5 Manly Cocktails to Try at The Twankey Bar in Cape Town

Real men don’t drink pink drinks… or so we’re told. So what’s a fella to do when he’s got a hankering for a cocktail but anything that comes with an umbrella is off limits? If you’re in Cape Town then your first step should be to march yourself down to The Twankey Bar at Taj Cape Town for a selection of some of the manliest cocktails in town. Made using a few rather unusual techniques, and with the finest spirits and fresh ingredients, these concoctions are sure to put some hair on your chest.

One of the inner city’s most iconic bars, The Twankey Bar’s interior is strongly influenced by prohibition America, where sipping cocktails was a luxury and innovation was used to make the most of the ingredients on offer. The bold cocktail menu at the stylish watering hole fits right in with the look and feel of the joint with the exciting and unusual cocktails being served in all sorts of out-of-the-ordinary vessels. Spearheaded by Cape Town award-winning Mixologist, AJ Snetler, the Twankey cocktail menu offers intriguing cocktail-making methods coupled with bold flavours that are unlike anything else in Cape Town.

Here are a few of our favourites from the Twankey Bar cocktail menu:

The Whale Bones

A full-bodied blend of Don Julio Reposado, Aperol and medium cream Sherry stirred together and served on the rocks this refreshing drink offers a flavour punch you won’t soon forget. Full of character and sweet honey citrus notes this drink is named after Wale Street where the Twankey Bar is located, rumoured to have been named this because it was the site where whales were processed and distributed, long before that area had been reclaimed from the sea.

The Spice Route

Consider yourself a bit of a foodie? This cocktail, made from an exotic blend of Indian flavours with spicy American Bourbon definitely isn’t for the faint-hearted. For this mix Bulliet Frontier Bourbon is shaken with pineapple, cardamom, rose, and a dusting of Tonka Bean to give you a true taste of the Cape.

Left: Rajah’s Tipple | Right: The Spice Route

Rajah’s Tipple 

A nod to The Taj roots, this tasty drink is one of our favourites on the menu. To create this masterpiece, the enigmatic Ron Zacapa 23 is shaken with litchi, homemade lemongrass and lime cordial, and a Ruby Port float. Served tall and grand, fit for royalty, this refreshing drink will cool you down in a jiffy.

Falooda Flying Carpet

Another unusual mix, this intriguing drink is based on the popular refreshing summer drink enjoyed in India, Nepal, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Flying high above the clouds with Ron Zacapa 23, this drink is shaken with rose, cardamom, peppermint and evaporated milk.

Black Widow

We saved the best, and strongest for last. A bittersweet blend of Johnny Walker Double Black, Fernet Branca, Amarena Cherry Syrup and a hint of Absinthe, this cocktail is the manliest of them all.

But, no matter what you order from the menu you’re sure to have a stellar time at this one-of-a-kind CBD spot. As AJ explains, his vision for the bar is based on an intuitive, personalised style that will keep customers coming back time and time again. “A good barman is able to read a patron’s mood and serve a drink which will perfectly suit the occasion,” says AJ. “We are all about a unique, exceptional experiences. Our barmen have been hand-picked and trained in the art of cocktail making. We see ourselves as an academy that will be sending highly skilled bar-people out into the world when they are ready!”

Located on the corner of Wale and Adderley Street, Twankey Bar is open Monday to Thursday from 15:00 until 23:00 and on Friday & Saturday from 15:00 – 00:00. For more information and the full menu visit the Taj Cape Town website.