Sassy Belvedere Cocktails with The Best Bartender in the World, Mr Lyan

3 Sassy Spritz Cocktails

Finding a well-made cocktail in Hong Kong can be a difficult task, so I snapped up the opportunity to meet the master of cocktails, Mr. Lyan! Voted one of the ‘Best Bartenders in the World’, Mr. Lyan (Ryan Chetiyawardana) has made a name for himself creating expertly concocted cocktails using fresh, natural ingredients and combining his love of art, biology and philosophy.

He now has two bars in London; Dandelyan at the Mondrian hotel on Southbank, and The White Lyan in the East End. After recently visiting Dandelyan I can confirm that his bars, which have been voted as being some of the best bars in the world, are 100% worth visiting. I had the best Bloody Mary I think I’ve every had, and the focus on using quality ingredients that shine through is definitely an experience any cocktail lover to try.

In town to support Belevdere vodka, Mr. Lyan kindly showed us how he creates refreshing and perfectly balanced cocktails using this smooth spirit. Whether you like it sweet, sour or spicy, he put together three Sassy Spritz cocktails that are simple to make but taste amazing… get inspired!

Sassy Spritz No. 1 – Cool as a Cucumber

For girls who love a refreshing drink on a hot and humid Hong Kong day, this light cocktail is a winner. A mix of cucumber, lemon, ice, fino sherry, Belvedere, tonic and a spritz of Absinthe, this cocktail has a clean, light taste and a minty aroma. Bright, citrus notes make this ideal on a hot stuffy day!

Sassy Spritz No. 2 – Watermelon Wonder

The next cocktail Mr. Lyan put together was for the Sassy Girl who likes a bit of sweetness. Using fresh chunks of watermelon, he blended bitters, Martini Rosso, Belvedere and crushed ice to create a thirst-quenching cocktail that was far to easy too drink…

Sassy Spritz No. 3 – Pepper Punch

Last but not least was my personal favourite; an unusual cocktail that uses a vegetable instead of a fruit as the star ingredient. I was surprised at how sweet the red and yellow peppers actually made the drink taste, it had an almost fruity flavour. This sweetness was completely balanced by the spicy, peppery notes from the drops of tabasco, which gave the sweet peach slices a warming flavour. Along with peppers, peach and tabasco, Mr. Lyan added Lillet for a golden honey and orange flavour and Belvedere vodka of course, which offers a richness from the rye. 

Thirsty yet? Test out your inner bartender and grab a bottle of Belvedere and some fresh ingredients – it’s all about experimenting! Focus on high quality ingredients and you can’t go wrong when knocking up a cocktail at home.