At the heart of a memorable cocktail lies more than a carefully balanced combination of spirits and ingredients. There is often a story, a sense of place or a tradition waiting to be reinterpreted. This philosophy takes centre stage at Wing Lei Bar & Friends Volume 3, returning to Wing Lei Bar at Wynn Palace, Macao, on 29 and 30 October 2026 with a lineup of six bars from South Korea and China.
Titled Old Soul, New Spirit, the third edition explores how heritage ingredients, retro subcultures and classic cocktail traditions can find new expression through contemporary mixology. The event also marks the first edition of the series since the introduction of UNITY II, the latest evolution of Wing Lei Bar’s signature cocktail menu, led by director of bars Mark Lloyd.
The concept reflects a belief that creativity thrives through exchange. Traditional influences are not simply preserved; they are reimagined, allowing familiar flavours and cultural references to resonate with a new generation of drinkers. Over two evenings, six guest bars will take turns behind the counter, each bringing its own interpretation of the relationship between past and present.
Seoul’s cocktail culture takes the spotlight
The programme opens on Thursday, 29 October, with three bars from Seoul, each drawing on a different aspect of Korean identity, nostalgia and contemporary drinking culture.
At 9pm, Gong Gan introduces an approach inspired by the traditional Korean hanok, carrying the architectural and cultural heritage of these historic homes into modern cocktails and small bites made with upcycled ingredients. Ranked No. 74 on The 50 Best Bars Asia 2026 extended list, the bar is represented by co-founder Willy Park, whose work centres on preserving the culture inherited from previous generations while finding new ways to share it.
At 10pm, Antidote offers a different perspective on contemporary Korean mixology. The prescription-inspired cocktail bar combines signature creations with seasonal drinks featuring local, health-conscious ingredients. Owner-bartender Joseph Lee brings experience from a five-star hotel bar in Canada, having returned to South Korea to establish Antidote. Transparency is central to the experience, with behind-the-scenes videos and QR codes allowing guests to explore the craft behind each drink.
The evening concludes at 11pm with Pine & Co, a bar that revisits the flavours and memories of Seoul during the 1980s and 1990s. Ranked No. 50 on The 50 Best Bars Asia 2024, it is represented by co-founder Pat Park, who developed his craft under Jack Sotti at Melbourne’s Boilermaker House before bringing those experiences back to Seoul. The connection comes full circle through UNITY II’s Mythical Highball, inspired by Sotti’s Archive & Myth, which featured in the second edition of Wing Lei Bar & Friends.
From Shenyang to Kunming: China’s new cocktail voices
On Friday, 30 October, the spotlight shifts to China, tracing a journey from the northeast to the southwest through three bars with distinct creative identities.
Flow Bar, from Shenyang, begins the evening at 9pm with its experimental approach to mixology. The bar draws inspiration from memories, emotions and everyday experiences, treating each cocktail as an opportunity to tell a story. Manager Zee Wang, who describes himself as a “Ferryman of Flavour”, brings this philosophy to the guest shift, using drinks to create moments of connection with guests.
At 10pm, Qingdao’s DEMI Bar introduces a retro-futuristic perspective on the cocktail experience. Founder Migo Zhang combines imaginative drinks with a sustainability-minded philosophy and a contemporary approach to hospitality, bringing together references to the past with a forward-looking sensibility.
The final guest shift begins at 11pm with NYPD, short for Now You Pleasantly Drink, from Kunming. Inspired by the classic American cocktail bar, the venue focuses on American spirits while drawing on the experience of founder Gibson, a veteran industry educator who has hosted more than 100 masterclasses and guest shifts across China.
Together, the six bars offer a cross-section of Asian cocktail culture, demonstrating how local histories, personal memories and international influences can shape drinks that are both individual and interconnected.
UNITY II: where collaboration becomes a cocktail
Beyond the guest shifts, Volume 3 celebrates the collaborative spirit behind UNITY II. Developed by Lloyd, the refreshed menu introduces six new cocktails and two new sections, Shaken and Fizzes, building on ideas exchanged with bartenders, bars and cities through the Wing Lei Bar & Friends series over the past two years.
Among the additions is Day Drinking, a tequila and melon sour that originated from the Aruba Day Drink guest shift at Wing Lei Bar. Another, Spressy Colada, began with an espresso shared at Bar Sathorn in Bangkok. Both demonstrate how a single encounter can develop into a new creation, carrying the memory of one place into another.
The menu also gives a popular signature a playful second life. Bananananana! celebrates banana in multiple forms, using the fruit as juice, dilution water, syrup and bitters. Served in a banana-shaped flask with an edible banana-flavoured figure, the cocktail embodies the programme’s willingness to revisit a familiar ingredient with imagination and a sense of fun.
In this context, UNITY is more than a menu concept. It reflects the relationships and creative exchanges that shape contemporary bar culture, where ideas are passed between people, adapted across borders and transformed through individual perspectives.
A collectible keepsake of the experience
Adding an interactive element to the two-night programme, Wing Lei Bar & Friends Volume 3 brings back its collectible sticker campaign. Each guest bartender will be represented by a personalised, limited-edition sticker, with guests who order a cocktail during the guest shifts receiving a blind pack to collect and trade.
The campaign extends the spirit of the event beyond the glass, encouraging guests to connect with the participating bartenders and fellow cocktail enthusiasts while building a collection associated with the series.
Taking place at Wing Lei Bar, Wynn Palace, on 29 and 30 October 2026, the third edition of Wing Lei Bar & Friends offers a meeting point for heritage, contemporary mixology and cross-cultural creativity. Through six distinct bar programmes and the continuing evolution of UNITY II, the event celebrates the idea that the future of cocktail culture can be shaped by looking back, sharing ideas and finding fresh meaning in familiar traditions.
For more information, visit Wing Lei Bar here.
