This August, thousands of Craft Gin Clubbers across the UK have been wowed by their Gin of the Month, the gin-credible Brass Lion Singapore Dry Gin. If you were one of the lucky gin-lovers to try this superb spirit, we know you’ll be feeling as inspired as us to find out more about Singapore, home to this world-class distillery!
Yes, with its sophisticated rooftop bars, food-filled hawker centres and markets, world-famous gardens and bustling shopping streets, Singapore is a dream destination for foodies and gin lovers alike.
It’s a melting pot of cuisines, influences and cultures, making it an irresistibly unique hotspot for greedy gourmands and cocktail connoisseurs the world over.
So where do all self-respecting cocktail connoisseurs (like us!) make a beeline for when visiting this fabulous city - and what spectacular cocktails will you be drinking when you get there? We put our investigative hats on and have uncovered some of the city’s finest cocktail bars and venues to inspire your next holiday plans.
Spoiler alert: one of our featured venues has a cocktail bar offering 1,300 different gins! Got your attention now, haven’t we?!
What’s more, the fantastic, world-class bartenders working at each venue have kindly given us some exclusive cocktail recipes - just for you, dear Craft Gin Clubbers - to try at home. So if you can’t make your way to this dazzling destination for a cocktail in real life just yet, you can still have a true taste of the city’s incredible flavours in the comfort of your own garden! Enjoy.
Peranakan shophouses at Katong. Photo by Darren Soh.
Smoked Longan Cocktail, Native
As if the three fabulous cocktail recipes below aren’t enough already, Native - another one of Singapore’s top cocktail bars - has sent Craft Gin Club this fabulous cocktail recipe video. You need to give their tasty tipple a go!
Native has been a trailblazer ever since it opened in 2016 and ranks at number 18 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Championing sustainability and zero waste, when you pay them a visit you can expect ingenious cocktails crafted from locally-foraged ingredients and alcohol that’s specific to the region; nothing comes from beyond Asia’s borders. Situated in Singapore’s vibrant Chinatown, Native mirrors the precinct’s acceptance of the hip and trendy alongside heritage and tradition.
Urban Farmer cocktail recipe, Gibson
This Singaporean cocktail recipe is courtesy of Gibson, a quintessential cocktail bar perfecting the classics and experimenting with the new at the heart of Singapore’s bar scene. It’s part of the Jigger group which includes Jigger and Pony, named one of the best bars in Asia!
With its floral and fruity flavour profile, this fabulous, innovative cocktail will have you eager to visit one of Singapore’s most incredible attractions, the stunning Gardens by the Bay. A diverse nature park where you can see beautiful flora and fauna from around the world while meandering through over 100 acres of gardens including their iconic Supertree Grove.
The cosy, intimate interior at Gibson.
Singapore’s iconic Gardens by the Bay.
3 marigold leaves (available online or grow in the garden)
40ml Brass Lion Singapore Dry Gin
10ml apple juice
25ml lime juice
5ml simple syrup
Edible flower, to garnish
Muddle the marigold leaves gently in a shaker and add your gin, juices and syrup. Add ice, then shake and double strain into a wine glass with ice. Garnish and serve.
Tomato & Lemongrass cocktail recipe, No Sleep Club
No Sleep Club is one of the latest and most exciting additions to Singapore’s cocktail scene on trendy Keong Saik Road. A day to night concept that sells coffee, tasty grub and excellent cocktails it has debuted on Asia’s 50 Best Bars this year at No.8. This cocktail recipe has been developed by its owner Juan Yi Jun.
Visiting such a creative and exciting bar would definitely get us in the mood for some cultural pursuits, how about an art museum? Few are finer than Singapore’s National Gallery. While there, we simply must stop off at Smoke & Mirrors. This bar sits on the roof of the gallery and has outstanding views of Singapore’s skyline.
Keong Saik Road in Chinatown houses some of the hottest restaurants and bars in the city, such as No Sleep Club.
The view from the terrace of Smoke & Mirrors, Singapore.
40ml Brass Lion Singapore Dry Gin
30ml gazpacho
10ml fino sherry
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp simple syrup
Lemongrass stalk, to garnish (optional)
To make gazpacho at home: mash up five tomatoes, a handful of basil, a clove of garlic, sea salt and black pepper. Combine your ingredients in a saucepan and bring them to a rolling boil. Strain through a cheesecloth and put it aside to cool.
Pour all your ingredients over ice in a rocks glass, stir and garnish.
Million Dollar Cocktail recipe, Raffles Hotel
Although some drinks historians attribute this classic cocktail to Louis Eppinger, most believe it was invented by Ngiam Tong Boon, the master mixologist behind the famed Singapore Sling. He’s believed to have concocted this tipple at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore in 1910 at their Long Bar. Raffles Hotel is a historic landmark in the city and, with its elegant architecture and refined ambience, is just the spot to feel a real sense of old-world glamour as you sink into a plush seat and sip on your cocktail.
If history is your thing, then you will definitely need to check out one of Singapore’s colourful historic districts, Kampong Gelam. With a strong Malay influence, this is thought to be Singapore’s oldest quarter, now a trendy neighbourhood bringing together arts, boutiques and café culture. Not far from here, you’ll find the world-renowned Atlas Bar, with its jaw-dropping collection of 1,300 gins - yes, 1,300! Did somebody say gin heaven?!
The palatial Raffles Hotel, Singapore.
The Art Deco interior of Atlas Bar, Singapore. Image: Atlas Bar.
60ml gin
30ml sweet vermouth
15ml pineapple juice
1 tsp grenadine syrup
1 egg white
Pineapple wedge, to garnish
Add your first five ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake (without ice). Add ice and shake a second time (wet shake). Strain into a coupe or martini glass, garnish and serve.
Craft Gin Club’s August 2021 Gin of the Month box
In celebration of our August 2021 Gin of the Month, Brass Lion Singapore Dry Gin, we are giving you the chance to win an August 2021 Craft Gin Club Gin of the Month box for FREE!
All that you have to do is comment underneath the posts about this feature on Facebook or Twitter, letting us know the name of the road that the No Sleep Club sits on. Hint: you can find the answer in this feature!
This competition is now closed. T&Cs Apply.
For more information on all that Singapore has to offer, head to Visit Singapore by clicking on this link!
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