happy Hour at the Elephant Bar, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, is daily from 4 pm to 9 pm with 50% off selected drinks.
Patrons may be sated with the knowledge that a percentage of proceeds from sales of the Fifth Pillar is donated to a local NGO, Sunrise Cambodia, which supports children and struggling families in rural Cambodia.
