Sipping Tiger, Phuket: cocktails shaped by landscape and intent

Words: Pasuta Phongam Photos: Kitsadorn Srithai & Sipping Tiger

Set within InterContinental Phuket Resort, Sipping Tiger is conceived as a quieter kind of cocktail bar — one that places equal weight on atmosphere, materiality, and the way a drink unfolds over time.

The design draws loosely from the surrounding landscape. Timber, rattan, and woven textures sit against dense greenery, while low lighting keeps the space intimate and contained. At its centre, the bar counter encourages proximity — guests are drawn closer, both to the craft and to the rhythm of the evening.

Beyond the main room, the experience shifts in scale. A private den offers a more enclosed setting, while a dedicated Botanical Room functions as a working extension of the bar, where herbs such as Thai basil, dill, thyme, and mint are grown and used directly in the drinks. It is a detail that feels practical rather than decorative — part of a wider system rather than a visual gesture.

The programme is led by Thai bartenders Alif Abru and Kunawut ‘Kim’ Wongruen, whose approach is grounded in a shared sensitivity to craft and context. Kim, a finalist in the Diageo World Class Thailand competition, works with precision behind the bar, while Alif draws on over a decade of experience in luxury hospitality to shape the programme more broadly.

Developed in collaboration with Kasetsart University and Chulalongkorn University, the drinks draw on both local botanicals and academic research, creating a framework that feels considered rather than imposed. Partnerships with regional growers, including Katian Farm, alongside WWF Thailand, further inform a sourcing approach tied to longer-term environmental thinking.

At its core, the programme remains centred on Thai botanicals and a quietly consistent zero-waste approach. Ingredients are sourced locally — in some cases grown on-site — and handled with restraint, allowing their character to remain intact within the glass.

The menu moves with the evening, beginning with lighter, more aromatic expressions before gradually shifting into deeper, more contemplative profiles.

Calamansi Riposato opens with brightness — calamansi, cinnamon, and peach sherbet lengthened with bianco vermouth and vodka. As the citrus and tangerine ice softens, the drink becomes more rounded, evolving gently in the glass.

Rum Cartel follows with a herbaceous freshness, where chocolate mint, cucumber, and passion fruit honey are balanced by Campari, resulting in something both familiar and quietly layered.

Shiro remains clean and composed — a highball built on chrysanthemum and Indian borage gin, lifted by yuzu sake and lemon honey. Light, floral, and restrained.

Smoke & Summer introduces a measured smokiness. Mezcal is layered with fermented local pineapple agave, grapefruit soda, and pink lime salt, balancing depth with a brighter, coastal edge.

As the evening deepens, the drinks take on more weight. Take It or Leave It leans earthy and rounded, combining coriander-infused tequila with mango sherbet and orange bitters. Den It Again centres on aged local agricole rum, layered with guava, five spice, and fortified wine — warm, with a gently tart finish.

The final expressions move towards a more spirit-forward structure. Leaf & Brine reinterprets the Dirty Martini through a saline lens, pairing oyster gin with kaffir lime-infused vermouth and Oloroso sherry for a dry, mineral profile. When Night Falls settles into a darker register — bourbon, amaro, and capers brine, lifted with bitters and a touch of smoke.

Dessert Island closes the sequence more softly, combining pandan-aged rum, Silver Needle tea, and upcycled coffee liqueur into a gentle, lingering finish.

A zero-proof selection follows the same ingredient-led approach. Watermelon Splash pairs fresh watermelon juice with jasmine-anise syrup and tonic, while Skinny Mango draws on mango sticky rice, blending mango with kaffir lime, coconut, and lime into a bright, tropical expression.

Beyond the glass, every bite from Sipping Tiger carries a distinctly modern Thai expression—bold yet refined—designed to elevate the rhythm of the evening with nuanced flavours and a contemporary edge.

Sipping Tiger does not rely on theatrics. Instead, it builds its identity through smaller decisions — sourcing, preparation, and the way each drink is allowed to evolve. Sustainability runs quietly through the experience, embedded in process rather than presented as a statement.

The result is a bar that feels considered and grounded — shaped as much by its setting as by what is poured into the glass. Sipping Tiger, Intercontinental Phuket Resort by IHG Hours: 17:00 PM - 01:00 AM Contact: sippingtiger.bar@ihg.com Reserve: +66 076 629 999 Location: 333, 333/3 Moo 3, Kamala Beach, 3, Kamala, Kathu District, Phuket 83150 Socials: https://www.instagram.com/sippingtigerbar/