Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Singapore, the Lion City, has more than 5 million people, and it is fascinating to note that out of that number 1.6 million are foreigners. Singapore is a melting pot of so many rich cultures and a formidable place of trade. So, it is not a surprise that spirit brands who want to enter the Asian market set up an office here, giving Singapore access to all the great brands which paves the way for a great line up of Asia’s best cocktail bars and a bar culture that rivals the best in the world. Last May, Singapore held the biggest cocktail festival in Asia and Asia’s 50 Best Bars Awards 2019, and we’ve spent a week traversing all the drink possibilities this city has to offer. Here’s a list of the must-try drinks, spirits, and cocktails for your next visit: Craft Cocktails from Asia’s 50 Best Bars Singapore bar scene reigns supreme at the 2019 Asia’s 50 Best Bars bagging 11 spots on the coveted list. We visited most of these bars during DrinkManila’s visit last year (you can read the feature on this link), so with this year’s announcement of 50 Best, we checked out the highest jumper on this list, Jigger & Pony and the quaint nonconformist bar, Operation Dagger. Climbing up 33 places on the coveted Asia’s Best Bar list, now ranked #9, Jigger & Pony has a new look, a new home (now located at Amara Hotel), and a new menu of 27 interpretations of classic cocktails. We sat by the bar and watched principal bartender Giovanni Graziadei create signature concoctions. Jigger & Pony principal bartender Giovanni Graziadei Jigger and Pony, ranked #9 in the Asia’s Best Bar list Checking 27 cocktails on the menu is a bit overwhelming but we rounded up Giovanni’s recommendations–capturing the raw flavors of rice in a spirit-forward cocktail is the Rice Martini (Botanist Gin and Haku Vodka cooked with rice, Dolin Dry Vermouth, and rice vinegar); fresh, floral and skinny to the taste, Williams Cooler (Vedrenne Poire Williams, Capovilla Pere Williams, jasmine orris liqueur, lime, and soda); White Toreador (Altos Plata Tequila, Merlet Apricot, freeze-dried yoghurt, lime, and egg white), and London Calling (Botanist Islay Dry Gin, oloroso sherry, lemon, and Port Charlotte-orange bitters), creamy and foamy on the first sip but sweet and sour on the finish. Rice Martini, White Toreador, London Calling, and Williams Cooler Next stop, Operation Dagger, #22 on the 50 Best Bars in Asia, is a cutting-edge bar tucked underground in Ann Siang Hill. Going down the staircase gives you a feeling of discovering a hidden hangout place of some secret society. The bar is small, but the massive display of bulbs on the ceiling provides its structure an edgy, almost daunting quality. Operation Dagger bar Sasha Wijidessa Bar Manager/Sous Bartender at Operation Dagger in Singapore The drink selection is quirky and unconventional, definitely for the experimental imbiber. We caught up with Operation Dagger’s Bar Manager Sasha Wijidessa for some late night libation and here’s what we loved from the menu: The surprising Hot + Cold (Pineapple, Lavender, white chocolate, and coconut), the foam is rich and cold to taste, and the liquid is warm with sweet notes of pineapple. Lilies (Fig leaf, aloe vera, agave, and nasturtium), the serving is in small portion, so it was very easy to drink, we downed it so fast we almost forgot how it tasted like, so make sure to sip it slowly to savor the flavors The savory Gomashio (Toasted Sesam, Cucumber, and Ginger), very flavorful and umami. Cabbage (7-day fermented red cabbage, apple, and rose), one of their homemade wines that will please people who like sour notes. Singapore is a gateway to the best flavors in Asia and the world when it comes to mixology. In 2018. Singapore leads the rankings of bars from Asia with five bars in total on the list. If you’re a cocktail enthusiast, the Lion City is the best place to hone your passion for drinks. And if you’re a budding bartender or a bar owner, Singapore is the best place to explore because of the diversity of bar offerings and it is a hub for world renowned mixologists, so, you can learn and get insights from the best of the best. Jigger & Pony is located at 165 Tg Pagar Rd, Amara Hotel, Singapore 088539. Operation Dagger is located at 7 Ann Siang Hill, #B1-01, Singapore 069791 Rare and Award-winning Whiskies Singapore whisky aficionados are not new to The Whiskey Library at the eccentric boutique hotel, The Vagabond Club. It is one of the world’s great whisky bars that houses rare and award-winning whiskies from Scotland, Japan, Ireland, and the US. The Whisky Library Bar Browse from the long list of whiskies from The Whisky Library Starting with over 1000 whiskies in their shelves, they are currently at 800 as patrons consume the rare bottles faster than the bar can acquire new ones. They have one of the biggest collections of bourbon in Singapore, and at the time of our visit, the most important bottle they have in the library is Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23-year-old and priced at SGD 16,221 (Php614,107), which can already afford you a car in the Philippines. Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 year old priced at SGD 16,221 (Php614,107) Members get a key to the bottle-keep locker to reserve their whiskies for the next round Three Bruichladdich Rare Cask Series -1984, 1985, and 1986 The bar also houses three Bruichladdich Rare Cask Series -1984, 1985, and 1986, Pappy Van Winkle’s 12-year-old Special Reserve, Buffalo Trace Sazerac 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, and many more coveted whiskies that any whisky nerd would drool over. For Filipino whisky enthusiasts, if you’re planning your next ‘whisky’ quest in Singapore, this place is the best place to shop and meet like-minded people who can chat about the wonderful world of whiskies until your last dram. The Whisky Library have one of the biggest collections of bourbon in Singapore Members get their own classic tassled key to for their bottle-keep This cabinet of Rare and Award-winning whiskies would make any whisky aficionado swoon! Be an Elite Member for SGD 3000/year or Premium Member which starts at SGD 250/month and you can enjoy perks like 10-room nights in a classic room at The Vagabond Club* per year and 15% discount on all whiskey bottles net selling price. For more information visit their website at www.hotelvagabondsingapore.com/whiskeylibrary Homegrown Spirits The Lion City is home to a lot of global brands of spirits in the world. This is where bartenders, bar owners, and cocktail enthusiasts learn about new kinds of spirits and shop for new bottles to bring home. Aside from Tiger Beer, who has run its breweries since the 1930s, Singapore is not quite known for spirit distilleries. Two locally distilled gin brands are however changing the market. 1) Tanglin Gin One of Tanglin’s founder Charlie van Eeden Tanglin’s new package design for the Orchid Gin with doodles and drawings depicting life in Singapore on the back label that illuminates when viewed from the bottle. Tanglin is Singapore’s first locally distilled gin created by Andy Hodgson, Chris Box, Tim Whitefield, and Charlie Van Eeden. Their gin uses 11 botanicals, each selected to represent Singapore and its cultural diversity, with highlights on the use of orchids in two forms—dried stems of the dendrobium orchid, known in Chinese culture as an immortality herb, and vanilla pods sourced from the fruit of the Vanilla Orchid. Today Tanglin Gin comes in three bottles, the original Orchid Gin, Barrel Aged, and Mandarin Chili. They also launched a new package design for the Orchid Gin with doodles and drawings depicting life in Singapore on the back label that illuminates when viewed from the bottle. Tanglin Products—Barrel Aged, Newly packaged Orchid Gin, Original Orchid Gin, and Mandarin Chili Tanglin Gin is available in various bars and restaurants in Singapore which includes Atlas and 28 Hong Kong Street. It is also available on their site. 2) Brass Lion Gin Located along the industrial area of Alexandra Terrace is the new Brass Lion Distillery. Founded by bar owner turned distiller Jamie Koh, her journey in creating this handcrafted small-batch gin took six years in inception which finally launched in latter part of 2018. Brass Lion Distillery Still new to the spirit market but Brass Lion is already making waves and is on the shelves of various bars in the city. Unlike new craft spirits which started small and just went along to where the product would take them, Jamie seemed like she had a solid plan for the brand which is apparent in the schedule distillery tours and will soon open the Gin School, where guests can learn about gin and create their signature bottlings. The distillery also houses a fully functioning chic bar for a unique gin experience. Jamie Koh Brass Lion Gin School Brass Gin has three products under its wing—Citrus and floral Brass Lion Singapore Dry which uses 22 Asian botanicals; earthy and floral Blue Pea distilled utilizing blue pea flower and lavender; and sweet and bitter Pahit Pink Gin made with Angostura bitters. Jamie said they’ll soon manufacture their own bitters to use for their gins and eventually create rum. Brass Lion Gins–Singapore Dry, Blue Pea, and Pahit Gin Brass Lion Bar Visit Brass Lion Distillery at 40 Alexandra Terrace, Singapore 119933. Book the tours at brassliondistillery.com/products/distillery-tour and get to taste three flights of Brass Lion gins and gin cocktails from the bar Artisanal Spirits at SGCF Singapore Cocktail Festival is the only place in Asia that features pop-ups of the best bars in Singapore and guest bar shifts from the 50 Worlds Best Bars. They celebrate cocktails across the whole city for more than a week with promotions to get you salivating. If you want to drink the best cocktails