For October, Hard Rock Café’s (G/F & 1/F Silvercord, 30 Canton Rd, Tsimshatsui, 2375 1323; Rock Shop, Level 1, The Peak Galleria, 2849 4166) is hosting its ‘Pinktober’ campaign to raise breast cancer awareness. Hard Rock will be selling limited edition pins ($95) and keychains ($155) to raise awareness as well as funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 75% of the retail price of each pin and 15% of each key chain will go directly to the foundation.

Wines always have magical effects but how about a vodka that originated from witchcraft? Babicka is made from wormwood, a herb. It is distilled with high quality water, and fermented with other herbs and spices in a process that stems from a 500-year-old Czech witch’s recipe. Known as one of the earliest forms of vodka, Babicka is now in Annex (4/F California Entertainment Building 34-36 D'Aguilar Street, Central, 2877 9779), Langham Hotel (8 Peking Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, 2375 1133), Linq (37-43 Pottinger Street, Central, 2971 0680), Madison's (Ground Floor, Hutchison House, 10 Harcourt Road, Admiralty, 2523 4772), Palate (35-37 Gough Street, Central, 2815 6963), The Pawn (2-3/F Johnson Road, Wan Chai, 2866 3444) and W Hotel (1 Austin Road West, Tsimshatsui, 3717 2222).

Art and alcohol go well together, just like beer and rock’n’roll, and so The Langham (8 Peking Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, 2375 1133) is combining cocktails with art. Over 30 pieces of arts aredispersed throughout the hotel, with sculptures and paintings in the lobby, T’ang Court, Palm Court lobby lounge and The Bostonian Restaurant. The hotel has concocted four new cocktails inspired by the artworks, the most interesting being Red Star Rising ($75) which reflects the Cultural Revolution. You can also continue your alcoholic art journey at the nearby Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Museum of Art.

Ludovic Boucart is determined to clear up misconceptions about fruit wine: His wines – not made by mixing alcohol or grape wines with fruit juices – are created exclusively through fruit fermentation. They include vintages from rhubarb, green apples, quinces, apricots, black cherries, strawberries and more. Boucart’s Les Vins de Roisin series may taste a bit dry compared to other fruit wines but has a stronger alcohol taste. Rhubarb Sparkling is the sweetest as it is mixed with honey and nuts for a quite unique taste. These Belgium wines can be found at The Spoon (Intercontinental Hotel, 18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, 2313 2323), Dot Cod (Basement, B4, Prince Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, 2810 6988), Hong Kong Jockey Club (Happy Valley Racecourse, Happy Valley, 2966 1333; Shatin Racecourse, Shatin, New Territories, 2966 6500), Kowloon Shangri-la (64 Mody Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon, 2721 2111), KEE Private Members Club (6/F, 32 Wellington St., Central, 2810 9000), Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club (139 Tai Au Mun Road, Clearwater Bay , New Territories, 2335 3725).

LIAN, (Shop 2004, Podium level 2, ifc mall, Central, 2521 1117) is featuring unlimited vintage tasting in its ‘French Indulgence’ Wine Gala throughout October and November. With the wines light-chilled at 16°C, the vintages including Josmeyer Pinot Gris ‘Le Fromenteau’ 2006 (Alsace), Couly-Dutheil Chinon Rosé ‘René Couly’ 2007 (Loire Valley) and Domaine du Grangeon Syrah 2005 (Rhône Valley), are best served with Vietnamese and Thai food, which are LIAN’s signature cuisines.

Want a change of cocktails? Perhaps a switch to the Chinese wine will brush up the sense. Yun Fu (Basement, 43-55 Wyndham Street, Central, 2116 8855) a series of Chinese wine based cocktails, for instance, mixing Vagabond with Kuei Hua Cheu chiew, Absolut Kurant, Triple Sec, Peach Liqueur and Cranberry Juice. To add to the Chinese taste, they will project quintessential scenes from vintage Chinese martial arts movies on the curved wall screen. All cocktails priced at HK$88 + 10% s/charge.

Novotel Century Hong Kong (Novotel Century Hong Kong, 238 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai) is opening a new wine club. The AK’s Wine Club requires no joining fee and each month members can order from a selected wine list which includes cases of whites, reds and mixed bottles. Members can get wines at wholesale prices and even some that are not available in the retail market. Membership benefits also include wine specials and exclusive rights to join wine tasting or wine knowledge classes. Call 2598 8888 ext 6304 for more details.