Drinking with the Stars
Those familiar with the natural charms of The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat will doubtless attest to the restorative of its geothermal mineral springs, as well as its resplendent greenery. Here, amid majestic limestone formations which were 260 million years in the making, one would also chance upon its newest offering – the Sky Bar which debuted early this year.
Perched on an alcove approximately 100 steps from the base, this cosy nook is ideal for parties of up to 45 persons, be it cocktail parties or BBQ sessions. Among its signature dishes are the toothsome A5 Japanese wagyu kushiyaki, oysters on ice, foie gras macaroons paired with caremelised kaya and truffle honey, beer-battered lollipop tiger prawns and Beluga caviar (RM1,600 for 30gm). The range of caviar also include oscetra, seruga and Kristal, served with boiled egg yolks and whites, onions cornichon, sour cream, lemon wedges and blinis. More intriguingly, the bar’s selection of drinks comprise fanciful cocktails such as the Cotton Candy drink and Dr Fish – the latter named after the garra rufa fish spa treatment available to guests.
Those who would prefer to nurse a more serious single malt would not be disappointed. The bar’s whisky lounge – located halfway up within a natural cave – boasts a heady list of single malts covering a wide range of whisky territories. These range from Highland and Speyside expressions, to that of the Orkneys, Islay and select Japanese labels. Among the highlights are the 25-year-old Bunnahabhain (RM7,950), 25-year-old The Macallan (RM11,298), 30-year-old Highland Park (RM12,298) and a 35-year-old Old Pulteney (RM10,600).
On the more effervescent end of the spectrum, one finds a slew of delicious champagnes ranging from Louis Roederer Cristal of 2009 (RM3,333) to a 1999 vintage Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque (RM5,918). Its well-curated list of drinks makes the Sky Bar one of the best watering holes in the greater Ipoh vicinity, and those who wish to have a casual evening to unwind over beers will be pleasantly surprised to find craft beers such as a Holgate from Australia, Belgian St Feuillien, Japanese Sekinoichi spiced ale, and a Hire Wire form the east coast of the United States.
As night falls, the usually clear and cloudless skies will reveal pinpricks of lights, an ideal time to indulge in a spot of stargazing courtesy of the strategically placed telescopes at the Sky Bar. And should the heavens no longer hold sway, one could easily retire into the Chesterfield sofas and luxuriate in the multitude of aromas and tastes of the incredible array of libations, amidst the wondrous beauty of the surrounding limestone, birthed on a seabed before gradually reaching for the heavens across hundreds of millions of years.
