Bar: 169 on Long
Address: 227 Long Street, Cape Town
021 424 2331
Cocktail: Passoa on the Beach
Price: R32
Ingredients: Absolut vodka and Passoa passion fruit liqueur shaken cold with strawberries and strained over freshly pressed orange juice
With a few days of sunshine filtering through the wintry weather, it is important to enjoy the odd fruity drink.
Barman Jay Chiwala builds this drink with one shot of vodka shaken with one shot of Passoa and one shot of strawberry pulp, and poured over a 100ml of orange juice.
I think the drink needs to be mixed a little to spread the alcohol around.
The use of fresh pulp helps the drink, but it does eventually sink into the orange below. There is a dash of grenadine in it too.
It is served in a long glass and having several layers makes it a varied drinking experience if enjoyed at a steady pace.
Chiwala says the drink is popular with women in their late twenties.
Owner of 169 Gerald Davids says the establishment is Cuban-influenced.
There is a night club on the top level which operates on Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm.
169 opened last November after taking over the space that was previously Cape to Cuba.
Smoking is allowed upstairs at the cigar bar and downstairs in the cocktail lounge. There is free wi-fi.
169 is open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 1am, on Fridays from 9am to 4am and on Saturdays from noon to 4am.
Happy hour specials are from 5pm to 7pm. – Weekend Argus