Life

If scented candles smell amazing and evoke one’s emotions, why not create cocktails inspired by them? After all, plenty of the ingredients like spices, fruits and oils in scented candles can be consumed. It is exactly what RuMa Hotel and Residences have done when they asked acclaimed mixologist Shawn Chong to create cocktails inspired by Lilin+Co’s range of scented candles for their in-house bar, SEVEN Lobby Bar and Lounge.

It’s a unique concept but if it’s any bartender who can successfully come up with delicious concoctions, it’s Chong. Formerly an owner of speakeasy Omakase + Appreciate, which is sadly now defunct, and winning Bartender of the Year at The Bar Awards KL 2018, Chong is one of the most notable names in the industry.

The four cocktails are a sensory delight with the combinations predominantly fruity flavours. They are: Strawberry + Bubbly (a mocktail) with strawberry syrup, peach syrup, orange juice, soda;  Orange + Martini with vodka, Cointreau and Campari; Apple + Cinnamon with whiskey, passionfruit syrup, apple cinnamon jam; and Lychee + Cypress with VSOP, lychee liqueur, oolong tea. Each cocktail will be paired with a canape, specially prepared by Executive Chef Tyson Gee.

“The process of creating these cocktails was almost the same as creating cocktails for a food pairing event,” says Chong. “The scents from the Strawberry & Champagne, Mimosa & Mandarin, Lychee & Black Tea and the Naughty or Nice Mulled Wine excited the senses a bit more than the others. I then used the nosing notes from the candles to inspire the ingredients for the cocktails.”

Founded in 2016, Lilin+Co is known for their premium soy wax candles hand-poured in small batches with a focus on meticulous craftsmanship, quality materials and sustainable practices. Simple, minimalist and eco-friendly, they make a great addition to any home.