A cocktail of contrasts: The Duality

At Bandoeng’22, we love seeing how bartenders around the world reinterpret pandan in their own unique way. Some focus on tropical flavors, others on classic cocktail structures. For Fabio Kaufmann from Contrast Bar in Cologne, Germany, the inspiration came from balance, creativity, and unexpected contrasts.

His cocktail, the Duality, combines Bandoeng’22 Pandan Liqueur with tequila, vanilla, saline solution, and a homemade clear carrot & tonka bean cordial. The result is a sophisticated stirred cocktail that plays with both flavor and perception. On first glance, the drink appears crystal clear and elegant. Yet hidden beneath its refined appearance are flavors that are earthy, aromatic, sweet, savory, and surprisingly complex.

The inspiration behind Duality

Fabio wanted to create a cocktail that truly represents his personal bartending style.

Saline solution is one of the ingredients he uses most frequently behind the bar. Rather than making a drink taste salty, it enhances sweetness, lifts flavors, and helps create balance throughout the cocktail.

Vanilla plays an equally important role. It amplifies the aromatic notes of Bandoeng’22 Pandan Liqueur while adding warmth and roundness. According to Fabio, vanilla is one of those magical ingredients that simply makes almost everything taste better.

Instead of choosing a neutral spirit, he selected tequila as the backbone of the drink. Its character and complexity provide structure while allowing the pandan and vanilla notes to shine.

The homemade clear carrot and tonka bean cordial reflects Fabio’s passion for mixology and culinary-inspired ingredients. Carrot pairs surprisingly well with both pandan and vanilla, creating an elegant bridge between the various flavor components.

The cocktail’s name, the Duality, also refers to its visual and sensory contrasts. Green pandan naturally contrasts with orange carrot, a concept that aligns perfectly with the philosophy behind Contrast Bar. Guests often don’t expect to discover carrot flavors in such a crystal-clear drink, making the first sip an unexpected experience.

As Fabio describes it, Duality is simply a playful exploration of ingredients and a different way of showcasing the versatility of Bandoeng’22 Pandan Liqueur.

The cocktail recipe

Ingredients

• 30 ml (1 oz) Bandoeng’22 Pandan Liqueur
• 30 ml (1 oz) Teremana Blanco Tequila
• 15 ml (0.5 oz) Vanilla Syrup (Giffard)
• 30 ml (1 oz) Clear Carrot & Tonka Bean Cordial
• 2 drops Saline Solution

Garnish: Dried Carrot
Glassware: Nick & Nora Glass

Method

1. Pre-chill a Nick & Nora glass.
2. Add all ingredients to a stirring glass filled with ice.
3. Stir for several seconds until properly chilled and diluted.
4. Strain into the chilled glass.
5. Garnish with a dried carrot.
6. Serve immediately.

How to make the carrot & tonka bean cordial

Ingredients & Preparation

1. Peel and shred fresh carrots.
2. Cook the carrots and tonka bean, water, salt, white sugar for approximately 20 minutes.
3. Adjust acidity using malic acid and citric acid.
4. Filter the mixture.
5. Add agar agar and bring to a boil.
6. Clarify and filter again to achieve a crystal-clear result.

The final cordial delivers the natural sweetness and earthiness of carrot while maintaining the elegant clarity that makes Duality so visually striking.

Meet the bartender: Fabio Kaufmann

Fabio Kaufmann has been working behind the bar for approximately four and a half years. What initially attracted him to bartending was the opportunity to combine creativity, hospitality, and craftsmanship.

For Fabio, cocktails are more than drinks. They are a way to express ideas, experiment with flavors, and bring together his passion for both cooking and mixology. Whether working with homemade ingredients, advanced techniques, or unexpected flavor combinations, he constantly looks for new ways to surprise guests while delivering a memorable drinking experience.

Follow Fabio on Instagram:@mixology.journey

About Contrast Bar

Located in Cologne, Germany, The Contrast Bar was created to bring new life to a venue that previously housed the legendary Barfly for nearly two decades.

As a neighborhood cocktail bar, Contrast Bar is designed as a place where people can meet, connect, and enjoy meaningful conversations. Alongside the welcoming atmosphere, guests can discover carefully crafted cocktails that showcase creativity, quality ingredients, and modern bartending techniques.

The philosophy of contrast is reflected throughout the bar’s identity, making it the perfect home for a cocktail like Duality, where unexpected flavors, colors, and ideas come together in perfect balance.

Discover Bandoeng’22 in cocktails

Duality demonstrates just how versatile pandan can be in modern cocktails. By combining Bandoeng’22 Pandan Liqueur with tequila, vanilla, saline, and a clarified carrot cordial, Fabio has created a drink that is elegant, surprising, and unmistakably original.

It is a cocktail that rewards curiosity, revealing new layers of flavor with every sip while challenging expectations from the very first taste. Cheers to creativity, contrast, and great cocktails.

For more Bandoeng’22 cocktail recipes from bartenders all around the world, click here.