There’s something mystical about the word elixir.
Back when chemistry was known as alchemy, there was a great deal more mystery in the world. Tinkerers would attempt to transmute lead into gold and attempt to capture the spirit in a bottle. Wise men would brew their potions and tinctures, promising that they would scour corruption from the body and cleanse the soul.
While we doubt that anyone ever managed that feat, it still makes for fun reading. We’ve come a long way, but perhaps there is still a bit of magic left in elixirs.
The beautiful illusion
This is not the first incarnation of Elixir Bar. The first incarnation stood on exactly the same spot, in a nondescript (as nondescript as a building can get, anyway) in Orchard Road. While the old Elixir had interesting cocktails such as Prawn Noodle and Blue Cheese, it never quite rung true to the name. As tasty they might be, there was no alchemy to be had.
The revamped bar, thankfully, corrects that little pickle with a strong mystical theme. The new head bartender, Vladyslav Buzko, wanted guests to “rediscover the joys of curiosity and the wonderment of fantasy”.
An interesting idea, but pointless if executed poorly. When it comes to themed bars, going about it halfheartedly breaks immersion. To have the customers sink into the theme, the bar must sink so deep into the role that the reality and illusion are indistinguishable. A bar like Elixir is part cinema, part performance, part watering hole.
Alchemy and fantasy
The menu consists of ten ‘Elixirs’, divided into five families – Happiness, Beauty, Life, Luck, and Courage. It would be pedestrian to simply have it printed on white sheets of paper, so the pages are an aged brown that reminds one of papyrus.
Bottles full of strange fluids ensconced on the shelves, and the table is stacked full of curios and arcane ingredients. These go into Vlad’s potions and have charming names such as Drooling of Ant, Sun Juice and Heart of Swan. (As a side note, we’ll be preserving the mystery of what exactly goes into these drinks, so we won’t tell you what they really are).
Vlad himself exudes a kind of old world Eastern European charm- mystery and perhaps, a bit of danger. He would not look out of place in a crumbling Gothic castle, inviting guests to partake of crimson wine from his jewelled goblets.
Well, we’re definitely intrigued.
Love
We started off with Aphrodite’s Secret ($23++) made from Bankes Gin, Heart of Swan, Chambord, Slime of Snail, Drooling of Ant, Sweet Syrup and Roses of Oblivion. The inspiration, we are told, is Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. In the famous painting, the goddess rises from the sea fully grown, the very picture of femininity.
We could certainly see the connection. The cocktail’s thick white foam recreates the image of the waves lapping at Aphrodite’s feet. A seductive perfume of roses rises from the glass, fitting for the Goddess of Love. The drink itself is fair. It’s light in body, with a dominant flavour of sweet berries. It’s a little too tart for our taste, but that’s simple to fix.
We were also introduced to the Beauty of Nefertiti ($21++), named for the Egyptian queen of legend. Ancient busts preserve her likeness, giving credence to her reputation as one of the most beautiful women of her time.
The cocktail is made from vodka, Frangelico, Slime of Snail, Fire of Prometheus, Juice from Enchanted Apples and Gold Dust. A rich, hazelnut flavour is counterbalanced against the tartness of apples. We find it a little saccharine, but the combination of flavours is interesting; how often do you find citrus, apples and nuts in the same drink?
Immortality
The very roots of alchemy were based in the search for eternal life. Kings and Emperors paid wizards handsomely to stave off the Reaper, and the enchanters would dutifully concoct potions to that end. All kinds of exotic ingredients went into them, but as far as we know, no one has succeeded in cheating mortality.
The Elixir of Immortality ($24++) was made from Unicorn Blood, Bourbon Whisky, Angostura, Seeds of Longevity, Berry of Rage & Sweet Syrup. It’s wonderfully layered, with the pine and vanilla of bourbon melding with tart berry flavours and supported by a rich, spicy backbone. Not bad at all.
Oh, did we mention that the drink was literally set on fire?
If eternal life was not an option, then the afterlife awaited. Funerary practices were of upmost importance in Egypt, and the splendour of Pharoahs’ tombs matched those of their palaces.
Appropriately, the Anubis Potion ($26++) might be the most elaborate cocktail that we’ve ever had. The ingredients for this potion read like an incantation from a spellbook. Ashes of God, Monkey Shoulder, Galliano Ristretto, Sweet Syrup, Jackal Blood & Chocolate Bitters.
Scotch whisky and chocolate give it a powerful, dark flavour that mesh well with the theme. The interaction between the ingredients is fairly complex, a web of shifting bittersweet flavours ranging from honey, to cloves, to marmalade. A mild sour berry flavour balances the cocktail. It is rich. but not too rich. We like it.
Fortune favours the bold
Fortune is often sought after in liquid form. The Tykhe ($22++), named after the Greek goddess of luck, might be our favourite drink on the menu, so there might be something to that after all.
Tequila, Aperol, Drooling of Ant, Tears of Happiness & Grain of Time work well together. There is a nice sweetness that transitions into bitter oranges, tart passionfruit and smoke. It’s fairly light but has good depth for all that. Definitely one of the better tequila-based cocktails we’ve tasted.
The Jupiter ($26++), named for the King of the Greek Gods is, aptly, the strongest drink on the menu. It’s a potion made from Cognac, Dom Benedictine, Hummingbird Eggs, Meteorite & Perpetual Glue, and served in a goblet. We’re going to lift the veil a little here; there’s caviar and cheese in it. The drink was quite heavy on the fruity, floral flavours of cognac, but with a tinge of cream and herbs. It’s fair, but we find it a little rich for our taste.
Other than elixirs, there are other original creations on the menu, including the Eclipse ($21++), which we found to be absolutely delicious. Port Wine, Rosso Vermouth, Kahlua & Cranberry are stirred up and served in a tall glass.
It’s fairly light on the alcohol content, but full of rich wine flavours. We get plums, sweet berries and a bracing bittersweet coffee finish that adds depth and panache. A standout.
Summing it all up
The drinks are mostly fair, with some standouts like the Tykhe and the Eclipse. If you’re looking for an interesting experience, and a bit of flair, however, then look no further than Elixir Bar. The presentation ranges from the beautiful to the breathtaking.
It turns out that there’s still a bit of magic left in alchemy, after all.
