Nestled along the sparkling waterfront, Hillary’s Beach Club is a WA haven where coastal elegance meets effortless charm. With its sun-dappled terraces, ocean breezes and a menu built around balance and simplicity, it’s a place that invites guests to slow down and savour the moment - one sip at a time.
That same philosophy carries through to the bar, where Bar Supervisor Jordan Philipsz crafts cocktails that reflect the rhythm of the coast and the art of restraint. This week, we turn our attention to one of his most captivating creations: the Sakura Sunset.
A Cocktail of Refined Simplicity
The Sakura Sunset is the embodiment of refined simplicity - a cocktail that feels effortless yet layered. Designed for those who appreciate elegance without excess, it’s a vibrant, refreshing way to ease into the weekend, offering bright acidity and clean flavours without overwhelming the palate.
At its core is Haku Vodka, known for its exceptional smoothness and subtle depth. This forms a perfect canvas for the housemade oleo saccharum, infused with fig, Nashi pear and pandan. The result is a delicate interplay of sweetness, fruit and soft botanical warmth - complex, yet beautifully balanced.
Rather than relying on traditional citrus, the drink’s structure is refined through acid adjustment, creating a silky, almost weightless texture that keeps every sip lively. Finished with a dusting of cracked Szechuan peppercorns, it carries a gentle, aromatic spice that tingles on the lips and lingers just enough to make you lean in for another taste.
This is a cocktail crafted with intention - seasonal, minimalist and sensory. Whether enjoyed during a lazy, sunlit afternoon or as an elegant prelude to an evening by the ocean, the Sakura Sunset embodies coastal sophistication at its most effortless.
A Fun Fact About the Cocktail
The finishing touch - those cracked Szechuan peppercorns - is more than just garnish. As the crushed ice slowly melts, the pepper releases a subtle, buzzing warmth that evolves through the glass, transforming each sip into a slightly new experience. It’s a cocktail that tells a story in motion - changing, softening, deepening over time.
How the Cocktail Got Its Name
The Sakura Sunset takes its name from the moment it evokes - that fleeting, golden-pink hush as the day gives way to night. Its pale blush hue, glowing softly through crushed ice, immediately recalled the gentle bloom of cherry blossoms at dusk.
In Japan, sakura represents beauty, transience and renewal - qualities that mirror the drink’s ephemeral nature. Just as the colours of a sunset slowly fade and blend across the sky, the Sakura Sunset shifts as it melts, its flavours mellowing and evolving with time.
For Jordan, the name captures that delicate, dreamlike transition: a drink that’s here for a moment - to be celebrated, savoured and remembered. Like a sunset under a canopy of blossoms, it’s fleeting, beautiful and entirely unforgettable.
