Glen Oliver from Jack Rose, Kuala Lumpur

"I was at Eat Me recently and had a cocktail that was like a tom kha gai soup. The cocktail was gin-based, savory, moreish and satisfying. One of the best drinks I've had in a long time, and from a bar that I had heard takes a lot of influence from the local cuisine, but the one difference with this place is that the locals unanimously agree that they actually do a proper representation of the cuisine, it's not just a gimmick. Well, this farang was very happy; Eat Me will surely be my first stop next time I'm in town."

Eat Me, 1/6 Soi Phiphat 2, Convent Rd., 02-238-0931. Open daily daily 3pm-1am

Prabu Philip from Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore

"I don’t believe there is such a thing as "best cocktail". There are different cocktails for different occasions and moods. However, the most memorable cocktail would be the White Flower Trumpet from Vesper's The Art Book menu. It's a twist on my favorite cocktail Ramos Fizz. It's a combination of Vodka infused with rice berry, jasmine flower syrup and honey, and those just go so well together with the cream, citrus and the soda. It’s a very clever and simple twist to a legendary classic cocktail."

Vesper, 10/15 Convent Rd., 02-235-2777. Open Mon-Fri noon-2:30pm; Mon-Sat 6pm-1am; Sun 6pm-midnight

Michele Montauti from Mikys Cocktail Bar, Bangkok

"I like Mekhong Thai Sabai; I recently had it at Tep Bar. Mekhong is a Thai spirit made from molasses and glutinous rice. In this cocktail, it goes really well with fresh lime and Thai basil, which has an anise or licorice flavor, with a slight spiciness. It’s so refreshing in this weather!"

Tep Bar, 69-71 Soi Nana, Mitrijit Rd., 098-467-2944. Open Tue-Thu 5pm-midnight; Sun 5pm-midnight; Fri-Sat 5pm-1am

Roger Yeap from Gibson, Singapore

"I'm impressed by the cocktails at Bronx Liquid Parlour. I know the owner is Japanese and before I went, I thought it was going to be a purely Japanese bar but it was actually mixed culture. My favorite cocktail from there was the Sei, it has matcha in it and served with a side snack. It's a sip and bite cocktail pairing making it a good experience. I find it to be very creative and at the same time it's also a good drink."

Bronx Liquid Parlour, Thonglor Soi 25, 02-036-6071. Open Tue-Sun 7pm-2am

Sven Maywald from 1881 by Water Library, Bangkok

"I like the Dirty & Smoky Martini from Hyde & Seek Peek-a-Boo. It has Fords Gin, dry Vermouth, Olive Brine and a bar spoon of Islay whiskey. The guys at Peek-a-Boo know very well how to make this drink and they make it so well-balanced that you can taste all the flavors. This is my go-to drink when I want to come down from after a hard day and enjoy the moment of silence.

Hyde & Seek Peek-a-Boo, 1/F, Groove, CentralWorld, Rama 1 Rd., 02 646 1099. Open daily 11-12:30am

Pop Direkrittikul from Eat Me, Bangkok

"Thai Tea Gin & Tonic from Teens of Thailand. I am a gin and tonic lover and I'm always on the look out to try something new and unusual. I feel like in Thailand we are blessed with a variety of local fresh ingredients that we can use in cocktails. I really like seeing Thai inspired cocktails and Thai tea is a very traditional thing that we all know and grew up with. The cocktail has Thai tea-infused gin as the base, then added herbs and tonic water."

Teens of Thailand, 76 Soi Nana, Charoen Krung Rd., 081-443-3784. Open Wed-Sun 7pm-midnight

The Rise of Thai Cocktails and Fine Dining

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