KUCHING: A designer bar called Iced, serving cocktails, wine, and spirits, has opened at La Promenade Mall.
Talented and young mixologist Clare Geena and bartender Aloysius Gonzaga have created a local ingredients-led cocktail menu.
ICED: Young mixologist Clare Geena and bartender Aloysius Gonzaga made a local ingredient-based cocktail menu.
SPECIALITY: Cold drinks like 'Gin Breezy' mix gin with fresh pineapples and imported cranberries.
Iced signatures like ‘Gin Breezy’ marry gin with farm fresh pineapples and imported cranberries. The ‘Strawberry Brandy Tea’ is made with real fruits, brandy, and tea from the famous Black Bean Coffee & Tea.
There’s also ‘Forest Breeze’, a drink inspired by the band At Adau.
“I’m excited to serve new recipes alongside the classics like Old Fashioneds at Iced. Our menu is a labour of love, something I’ve worked on since pre-Pandemic. I’m taking universal cocktail elements and incorporating local twists for new yet familiar drinks for everyone,” Clare said.
A Culinary Arts graduate, the 26-year-old brings from Kuala Lumpur her food experience, including dessert
making, and barista stints with the Lonely Planet recognised Black Bean.
The menu has 25 cocktails including rare-for-Kuching modern classics like Espresso Martini, a reflection of
Clare’s unique background.
Iced is supported by about a dozen wines — all with Vivino ratings of above four out of five.
“We’re careful to choose better wines. Most wines are not on retail shelves. We’re particular with suppliers to
get the good stuff,” Clare said.
RATED: The wine list comprises “the good stuff”, said Clare, adding she worked with suppliers to find well-reviewed bottles for Iced.
Standouts include Chablis Reserve De Vaudon (in Vivino’s ‘Top 25 Burgundy Chablis Wines Right Now’ list), Torbeck Woodcutter’s Shiraz (scored 92 by Wine Enthusiasts) and Ca Vittoria Appassimento (a southern Italy
Red rated top 2% of wines in the world).
VARIATION: Iced offered a good range of spirits, whiskies from Japan, Ireland, Scotch, and the excellent brandy, Hennessy XO.
Rounding up the menu are spirits like premium whiskies. “We have the Japanese Yamazaki 12, Scotch Single
Malts Oban 14 and Talisker 10, and Jameson Caskmate Stout from Ireland. We’re also serving one of the best brandies — Hennessy XO.”
Whisky flights are available, served according to regions.
A selection of snacks in collaboration with Zoro by the Domus Group and the new Terrace round up the menu.
YUM: Snacks from Zoro by the Domus Group and the new Terrace are now part of the menu.
Iced is designed for intimacy. Located within a small 911sqft lot on the mall’s ground floor, the bar has one large counter, two booths, wraparound stalls and a private section.
It seats just 25 people.
Australian based architect Janani Premchandh worked on a local design studio and carpenters for the bar.
INTIMATE: Australian architect Janani Premchandh designed a cosy bar for everyone to enjoy their drinks.
Only a handful of materials were chosen and custom treated to retain their inherent features: hand stained timber veneer, stainless steel and a grey marble.
“On the wood, you can still see the grain, and on the bar top, the marble’s veins,” Clare said.
La Promenade Mall, which opened in 2021, is known locally as a food paradise. Iced is the latest addition to Hock Seng Lee’s stable of eateries, which include Foo Man Ting, Terrace and Shang Pot.
The mall is the focal point of the developer’s flagship 200acre gated community, the largest in east Malaysia.
For more info, search @IcedKch or @LaPromenadeMall on social media, or visit lapromenademall.com.my.