How it tastes
An old fashioned, but the sweetness is darker. Gula melaka is closer to a smoky caramel than to white sugar. It pulls the whisky into something that tastes a little like burnt toffee and a little like vanilla-rich coffee. The bitters do their usual job of holding the spirit and the sweetness apart so neither dominates. The orange peel sits on top in the nose. We pour it short and don't rush it.
Why we built it
Most "Asian" old fashioneds in Southeast Asia lean on either palm sugar or condensed milk. We've tried both. Gula melaka, when the syrup is made fresh and not over-cooked, has a depth that white sugar simply doesn't reach. The trick is the grade: a dark gula melaka from a smaller producer reads as smoky-sweet, where a paler one reads as just sweet. More on the palm sugar spectrum and how we choose our grade.
Where to drink it
On request at Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya. The gula melaka syrup is always behind the bar. We make a fresh batch every week. Walk-ins welcome, or reserve a table if you'd like one ready when you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
What glass is the Gula Melaka Old Fashioned served in?
A short heavy rocks glass over one large ice cube. The big rock slows the dilution so the gula melaka stays concentrated for the first ten minutes and opens up as the rock melts. Anything taller stretches the drink too thin; anything without a single big cube waters the syrup down too fast.
Can I substitute the gula melaka with another sugar?
You can, but you lose the drink. Gula melaka (Malaysian palm sugar boiled down to a dark cake) reads as smoky-caramel where white sugar reads as just sweet. Dark muscovado or rapadura are the closest western substitutes. Dark maple syrup also works and gives you the related Maple Old Fashioned. Avoid pale palm sugars; they read too thin for this build.
How strong is the Gula Melaka Old Fashioned?
Around 30 to 34 percent ABV in the glass before dilution, settling around 24 to 28 percent as the big rock melts through the drink. The same neighbourhood as a standard Old Fashioned. The palm sugar reads sweeter than white sugar but doesn't change the alcohol load. Built to sip across 25 to 30 minutes.
Where can I order a Gula Melaka Old Fashioned in PJ or KL?
At Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya (43-1 Jalan SS20/11, Tue to Sun 15:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607) is the home of this drink, where we make the gula melaka syrup fresh weekly from a small-producer dark grade. Also on request at Soluble Solids in SS2, Petaling Jaya (50-1 Jalan SS2/24, Wed to Sun 18:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651). Both bars are in Tatler Asia Top 20 Bars 2025/26.
What food pairs with the Gula Melaka Old Fashioned?
Anything with caramel, smoke, or palm sugar already in it. Rendang daging works beautifully (the kerisik echoes the dark sugar). Char kway teow with its wok hei char. Satay with peanut sauce. Pandan-and-coconut desserts like seri muka or kuih bingka. For a Western pairing, dark chocolate at 70% cocoa or above. The palm sugar makes this drink unusually food-friendly for an Old Fashioned.