Tonight it was St. Patrick’s Day and I was primed to drink. Whereas many looked to Irish bars for a themed night, I opted in for quality cocktails instead.
Presented in part by Myles of TS Global, Arcana Spirit Lounge’s bar manager Ryan James was doing a guest shift at Laowai. For those unfamiliar, Laowai is Chinatown’s hidden speakeasy specializing in Baiju. They are also currently No. 67 on the North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025 extended list.
Ordering “number 7” granted me a seat at the bar, where Ryan would take centre stage, and I would be in view of all the action. I cleverly came from dinner before and was not drinking on empty, given how strong these cocktails would prove to be.
This one night only drink menu was inspired by the Irish drinking day, but not all the cocktails were outwardly showing it.
The benefit of sitting at the bar is the ability to engage with the bartenders, and in my case Ryan walked me through his curated menu, suggesting where to start and which cocktail to end on. The following is in that order.
The lightest was Barry’s Milk Tea Punch with Barry’s Tea-Infused Dublin City Gin
Lucano Amaro, Lemon, and Honey & Lavender Clarified. This was served in Arcana’s iconic coffin shaped flask.
For those who have never been to Arcana, the occult themed bar, I suggest you do. They are one of a kind with their spooky and mystic decor, featuring cocktails themed after tarot cards. One of their most popular cocktails is served in the above mentioned flask and hidden within a hollowed out bible. Today it was used to house this spiked tea for you to self serve, pouring sips into a tiny Chinese-style tea cup.
Worth mentioning is that, for those who like the flask, you too can get your own, without stealing it for Arcana. For their upcoming spring and summer menu they are looking to order more of these and offer them on the menu in similar serve cocktails, where you can keep the coffin flask as your souvenir of it and your visit.
As for what was in it today, this was described as a “blue collar working day tea”. English breakfast or oolong, more on the tannic side, but ends sweeter like bubble style tea.
From this easy start we went right to a “zombie”, known as being strong boozy rum-forward cocktail made with over proofed rums. This was zombie x3, tripled the effects – “Zombie Zombie Zombie”, and it drank like it. Dublin City Whiskey, Amrut Old Port Rum
Pineapple, The Cranberries Lime, Falernum, and Bitters. It was tropical, but at the same time just as biting and sharp. I couldn’t have more than the 1, and found myself wanting to share, to give myself the break from it. It definitely did its job.
My favourite of the night was the Second Cup, served in an Arcana “Pet Psychic” mug that is actually heat activated and changes colour. Sadly the cocktail here was chilled and didn’t have the same effect. Dublin City Whiskey, Lucano Cordial Caffe Espresso, and Lucky Charms Foam. This was your mid day pick me up with the coffee, made more whimsical and St. Paddy’s Day adjacent with the marshmallows. Of which, were carefully selected to ensure they matched the theme with leprechaun hats, four leaf clovers, and rainbows. It smelled like baked bread and fresh pastry, and drank like cereal milk with a luscious mouth feel. Easy to down within the mug, it was comfortingly sweet, and automatically loveable.
And the most memorable from the cocktail list is the Irish Breakfast Martini. Blood sausage fat-washed Dublin City Gin, Mushroom-infused Mancino Rosso Vermouth, and Proper pudding on a stick. This was savoury and umami rich, like I enjoy my cocktails. It was a meal in a drink. It evolved with each sip, and the flavour lingered well after. This truly showcased Ryan’s talent and creativity in cocktails. A was a great number to end on, I was content.
In conclusion, this helped me to avoid the cliché of green beer and Guinness for St. Patrick’s Day, opting for something more refined instead.
Laowai
251 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 176
laowai.ca
