We love learning things when we travel and inspiring you to learn as well and education doesn’t get more enjoyable than learning how to make cocktails. A Khmer cocktail making class at Asana Bar in Siem Reap is probably one of the most fun things you can do when you’re in Cambodia. Where else are you going to learn how to make Khmer cocktails?
So what are Khmer cocktails? The inventor of the Khmer cocktail, Siem Reap-born Sophari Ung (known as Pari to friends) defines a Khmer cocktail as an alcoholic mixed drink that contains at least three or more Cambodian ingredients from the country’s array of spices, herbs, roots, and fruit.
Pari is the petite owner of atmospheric Asana bar, one of Siem Reap’s best bars. Laidback Asana bar is located in the last of the original traditional Khmer wooden houses left in the heart of Siem Reap’s Old Town. The lovely drinking spot is set behind high walls in a peaceful courtyard off an alleyway close to Pub Street, but it’s world’s away from the tacky tourist zone.
Charmingly furnished with sofas made from stuffed rice sacks and hammocks strung between the stilts supporting the house, Asana is one of Siem Reap’s most relaxed bars and as popular with travellers as it is with locals and expats, especially for its occasional organic farmers market, held in its courtyard.
Asana is the perfect spot to revive with a cooling drink after a day exploring Angkor Wat and other temples in Angkor Archaeological Park. Asana bar is also the place to learn how to make Pari’s distinctly Cambodian cocktails. Here’s what to expect from a Khmer cocktail making class at Asana bar in Siem Reap.
A Siem Reap Khmer Cocktail Making Class at Asana Bar
During my first Khmer cocktail making class at Asana bar (yes, I went back for a second!), Pari informed us that to be a Khmer cocktail at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit, one ingredient should be sweet or sugary, and one ingredient should be sour or bitter.
The spirit in the cocktail could be a traditional rice spirit – or a Sombai infused rice spirit – or it could be a classic spirit such as vodka, gin, rum, and so on, as long as there are sufficient Cambodian ingredients to ensure it is Khmer in spirit and flavour.
Of the Cambodian ingredients used, Pari prefers (in alphabetical order with their Khmer translation in brackets, not in Pari’s preferred order) — anise (phkaa chan), basil (mreah prov), cinnamon (che em), galangal (romdeng), ginger (k’nyay), kaffir lime leaf (kroach saoch), lime (kroach ch’maa), lemongrass (sleak krey), mint (gi ang kaam), rice paddy herb (moorm), pepper (mrek), tamarind (ampel), turmeric (romiet), and wild ginger (khchiey).
For sweeteners Pari always reaches for palm sugar juice (toek om pov) or palm sugar (scor thnoat).
As you can see, Pari’s Khmer cocktail-making classes also provide an opportunity to learn some of the Khmer language.
The 90-minute Khmer cocktail class, ran by Pari or one of her lovely Cambodian bartenders, first introduces participants to the Cambodian ingredients before teaching 2-3 cocktails from a list of eight, including the Asana Sling, Kampot Pepper Martini, and Tamarind Sauce.
The Asana Sling is Pari’s a take on a Singapore Sling, made from gin, cointreau, triple sec, cherry brandy, bitters, grenadine, lime, pineapple juice, and Sombai’s Galangal-Tamarind rice spirit. It’s a very tropical sit-in-the-sunshine on Serendipity Beach kind of drink.
I also made a Ginger Mojito, and a Little Sweet, with Bombay gin, wild ginger (finger root), lime juice, and sugar cane juice, which I loved, as it felt more Siem Reap – something that should be sipped while sitting on the leafy riverbank.
The number of cocktails you learn varies depending upon the group. Some participants move more slowly than others, some can hold their liquor better than others and move faster through ‘lessons’.
At the end of the cocktail making class, participants also get to try their hand at creating their own cocktail. I didn’t give mine an exotic name, but I liked the kaffir lime, basil and chilli martini I concocted and will definitely be making that at home.
Even if you don’t sign up for the Khmer cocktail making class, drop by Asana to linger over a drink to a smooth jazz soundtrack. Pari and her French architect husband, Guilhem Maitrepierre (brother to Lionel, co-owner of Sombai) are often around – especially on their occasional Jazz, Blues and BBQ nights. Make sure you say sousdai (or bonjour!) and let them know we sent you.
Asana Bar, The Lane, between Street 7 and Pub Street, Old Market area, Siem Reap. +855 (0) 9 298 7801. Open midday to midnight. 90-minute Khmer cocktail making class from 5.30pm daily, including drinks, US$15 per person. Bookings essential; don’t just turn up. Asana bar website, Asana bar Facebook page.
