In an exciting new development for cocktail enthusiasts, J.Boroski Shanghai, renowned as one of China's most innovative premium cocktail bars celebrated for its bespoke bar program since its inception in 2020, is set to unveil a groundbreaking performance mixology experience in their private space, The Chamber. Nestled within the iconic Fumin Rd. location, this intimate, reservation-only room promises to take guests on a captivating journey through the art of cocktail-making, inspired by the rich tapestry of Asian folklore.

Scheduled to launch on February 21, 2025, The Chamber offers a blend of storytelling and mixology, allowing guests to immerse themselves in an up-close exploration of cocktail techniques intertwined with narrative elements. Each carefully crafted evening will feature a curated sequence of three curated cocktails, paired with gourmet snacks from Bistro 11, all designed to engage the senses in a 1.5-hour performance unlike any traditional bar experience.

As part of this exclusive launch, founder and acclaimed cocktail consultant Joseph Boroski hosted two special evenings, inviting guests to indulge in a multi-sensory experience that emphasizes the concept of Duality – where each cocktail is presented in two parts, reflecting the balance and contrast of the stories behind them.

We sat down with entrepreneur and innovative thinker Joseph Boroski to peek behind the curtain of his creative vision for The Chamber and learn more about what guests can expect from this one-of-a-kind cocktail experience.

What is your background and how did you get into the bar industry?
I am from the Northeast of the United States. At the age of 17, I took a job that resulted in selling wines to the wildly successful American actor, Paul Newman. From there I was drawn to the diversity of mixology, for which I began to attract plenty of media coverage for the unique and creative approaches I used to craft cocktails.

This then led to opportunities to work with some top chefs (like Patricia Yeo, Gerry Hayden, Claudia Fleming, Keith Floyd, Todd English, Rodelio "The Food Buddha" Aglibot, E. Michael Reidt, and "King Cocktail" Dale Degroff), learn from them, and incorporate modern and traditional kitchen techniques. After having managed several restaurants and bars in Manhattan, and developing a handful of solid cocktail menus in 2007, I was offered an opportunity to travel to Asia with some of the world's top chefs of the time, to offer distinguished guests across several Eastern locations the experience of exceptionally paired food and cocktails.

Discovering the general lack of knowledge and training in the industry in the area at this time, I developed a bar consulting business in 2006, focusing on training bar and hospitality staff to greatly improve guest experiences across the region, with which, from then until now, I used to train several thousands of bartenders and develop hundreds of cocktail menus, across four dozen countries around the globe.

You’ve owned bars from Bangkok to Hong Kong to Shanghai; why the focus on Asia as opposed to elsewhere in the world?
My experience in the bar and cocktail industry expands across the planet, but Asia stands out as a location for which I grew and expanded my business, and arguably had the most impact due to the bartending climate at the time of my influence.

It appealed to me to do most of my work in locations for which I would have the greatest impact, and I repeatedly felt that parts of Asia – China included –  were most receptive to this. My extensive experience and deep understanding of Asia has also continued to enhance my work in other parts of the world such as Europe and North America.

Why bugs as prominent design elements?
At J.Boroski, insects and arachnids are prominent design elements because their ability to naturally encourage a visceral biological response makes them all the more evident.

I grew up in a rural environment less than a few hours outside New York City. Despite my proximity to one of the world's most famous urban settings, I spent most of my childhood in the woods observing and learning from the natural world. Butterflies, beetles, and praying mantises were a big part of that.

Many years later, when incorporating a guest bar into my bar and hospitality school in Bangkok (which was later to become the first J.Boroski), my designer and friend, Australian-born Ashley Sutton, wanted to expand upon my insect collection to embody my life-long passion of science and nature. I think it would be accurate to say that the awe-inspiring signs of miniature life seen at J.Boroski in Shanghai are an extension of my childhood curiosity and search for knowledge.

What is the ethos of the bar program at J.Boroski Shanghai?
J.Boroski is built upon the concept of a Cocktail Concierge Service. This essentially translates as the desire and ability of our professional and innovative bartenders (mixologists) to use premium, fresh, homemade, and perfectly prepared components to craft the ideal cocktail for each guest. We pride ourselves in this unique approach that utilizes a high level of creativity and a vast arsenal of techniques and skills to result in an incredibly original guest experience.

How is this new ‘performance mixology experience’ different than other experiences guests have had at J.Boroski in the past?
The coinciding of the opening of J.Boroski Shanghai with the start of COVID in China resulted in a loss of implementation of the originally planned use of The Chamber, a hidden technical space in the venue. The Chamber was originally slated to offer VIP guests a wholly eclectic and excitingly advanced level of cocktail experiences. Although it has since been utilized as a special cocktail room, a private area, and an event space, it had never fully been realized for its original intention. It has been my goal, since the world, bit by bit, recovered from its limitations, to launch The Chamber as a much expanded variation of its plan.

The details of the Performative Mixology used for The Chamber launch and beyond have been in the works for years. As originally intended for The Chamber, the Performative Mixology offers guests an amplified variation of nearly-any available bar experience, but with the addition of intrigue seamlessly woven in and storytelling built as a foundation for the experience. This is an experience that is quite difficult to accurately describe without the first-hand exposure of it.

What can guests expect from it?
It is multi-sensory, with both meaningfully thematic and subtle symbolism arising continuously throughout. In fact, I initiate the experience by asking guests to suspend their notion of disbelief, because every bar experience they had prior is not relevant to what they are about to encounter. I would highly encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about it to make a reservation, since all experiences are scheduled and require reservations.

What was the inspiration behind creating this Performance Mixology Experience – from concept layout to ingredients to theatrical presentation style?
To preserve the intrigue of the core experience, I can say that it is something I have had on my mind since my days mixing cocktails in Manhattan. It is multi-sensory and combines storytelling of classic Thai folklore with the development of beverages that are paired with symbolically-significant food items.

Historical mythological tales of Thailand have been tapped as a basis for this experience because Thailand is the origin of the first J.Boroski, and utilizing the tales of the people pays homage to the venue's birthplace. Furthermore, the stories of Thai folklore are rich, interesting, and appealing, and are very seldom known by foreigners or outside the country of Thailand. Finally, the characters of these stories have an intrinsic duality of nature that play perfectly into the presentation of their translation to cocktail form. (This you will have to experience to fully understand, so I invite you to make your reservation now).

 How can readers book this experience, and for how long will it run in the Chamber at J.Boroski Shanghai?
The Chamber launch will introduce Chapter 1 to guests. Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 have been written and will be introduced individually at later dates. The expansion of The Chamber and the J.Boroski Performative Mixology will later be dependent on the reception of our Shanghai audience.

Everyone that would like to experience Chapter 1 at The Chamber at J.Boroski is welcome to make a reservation by calling 86-021-54565266 or by messaging WeChat ID: jboroski.

What does the future hold for Joseph Boroski and J.Boroski global brand?
 When J.Boroski was introduced twelve years ago, it was intended to be a timeless brand, catering to discerning guests and offering unique cocktail experiences. The original Cocktail Concierge Service and the now launching Performative Mixology of The Chamber exemplify this continued approach and the commitment to retain the world relevance of J.Boroski.