Thailand

Happy Hour Asia attended a drinking evening event in style on a December Friday 2021 at Rosewood Phuket’s poolside lounge MAI.

At ‘MAI Social Hour’ the luxury resort showcased some new and, very refreshing, crafted cocktails in partnership with Italasia. The cocktails included featuring Select Aperitivo (the essential ingredient for making the Original Venetian Spritz). Its taste description is very agreeable: “Complex and intense with bitter notes from roots and barks. Spicy and tropical notes come through at mid-palate, which complement the citrus notes. The finish is pleasant and persistent with fresh and rich notes coming from the citrus fruits and essential oils.”

The ‘MAI Social Hour’ event included DJ entertainment and a two-hour free flow package at Mai Bar, with these Signature cocktails among the choices: Negroni Reviver No. 2 (Select Aperitivo, gin, vermouth rosso), Select’s Cup (Select Aperitivo, lemonade, lime, orange, basil), and Venetian Spritz (Select Aperitivo, prosecco, soda water, stuffed green olive). There were in addition other Spritzer drinks with either white wine, rosé or red.

Mixologist Phongskorn Ruanjun (Tas) was the man behind the action in the bar. With more than 10 years of experience in the industry, Tas, has a great passion for creating the art of cocktails. This had led him to win the La Maison Cointreau Thailand competition in 2019 and represent Thailand in the La Maison Cointreau International Final Global Competition.

Mai has two distinct personalities: by day it is a laid-back pool bar, and after dark it morphs into a stylish, sophisticated lounge where the beachfront ambiance and live DJ music make this one of the island’s hippest night spots. Guests can choose to relax in the free-standing timber pavilion with open sides adorned with artisan-styled beaded curtains or on lounge beds and relaxed seating on the surrounding pool terrace.

Mai’s handcrafted, signature cocktails were designed by world famous barman Giancarlo Mancino. Under the afternoon sun, guests can lie back on oversized day beds sipping light and refreshing cocktails infused with local ingredients, such as the Mango Moscato Spritzer, Beer Margarita Tequila and Pina Colada Slush. The evening’s libations range from an impressive selection of aperitifs, spritzers and negronis such as The Unusual, a blend of Vermouth Bianco, Vodka and Orange Sorbet; Limoncello Spritzer; and the Vintage Negroni with Vermouth Rosso, Chinato, Gin, Rinomato and Bitters.