“To me, urban exploration is really about looking in your own backyard and re-discovering things that have been passed by the wayside, for whatever reason, and giving them a polish. To celebrate its history and stories and show everyone what they’re all about.”

Gavin Yeung

Co-founder of Kinsman

Our Urban Explorer

Could you please introduce yourself to our guests?

My name is Gavin, and I am the co-founder of Kinsman, a Chinese cocktail salon in Central district where I lead the cocktail programme, creative direction, partnerships and branding for the bar, but I am the lifestyle editor at South China Morning Post during the day.

Did you always have an interest in Mixology?

To be honest, my interest in mixology really took off during the pandemic when many of us were spending a lot of time at home. I fell into a rabbit hole of watching online videos of talented Japanese bartenders making cocktails in such an intricate way, which was what inspired me to learn how to make cocktails. At the time, I was working at Soho House and got a hold of a bartender’s handbook that featured 100 classic cocktail recipes, so I went through them one by one and tried to make as many as possible.

The more cocktails I made, the more I wanted to incorporate Asian ingredients like yuzu juice. At the time, I came across a photo of a classic Chinese spirit, so I bought a bottle to try, and it tasted incredible. This made me wonder why nobody in Hong Kong was using these spirits, which launched my journey into discovering more about these unique spirits.

How did you come up with the Chinese cocktail concept for Kinsman?

I met David, the CEO of Singular Concepts, at The Aubrey one night during my guest shift and we dove into the topic of what we thought the bar scene in Hong Kong was missing. He said he wanted to see a Wong Kar-wai-inspired bar and I told him my vision for opening up a salon specialising in Cantonese spirits. We just thought that there was such a great synergy between these two ideas. Then two weeks later, we started looking at sites for our new bar concept.

How do you think you fit into the term” Urban Explorer”?

To me, urban exploration is really about looking in your own backyard and re-discovering things that have been passed by the wayside, for whatever reason, and giving them a polish. To celebrate its history and stories and show everyone what they’re all about. For instance, there is so much in Hong Kong that’s worth discovering, so people living here should be very proud of how much the city has to offer.

With all these hats you wear on a daily basis, what does a day in the life of Mr. Gavin Yeung look like?

On the weekdays, I am in the office during work hours, but I will be at the bar after to greet guests and take some meetings. On the weekends, I will check in at the bar on Saturday night but I also try to carve out some time to rest after a busy week.

Encapsulating Old-World Hong Kong In A Glass

Where do you find inspiration for your cocktails?

Personally, I take a lot of inspiration from Hong Kong’s history because there are so many layers that have accumulated over the years, and I find that each era has its own distinct style and taste that can be encapsulated in a cocktail. I also draw inspiration from food because I have tried so many interesting flavour combinations and I’ll think about how to transform it into a cocktail.

Out of all the cocktails you have created, which one is your favourite?

For me, I have to say our papaya wine-based cocktail ‘Papaya Van Winkle’ is my favourite because it is taking the beloved stewed papaya and snow fungus dessert soup and turning it into a totally unexpected spirit. This cocktail really captures what I wanted to do with Cantonese spirits and to me, it truly embodies the spirit of Hong Kong culture.

Did you ever have dreams of becoming an entrepreneur?

I always had an urge inside of me to do something of my own. There have been numerous ideas that have floated around before. During the pandemic, I started a glassware brand as a passion project for fun. At one point, I wanted to start a music therapy chair with a friend but that never fully manifested!

How are you enjoying this journey so far and what words of wisdom would you bestow upon those who wish to follow in your footsteps?

I would say that the absolute most important thing about starting your own business is to have a very strong and focused brand concept. First off, it has to be very well-executed in terms of the branding and positioning, and it is so important to set yourself apart from other brands. If it is not providing anything unique in the market, you have to ask yourself why you’re doing it. Secondly, people need to know what your brand is about within one or two sentences. If you have a good brand and story, then people will instantly pay attention.

Exploring The City

Where do you find inspiration for travel?

I usually get inspired by Instagram, friends and magazines like Wallpaper and Monocle.

Any destinations on your bucket list?

I’ll admit that I am very much an urban explorer. I always end up traveling to cities, but coming up I would love to visit more relaxing destinations like Bali. The design aspect of Bali is very strong with a lot of young entrepreneurs building really great spaces and brands out there.

What three words would you use to describe Hong Kong?

Dynamic, Tempestuous, Enduring

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