RAISING THE BAR

Asian tipples

With Singapore’s sophisticated cocktail scene, it’s getting harder to impress drinking aficionados, but Nouri’s restaurant and beverage manager Matthew Chan has done it. A year after opening, the bar programme finally takes off, putting Chinese nu er hong, Korean baekseju and Indian thandai in the spotlight. Served in traditional ware, An Ode to celebration ($22) cleverly matches huangjiu’s strong nutty notes with fresh grapefruit and osmanthus syrup for a full-bodied tipple. The bar bites menu from chef-owner Ivan Brehm is on point. Think handmade cheong fun with crab and grouper ($22), and Wagyu and kimchi nduja on toast ($14). 72 Amoy Street. Tel: 6221 4148

Ardbeg’s global ambassador, Hamish Torrie was in town to launch Southeast Asia’s first Ardbeg Embassy at The Grande Whisky Collection at ION Orchard.

There are about

100 unique Ardbeg Embassies around the world, from retail stores to bars. Each is unique, for example, I worked with Luvians, in my hometown of Cupar, to introduce an Ardbeg ice cream.

The key thing is to have fun, and get people to try Ardbeg, the peatiest whisky on Islay at 55ppm (phenolic parts per million). Our neighbour Lagavulin is at 35ppm.

Our fans, who call themselves Ardbeg

Committee members, can take a pledge to be a drambassador, and be the first to try special bottles at Embassies around the world.

Of eight distilleries on Islay, we’re number 7 in terms of size and we like it. Even after increasing our production from 1.4 to 2.4 million liters over the next four years, we’ll still be number 7.

Do not put fizzy, sugary liquids into your Ardbeg, that’s just a waste. It can be great in cocktails like a Mojito or Bloody Mary though.

Try Ardbeg with a little water or ice, it’s so big that it can stand up to that. I love it with BBQ meats or fish, or three-year aged Parmesan, as the saltiness in both complements well. Ardbeg Embassy is located at The Grande Whisky Collection, #05-01 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn