Agung Prabowo

The co-owner of the Old Man, lauded as Asia’s best bartender by the 2019 Drink Magazine bar Awards, shares five of his inspirations

“I don’t limit myself when creating. I like to challenge myself every day.”

1 a Moveable Feast #1964

The cocktail that blows my mind. Exclusive to the Old Man in Hong Kong, it is a recreation of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite drink, the Bloody Mary, made with a combination of sand, seawater and fresh clams blended and redistilled with vodka; clear and spiced cherry tomato juice, coconut syrup, and basil, all infused in cheese wax, and garnished with an oyster leaf. We spend a few hours preparing this cocktail so it has many layers of flavour, and this is my proudest concoction of 20 years working behind the bar.

2 Humility

I think the one ingredient that’s underappreciated in creating drinks is humility. You can’t serve guests or excel at hospitality without it.

3 ernest Hemingway

The Old Man is a concept bar that pays tribute to Ernest Hemingway and therefore many of my concoctions have been inspired by him. I’ve read all his books, know where he lived and travelled, and studied his favourites.

4 brazil

I’ve never been there but I really want to visit the Amazon and forage for ingredients for my cocktails.

5 My lab

This is where I go to be alone and concentrate on my work or on creating a new cocktail.