“I want one of the rooms in my house to look exactly like this,” says our photographer as soon as we step foot inside this compact speakeasy in Ekkamai.
Bar Scofflaws is sheathed in darkness, with a single light over the bar and tea lights softly illuminating a space dressed with wooden tables and sleek brown leather decor. According to Throntan “Pae” Siriwittayacharoen, a co-founder and owner of Bar 335, it is reminiscent of a watering hole that he visited in Japan. That experience made such an impression that he decided to reconstruct it in Bangkok.
He put up Bar Scofflaws with other drinks specialists Guntarit “Gun” Ruamthongrat, the owner of popular bar Debuk House in Phuket, and Chanchai Rodbumrong, 2013’s winner of Diageo World Class Thailand Competition. The venue takes its name from the cocktail that originated in France back in 1924, in the days of Prohibition when there was a movement to “scoff” at the law banning alcohol. For the trio, it also reflects the restrictive mandates regarding alcohol consumption in Thailand in this current pandemic.
When serving alcohol is allowed in the city, Bar Scofflaws has a lot of simple yet satisfying cocktails on offer, divided into categories. The first category, Farm, comprises concoctions made with local produce, like Cherry-Rosa (B370), a tangy dry gin-based drink with Champagne Tomato Cordial.
Anti Classic sees a reimagination of traditional cocktails. In this category, you have creative tipples like Long Way on Uber (B380), a reinvention of Adonis that mixes dry sherry wine, dry vermouth and sweet vermouth with umeshu. Jelly made from fermented vegetables and dried fish is added to the drink for an umami-filled surprise.
The last set is named CO2+ and was curated to please Highball fans. Order the Guava Highball (B370), a tequila-heavy drink that’s tempered down by guava juice, caramel and yogurt.
The impressive drinks and, despite the subdued lighting, still welcoming ambience at Bar Scofflaws invites revisits. After a long week of hard work, it’s nice to slink down in a dimly lit corner where you can tune out and sip on a cocktail in secret.