At The Bar:
A new and noteworthy spot for a tipple
WRITERS BAR
Grand Lobby, Raffles Singapore 1 Beach Road 6412 1816 rafflessingapore.com/restaurant/writers-bar
What’s new:
The Writers Bar has launched a new menu of cocktails to go with a new book called The Raffles Affair – a crime novel set inside the iconic Raffles Hotel. The new drinks draw influence from themes in the book, adding a bit of mystery and fun with names like Smoking Gun and Poisoned Pen.
Another fairly new addition is Nicholas Edward Alexander, the fab head bartender. He has been in Singapore for the past year, having moved here from the US. If you have any questions, he’ll be able to help you out with all the choices and break down the flavours. When you go, say hi to him from us!
The Chosen One:
There were too many good cocktails to choose from and we had a lot of fun getting to taste them all; Nicholas really spoiled us! Our unanimous winner was Cold Case ($28), which I couldn’t get enough of. It’s made up of Chalong Bay Thai Sweet Basil Rum, peach orgeat, coconut and lime. It’s not something that I thought I’d like but I highly recommend it.
Another must try is the Million Dollar Cocktail ($28), which was simply delicious. It’s much less sweet than the classic Singapore Sling, but was created in the early 19th century by the same bartender: the legendary Ngiam Tong Boon. This is a drink worthy of a few photos, especially with its dollar sign imprinted on the foam. The Million Dollar cocktail uses Raffles 1915 Gin by London distiller Sipsmith; it’s created with jasmine, fresh pomelo, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, nutmeg and cardamom. And here’s an extra little fun fact for you: the co-founder of Sipsmith, Sam Glasworthy, is a descendant of Sir Stamford Raffles himself! How’s that for a historical experience!
Other great drinks to try include Agent Provocateur ($28), Red Herring ($28) and Cloak and Dagger ($28). This bar takes its cocktails to the next level of artistry – they all taste great and have complex flavours. Combined with the beautiful colonial interiors, it makes for an all-around classy experience. The Writers Bar would be a perfect spot for a sophisticated date night, a business meeting or a fancy girls’ night out.
Bite on this:
Fill up with a great array of bar bites to choose from, including some vegetarian options like samosas, cheese spreads and truffle fries. For the carnivores, there’s beef tartare, lobster rolls with curry mayonnaise, and salmon blinis.