The Barrel Room, a cocktail bar at W Koh Samui, prides itself on serving nothing but the finest barrel-aged cocktails.

Montien "Ice" Ruenthong, who W Koh Samui describe as their Liquid Operations Manager, is the brains behind the operation and has been perfecting the art of barrel-aging since 2015. These days, he uses wooden barrels shipped directly from Australia, which, unlike whiskey barrels, are not burned inside, resulting in fresher, woody flavors.

The bar has no menu. Instead, the labelled barrels and bottles which line the walls inform you what's in stock. All cocktails are priced at B380.

We tasted the rum, honey tabasco and pink pepercorn cocktail, one of Ice's first creations back in November 2015. It is usually served on the rocks but can also be ordered neat for a clearer flavor. The complex taste is balanced and surprisingly easy to drink.

Negronis are a staple in any cocktail bar. At The Barrel Room, they are aged from August 2016 and the slight hint of fresh wood gives them a much softer character.

The stand-out drink, however, has to be the Coco Cachaca, a signature cocktail inspired by Samui. Burnt coconut is blended with Cachaca rum and left to rest for one day. The coconut bits are then filtered out and orange liqueur is added. The current batch has been aging since December 2016. Served in a glass rimmed with toasted coconut, its reminiscent of tropical beaches but far more sophisticated than your average pina colada.

L/F, W Retreat Koh Samui, 4/1 Moo 1, Maenam, Koh Samui, 077-915-999. Open daily 6-10pm