Around the World in 20 Drinks: Charles H. at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul Launches New Thirst Quencher Adventure

Want to know the best way to travel from London to Lima and Kuala Lumpur to Kyoto this year? Head to intimate speakeasy Charles H. at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul from February 28, 2025 for a sippable cultural odyssey spanning 20 regions across 16 countries.

The new cocktail menu is the creative vision of Head Bartender Odd Strandbakken and Beverage Creative Director Alyssa Heidt: a well-travelled duo whose mixology gigs span from the Arctic Circle to Taipei, Chicago to Oslo. Combined with artistic input from the wider Charles H. bartending team, their inspiration for 2025's menu draws from the bar's eponymous hero Charles H. Baker Jr: globe-trotting bon vivant and author of 1939 travelogue and “exotic drinking book,” The Gentleman’s Companion.

Taking classic cocktails from the cities visited by Baker as their starting point, Odd and Alyssa have artfully woven a modern cultural narrative into each new cocktail. The result is a list of drinks that not only chart a distinct map of global flavours, but offers an enriching cultural immersion into each location - after all, isn't that what travel is all about?  

Spilled Milk draws inspiration from Seoul’s bbali bbali (hurry hurry) culture by combining trendy convenience store favourites such as banana milk, iced americano, and soju. Taking a slower approach, Orchard Fizz pays tribute to agriculture-rich Cheonan in south Korea with its use of local pears and walnuts. Tantalising Moroccan spices and preserved lemons add a tangy twist to Casablanca-influenced Salt Lemon Tonic, while sweet mocktail Halo Glow shines a cheeky light on the Philippines’ unofficial national dessert, Halo Halo (mix mix).

The team’s unwavering creativity and technical prowess shines through each cocktail, resulting in highly Instagrammable creations that balance delicate flavour profiles, show-stopping presentation, and insightful cultural narratives. Highlights of the Destinations menu include:

• Queen of Diamonds – Amalfi, Italy: A crisp take on a classic Negroni with Amalfi coast gin, Italian bergamot liqueur and Charles H.-redistilled Campari over a hand-cut ice diamond.
• Vixen Fix – Paris, France: A sophisticated low-alcohol cobbler-style cocktail with French Burgundy and red berries; its tart flavours are balanced with a creamy, white chocolate kiss.
• Pan American Highball – New York City, USA: A bold and bubbly Highball, inspired by one of Baker’s favourites, the Pan American Clipper, packed with local apples, tart pomegranate, deep rich Calvados and an absinthe kick.
• Birthday Boy – London, England: A twist on complex winter favourite Hanky Panky - an early 1900s classic created by the female head bartender of London’s Savoy, Ada Coleman, plus another British seasonal tradition, Terry's Chocolate Orange: a confectionary treat gifted on Christmas Day, which also marks Charles H. Baker Jr.'s birthday.
• Manhattan Flight – Manhattan, USA; Havana, Cuba; Bombay (Mumbai), India  
  Charles H's signature Manhattan Flight - featuring the classic Manhattan and two twists - has been revamped for 2025 with two lesser-known Manhattan flavour experiences, as recorded in The Gentleman's Companion: El Presidente (Havana) and Fourth Regiment (Bombay).

Partners in Creativity

In addition to the new cocktail menu, further international inspiration comes in the form of Charles H.'s Companion Series, which returns in 2025 with a tantalising roster of global guest bartenders. February's showcase event, taking place on 4th, features world-leading talent from ARGO at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, #9 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, while March welcomes mixology maestros from BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, #12 in The World’s 50 Best Bars, also on the 4th of the month.

The Heart of Seoul After Turndown

An intimate speakeasy, Charles H. - named Best Bar in Korea and #7 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022 - combines the exclusivity and glamour of a private club with the lively ambience of a hotel bar. Discreetly hidden behind an unmarked door in the basement of Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, it offers up global mixology that blends classical appeal with forward-thinking innovation, as well as an impressive selection of premium whiskeys, wines and liqueurs. Its food menu is an equally smart curation of tradition and modernity. Inventive dishes such as Truffle Arancini Bites, Hanwoo Beef Tartare and Katsu Sando are served alongside signature favourites of Korean Fried Chicken and Cheeseburger, creating a cultural culinary experience for the epicurious and the traditionalists alike.

To try the new menu at Charles H. at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, contact +82 (2) 6388 5500 or restaurants.sko@fourseasons.com.