and learn from the best, this festival is a must visit. One feature of the festival that makes us feel like a kid in a candy store is the Artisanal Tasting Room where you can sample craft spirits usually not available yet in the Philippines. Several brands stood out this year and here is the list of brands on our wish list: SGCF Artisanal Spirit Tasting 1) Blind Tiger Piper Cubeba Gin It has a great bottle design and most of all it is a yummy gin! It is a Belgian handcrafted gin created by the Deluxe Distillery. The gin uses botanicals, which include orange blossom, lavender, pepper, malted barley, ginger, green cardamom, and licorice root. Flavor notes: It has a robust orange note, peppery spice and floral with cardamom spice at the background and barley flavors at the finish. Where to buy: Available in Singapore at gainbrands.com 2) Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin Bobby’s is a Dutch gin inspired by the creator’s grandfather, Bobby Alfons. The gin features local and exotic ingredients which include clove, lemongrass, cubeb peppers, fennel, rosehips, and juniper. Its bottle design is an homage to the style of vessel used to hold genever, with a pattern inspired by Indonesian motifs. Flavor notes: It's bold, floral with a hint of lemon zest and spicy finish. Where to buy: It is available in Singapore at Maison du Whisky Shop and Bar or you may check out their site at www.whisky.sg 3) Wolfburn Kylver Release 4 Bottling Note Whisky This distillery closed down during the 1850s and was resurrected and opened again in 2013. We were lucky to sample one of the last 4 Bottling Notes in Singapore. It is the first peated Kylver release presented in a dark green bottle with the symbol on this bottle is called “Ansuz,” which means “god” or “gods.” Wolfburn Kylver samples at the SGCF Wolfburn Whiskies Flavor notes: Grassy and floral with hints of peat smoke, fresh apples, sweet orange, and notes of chocolate. Where to buy: Hopefully they are restocked. It is available online at www.boutiquespirits.asia 4) The Lost Distillery Towiemore Whisky It’s drinking history in a glass. The Lost Distillery Company, a boutique Scotch producer, recreate handcrafted whiskies inspired by blends from long-forgotten distilleries. Each bottle release from their series bears the names of the distilleries that have closed down for centuries. The original Towiemore distillery closed in 1930. This expression is a blended malt with tasting notes of the unique bottling from the long lost distillery. Lost Distillery Whiskies Flavor notes: It will remind you of Christmas spices baking in the kitchen, with notes of bitter dark chocolate, caramel, and raspberries. A drop of water opens up its dried fruits and raisins notes. Where to buy: It is available online at www.boutiquespirits.asia 5) Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur and Amaro A new entry to the Singapore cocktail scene is (hopefully can be available in Manila soon) this super yummy coffee liqueur called Mr. Black. It is a Cold Press Coffee Liqueur from Australia that utilizes two ingredients—Australian grain spirit and Arabica coffee beans from Papua New Guinea, Kenya and El Salvador. The Amaro is a new addition to their range and uses 14 fresh botanicals – orange, lemon, quassia, macadamia, coffee, angelica, plum, coriander, licorice root, gentian, lime, cardamom, caraway, and grapefruit. Flavor Notes: One of the best-tasting coffee liqueurs we've tried. It's bold in coffee flavors but not to bitter. Great for mixing with cocktails! Espresso Martini, anyone? The Amaro is bittersweet with notes of chocolate and orange. Where to Buy: Mr. Black is currently available at award-winning bars in Singapore. Check it out in Caffe Fernet, Atlas, Fat Prince, Jigger & Pony, and Chihuly Lounge. 6) Haku Vodka Suntory’s new Haku Vodka is one of the showcases at the SGCF brand booths. Gin might be on everyone’s lips but Vodka has been on the rise, and we’re excited about it. The product comes from 100% Japanese white rice. Haku, “white” in Japanese is a tribute to the clean and clear characteristic of this Vodka. Flavor Notes: Delicate aroma of rice with a lingering sweetness Where to Buy: Haku is available in various online shops in Singapore like this site zairyo.com.sg. This product was featured in Manila early part of the year, and we're hoping we might see it in Manila shelves soon. Singapore is the perfect place to learn and discover more about cocktails and spirits. They have a developed bar scene that consistently produces the best bars and mixologists rated among the best in the world. The next time you plan for a trip, make it a boozy one. Make it Singapore. Check out the exciting nightlife and entertainment offerings awaiting you in Singapore! Visit www.visitsingapore.com/ph or follow them on Twitter @visitsingapore and Facebook at VisitSingaporePH, and @Visit_Singapore on Instagram for more information.