Favorite bourbon cocktail: Mint julep (bourbon whiskey, sugar, mint)
“Whiskey has a bit of a smokey smell but you don’t get that with bourbon, which is why it works so well for mixing drinks. I actually have a few favorite bourbon cocktails, but I chose the mint julep because Thailand is always hot and humid, and this cocktail is cold and refreshing—it’s good for tropical weather.”
72 Courtyard, 72 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor). Open daily 6pm-2am
Favorite bourbon cocktail: Old fashioned (bourbon, syrup, angostura bitters) and mint julep (bourbon whiskey, sugar, mint)
“With bourbon whiskey, you get these rich, sweet flavors of vanilla, honey and caramel, which you can only get from brand new American barrels. I was lucky enough to go to the Kentucky Derby a few years ago. It was a unique experience but something that sticks in my head is the mint juleps! You couldn't turn around without being offered one. They used to sell them like hot dogs in the stands. So whenever I have one, it brings back good memories."
1/F, Mandarin Oriental, 48 Charoenkrung Soi 40 (Oriental Avenue), 02-659-9000. Open Sun-Thu 5pm-1am; Fri-Sat 5pm-2am
Kiattikoon “Toon” Auengkum, Bunker
Favorite bourbon cocktail: His own unnamed creation that includes bourbon, maraschino, sweet vermouth, orange bitters, Campari and a twist of lemon peel.
"Bourbon has a sweet smell and goes in mixed drinks so much more nicely than Scotch. This particular cocktail is all about making the base liquor—bourbon—taste nicer. Orange bitters and sweet vermouth really blend well together with bourbon."
118/2 Sathorn Soi 12, 092-563-9991. Open Tue-Sun 6pm-1am
Favorite bourbon cocktail: New York Sour (bourbon, syrup, lemon juice, raw egg white [optional], topped with red wine)
“Bourbon has a very sweet smell. Many Thai people still aren’t familiar with bourbon but I’m sure if they tried it they would actually prefer it over their usual whiskey. I personally like sour cocktails, and this is one of my favorites.”
L/F, Playhaus Thonglor, 205/22-23 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-712-5747. Open daily 6pm-1am
Favorite bourbon cocktail: Old fashioned (bourbon, syrup, angostura bitters)
“As bourbon is made from corn, it has a sweet smell and retains the taste of the corn. Some brands come through more strongly, but in general bourbon has a sweeter smell than other whiskies. Because the old fashined contains very few mixers, the taste of bourbon remains very strong and clear. ”
2 Rama 9 Soi 41, 091-040-5174. Open daily 5pm-midnight
Favorite bourbon cocktail: Boulevardier (bourbon, sweet vermouth, Campari)
"The bitter taste from Campari and the slightly sour taste from the sweet vermouth just go so well with bourbon's sweetness. It has a sweet, vanilla, sugary taste that's perfect for people who are just starting to try brown spirits for the first time."
Sukhumvit Soi 61, 02 046 3798. Open daily 5pm-2am. BTS Ekkamai
Favorite bourbon cocktail: Old fashioned
"It's not just my favorite bourbon cocktail, but perhaps my favorite standard drink. It's also one of the best-developed cocktails—you can get them aged, smoked or with rum bases all over Bangkok. With bourbon, the more extended new-oak aging gives it a sweeter vibe, without losing any masculinity in the flavor. It's something I reach for post-dinner instead of a liqueur as I'm not a sweet tooth but also don't take myself seriously enough to always reach for single malts."
The House on Sathorn, 106 Sathorn Rd., 02-344-4000. Open daily noon-midnight. BTS Chong Nonsi
Arcadius Rybak, Zuma
Favorite bourbon cocktail: Whiskey sour
"Bourbons are more rich in flavor and generally perceived as being sweeter than other whiskies due to the high percentage of corn used in the mash bill and the use of new oak barrels, which retain all of their original sugars."
Brought to you by 
On Aug 16, Independent Wine & Sprit (Thailand) Company together with Beam Suntory presents Bartenders 4 Bourbon (B4B) at W Bangkok Hotel—an in-depth class for all Bangkok bartenders to learn the enduring history and heritage of bourbon, as well as the processes, techniques and technicalities of the spirit.
Jim Beam B4B Trainer Ricky Paiva, together with the team at Jim Beam, will also host exciting bourbon cocktail-making demonstrations for bartenders to learn from and adapt, helping Jim Beam to push for bourbon to start being recognized and gain its rightful place behind the bar.
Jim Beam’s Bartenders 4 Bourbon will take place on Aug 16, 2016 (noon-4:30pm) at W Bangkok (3/F).
