Interview

When the final envelope was opened in Wynn Palace Macau, applause echoed across a room filled with many of Asia's most influential bartenders. For Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou, it marked the culmination of a decade-long journey. For everyone gathered, it was another reminder that Asia's cocktail scene has entered a new era—one where the continent's finest bars are no longer defined by imitation, but by identity. For more than a decade, Asia's 50 Best Bars has documented the rem

At first glance, The Japanese Bitters presents itself with quiet restraint, allowing flavour and intent to speak before narrative. Built around ingredients deeply embedded in Japanese culinary tradition, the range reflects an approach that values precision, balance and familiarity rather than reinvention. It is this understated confidence that has carried the brand beyond Japan, positioning it naturally within the international bar community. Founded by Yuki Yamazaki, The Jap