Rim Bangkok, Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok: nightclub with clarified milk punch drinks focus

RIM Bangkok bar Sathorn review: It’s not every hotel which can boast having a nightclub on the premises, but at Ascott Embassy Sathorn Bangkok hotel/serviced residences this is the case.
Operated by the local bar/nightlife operator Sugar Ray Group, street-side RIM is easily accessible from Sathorn road, as well as the lobby and hotel situated higher up in the building.

To find such as venue here is somewhat of a surprise, but fully understandable as there is less such venues in the vicinity than in other Bangkok neighbourhoods.

Happy Hour Asia has come to explore the bar menu and arrives “early”, at 7.00 pm when RIM opens. And it is then we find out about the nightclub concept… and luckily then a nightclub manager has come along as company, enabling us to evaluate the drinks offering well also from such a starting point. And there is nothing to consider here on the food front, thus being pretty straightforward!

French Milk Punch

Rim is dimly lit, sophisticated and exudes warmth and style. A subtle palette of polished wood dominates and electric candles on all tables including the long bar gives a sense of intimacy.

Our cocktail exploration takes places in an ideal corner on the mezzanine floor, in a smaller V.I.P bar situated at one far end, accessed via a spiral staircase. Up here, guests can enjoy a vintage point over the neon-red/yellow venue, and be seated in brown leather sofas and armchairs.

This being a Sunday evening it is also nice and quiet early in the evening and with the sound system playing a nice soundtrack of mainly soulful tunes and R&B. Guests should be aware however that by 9.00 pm the volume will increase significantly and with a more “demanding” EDM soundtrack.

So, arriving early is perfect for guests just wishing to enjoy some nice drinks in nice setting.

Bartenders: Poom and Mac ensures we are having a good time, happy to talk about the nightlife scene, as well as the drinks menu concept and the specifics of certain drinks.

We start off with the Gastronomy Cocktail section, with drinks such as ‘Gravlax Margarita’, made with Los Arcos El Valle Tequila,gravlax cordial and beetroot pickle! Gravlax, take note, is raw salmon cured in a salt-sugar-herb mixture, to which indeed alcoholic spirits can be added.

Rim bar

We opt for a ‘Pesto Gimlet’ – pesto; we are beginning to understand the ‘gastronomy’ topic… –
made with Tanquery gin, basil, lime cordial, basil olive oil. Served in a champagne coupe glass this has the character and colour (opaque) of lime.

Next cocktail is called ‘Isphahan Club’ (no clue what Isphahan means, might be something Thai…), made with Beefeater gin, Disaronno Amaretto, lychee liqueur, raspberry, rose, lemon and egg white. Also served in a champagne coupe glass, this is a pink drink with a white bubbly layer in the top – and clearly a ladies’ drink.

Next, and what become the big focus for our drinks testing, the attention turns to the Clarified Milk Punch section, which – take note in case you are not familiar with this genre – are NOT milk-based cocktails, but transparent drinks as a result of a special clarifying process that uses milk! The process removes tannins, pigments, and some unwanted flavour compounds from the base mixture, resulting in a mellow, clarified liquid. The liquid has a silky, viscous texture and a refined flavour profile. Its profile can be surprising and is only revealed through tasting. Imagine for instance drinking a see-through drink but that tastes like a Singapore Sling!

The many Clarified Milk Punch drinks on the menu makes sense in this setting, since their visuals are highly desirable in nightlife, and thus they are increasingly popular there, as a contemporary cocktail genre.

The ‘French Milk Punch’ is made from brandy, earl grey tea, grapes, pink guava, jasmine, clove and soda – served in a sparkling wine glass. The resulting colour is what can be expected from blending early grey with pink guava – and a bubbly top layer. Somewhat of an underachiever it lacks a bit of “punch”, as in not high enough alcohol percentage to our liking. However, it has a nice combination of tastes, no doubt!

Rim Bangkok Milk Punch cocktail

Another one is the ‘Bangkok Milk Punch’, which is no doubt a local concoction and made with Chalong Bay rum, lime, lychee, jasmine rice syrup, pandan water and Thai tea. Chalong Bay is appreciated by many bars for its higher alcohol level. Served in a whisky glass it has a lychee
colour, unison taste and does not taste strong.

‘American Milk Punch’ is yet another one these milk-clarified drinks – made with Bourbon, peach tea, apple, red wine, butter scotch (syrup), lemon and dried rosemary! Unsurprisingly with red colour mixing with the otherwise transparent drink, t’s an accomplishment – a harmonious flavour combination that is a winner!

Moving over to the Old Fashioned section, the ‘Rim Old Fashioned’ cocktail is made less powerful than the original, and made with Bulleit bourbon, brown butter washed bourbon, brown sugar syrup, cherry liqueur and angostura bitters, the latter adding to the aromatic, and slightly bitter flavour. Golden-yellow in colour, also Rim’s version comes with large square ice cube in the drink.

In this section you’ll also find familiar drinks like ‘Godfather’. Then there are Tall Style cocktails, including Mojito, Long Island Ice Tea and other similar party drinks, as well as Tiki cocktails, including Singapore Sling. There are also Sweet N Sour drinks and Highball drinks.

For wine lovers, these were available by the glass upon this visit to Rim bar:
Sparkling
Ottocento Vino Spumante Extra, Dry Cuvee Piemonte, Italy
White
2021 Lemoretteserai Cianco Veronese I.G.T., Veneto, Italy
Red
2020 Reguta Carant Tre Venezie I.G.P, Italy