RAISING THE BAR

Our nation in a cocktail

In the tradition of grand hotel bars, The Bar at 15 Stamford gleans its inspiration from history, with Remember the Balestiers ($24) a lovely melding of aged rum, vermouth, cherry brandy and absinthe. The Balestiers were Joseph and Maria, Singapore’s first U.S. Consul in 1836, who operated a sugarcane plantation and rum distillery where Balestier is today. Revere’s Bell ($24) with cachaca, lime juice and herbal liqueur is an homage to Maria, Paul Revere’s daughter who gifted a Revere Foundry bell to Singapore (now in the National Museum). A bell chimes at 8pm daily in memory of her contribution to Singapore. Plantation 1840 ($24) is a punchy tiki-style long cocktail with Cuban rum, pineapple juice, sweet vermouth and sugar cane juice. Aside from the extensive 160-label rum collection, there are over 250 labels of wine. The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, 15 Stamford Road.

Tel: 6715 6871

Complementing the modern Asian cuisine at Jam at Siri House is a craft cocktail list that takes its cue from premium spirits and elevated home ingredients. Fat-washed white sesame rum, sake and white cacao, complemented by pickled lotus seed in Eastern Promises ($24) is presented like a lotus pond, and goes down smoothly. The Maize Runner ($26) plays on the Old Fashioned with a peanut butter foam over roasted coconut bourbon made in the rotary evaporator, while the deceptively simple Apple/martini ($22) is a complex mix of fennel gin distillate garnished with a piece of moringa-dusted apple in place of an olive. #01-02 Dempsey Hill, Blk 8D Dempsey Road. Tel: 9667 0533

Don’t overlook the cocktail menu while at

Godmama,a modern Peranakan restaurant specialising in egg popiah. Aptly named Peranakan Pride, the cocktails are conceptualised by co-founder Christina Keilthy’s son, a prominent rising bartender. Nenas Knows Best ($22) hits the spot, bringing together a pineapple-tart like flavour with mezcal, while Brass Lion Distillery’s blue pea gin can’t go wrong in a colour-shifting Peranakan Blue G&T ($22). If you’re also eyeing the Berries Merah Saga tequila highball ($20) with Ette Tea berries tea, this pairs well with sambal prawns. #04-07 FUNAN, 107 North Bridge Road. Tel: 6970 0828

Compendium introduces their newest products, Rojak Gin ($108) and Chendol Gin ($98), which are created by Rachelle the Rabbit Meadery’s founder, Simon Zhao and brand ambassador, Vic Ram. The Rojak Gin is a revelation; a beautifully fragrant torch ginger nose that translates to the palate alongside lemon peel and the familiar juniper. It’s also impossibly smooth, thanks to a base alcohol of distilled homemade mead. Try it in a Negroni or neat. The Chendol Gin is a dessert-like proposition, being distilled from gula melaka for a softer finish, then redistilled with juniper, pandan and coconut – it’s best with a very light tonic. rachelletherabbit.com

Michel Lu, best known as a nightlife and restaurant entrepreneur, is back with his ‘legacy project’, The Orientalist Spirits. Using Asia as his pantry, Lu is creating gin, vodka and even whisky with different partners in different countries. First up is The Orientalist Vodka (US$66.50), with organic Thai longan honey, Tibetan highland barley and nine premium potatoes for its interesting texture. The result is quite unlike most vodkas on the market, with a lot of flavours going on in the mouth. Available by year end, The Orientalist Gunpowder Gin (US$66.50) uses Taiwanese gunpowder tea, Siberian ginseng, Kampot peppercorns and Korean omijia berries, among its myriad pan-asian ingredients. theorientalistspirits.com