Liquid Learning

When friends ask you what you like to drink, chances are you have a ready answer. Perhaps you’re a gin guy. Perhaps you only like fruit beer. You’ll probably never touch tequila again. But how long has it been since your answer to that question changed? And when was the last time you tried drinking something different?

Of course, it can be intimidating to venture beyond your comfort zone, particularly here in Singapore where every other person seems to be a brand ambassador for some spirit you’ve never heard of. But a number of venues—some old, some new, some that might surprise you—are going out of their way to make learning more about drink easy, and fun into the bargain. Forget stuffy wine dinners or impenetrable talk of blends, proofs and varietals—just round up some open-minded friends and go try something different. You might be surprised by what you learn.

BEER (3-9%)

It’s the world’s most widely consumed alcoholic beverage, with a remarkable range of styles and flavors. Thanks to the emergence of more microbreweries and bars that specialize in importing craft beers, there’s now a real demand in the local market for specialty brews.

Brewerkz
Proving that being popular doesn’t have to mean resting on your laurels, the reigning microbrew kings continue to change up their menu offering the kind of beers that ought to make you give up bland lager for good. If you just want a taste of what they have to offer on tap (there are over 12 beers to choose from), then try their very affordable sample sets, ideal for novice drinkers. Forget their predictable Tried & True set and design your own instead. Four 90ml glasses of your choice will set you back a mere $13, so mix and match favorites like India Pale Ale with limited edition numbers such as Black Rabbit and Long Zhu Ale. While it’s not nearly as academic as beer geeks might like, it’s a perfect introduction to the world of real beer.
#01-05/06 Riverside Point, 30 Merchant Rd., 6438-7438.

Tiger Brewery Tour
We’re not big fans of organized tours, but this somewhat patriotic one is great fun. You can see for yourself how Singapore’s national beer goes from the kettle to the keg with tour guides who will take you through the whole brewing process, from malting to mashing, hopping, boiling, fermenting, filtering and bottling/canning/kegging. You can sample the entire range of Asia Pacific Breweries’ products, including Archipelago craft beers, at the classy Tiger Tavern. There’s also a souvenir shop and an informative museum display featuring old bottles and photographs to fill you with nostalgia. The tour takes place at 10:00am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 4pm and 5pm from Monday to Friday and costs $16 per person. Advance bookings are essential.
459 Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, 6860-3005.

WINE & CHAMPAGNE (9-16%)

There’s a snobbery attached to wine drinking that understandably puts people off. But there’s no shame in admitting you know nothing, or not as much as you’d like. With these operators you can be sure of making some great discoveries in good company.

Les Amis
Forget overly-formal wine dinners with pompous strangers, the Simply Black blind tasting wine luncheons are the way to go if you want to challenge your palate without any pressure. The premise is simple, simply select three ($70) or four ($88) courses of chef Armin Leitgeb’s divine fare for your meal, and Les Amis’ sommeliers will pair the wines accordingly (additional $45 and $60 respectively). The key to the equation is that all the wines are served in dark, opaque Zweisel 1872 Gourmet Collection wine glasses, so you can’t use your sense of sight to “cheat,” but have to rely wholly on your senses of smell and taste to make your guess about vinous region, grape varietal and even the individual chateau. It’s a tongue-in-cheek approach that’s surprisingly effective. At the end of your meal, a sommelier will come over for the big reveal.
#02-16 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., 6733-2225. Sat noon-3pm.

Wine Exchange Asia
A great option if you’re looking for a casual yet informative Champagne tasting session is with the folks of Wine Exchange Asia. Aside from the wine dinners they conduct, they also do champers events every so often at venues such as Speakeasy (54 Blair Rd., 9759-5111). The relaxed vibe of a bubbly Sunday brunch (think blind tasting with three sets of four different Champagnes, that’s 12 total) with notecards for you to record your personal notes is hard to beat.
Log on to www.wineexchangeasia.com to find out about other upcoming events.

Lim Hwee Peng School of Wine
If you’re a true blue wine aficionado (or hoping to be one), go the more serious, academic route and enrol yourself in a course at Lim Hwee Peng School of Wine. Be warned: This three-month program requires real dedication and even has an exam at the end of it. Pass and you’ll be deemed a Certified Specialist in Wines (CSW), so you can flaunt your credentials at the next frou-frou event you attend and impress even the most stonefaced of critics.
Log on to www.winecraftmktg.com or email [email protected] for more details.

COCKTAILS (12-18%)

Everyone fancies that they can make a pretty mean cocktail, even if it’s just their own spin on the G&T. Once you see one of these masters at work, however, you’ll realize just how little you know—and be thirsty to learn more.

Drink Culture
This relative newbie is a great after-dinner spot. If you want to do a proper class with director and mixologist Ethan Leslie Leong, you’ll need to round up five friends for a two-hour session ($150 per person; add another $50 for a take-home mixing kit) and book two weeks in advance. He’ll run you through how to prep and make three different cocktails, such as a basic mojito and dry martini, with recipes to refer to. If that’s too much work, just rock up and grab a few seats at the bar so you can talk to Leong about different drinks and watch him make them as you do an informal cocktail tasting.
49/51 Kreta Ayer Rd., 6557‑0538.

Néktar
The ideal combination of chic without the stuffy, even if you just drop by after work. You’ll want the best (and most coveted) seats in the house, at the bar of course. Be sure to call ahead and lock those down. Executive bar chef Raveen Misra can do a casual cocktail appreciation class by tailoring bespoke drinks based on your preferences, each with a different spirit base and flavor profile, so you can sample a range of booze casual one. Head over from 5-8pm and get the most bang for your buck at happy hour, with 30 percent off all cocktails. Alternatively, arrange for a private cocktail class with Misra, if you’re keen on learning the basics so you can show off the next time you have a house party. You’ll need to arrange it at least a week in advance, and come along with seven like-minded folk. Be prepared to shell out $150 apiece (includes a starter kit and a recipe list to take home) for an interactive, hands-on, two-hour session that will cover three classic cocktails with a twist, such as a fruity rendition of a Collins, a brandy cocktail and perhaps an espresso martini.
Annex Bldg., 31 Scotts Rd., 6836-9185.

SAKE (15-20%)

Even if you’re Japanese, Nihonshu can be a bit of an acquired taste. But approach it with an open mind and you’re bound to find the right rice wine for you.

Orihara Liquor Shop & Bar
They’ve traded the Four Seasons concept (TOO clever, perhaps) in favor of four more descriptive flights: Refreshing, Rich, Amai (sweet), and Karakuchi (dry). You get three cups filled to the brim for $30, and if it’s not too busy (get there before 8pm) the server will describe the origin and characteristics of each type of sake. Otherwise, you can read about them in the tome-like menu. We like the Refreshing set. But why take our word for it—just try all four. Then pad your stomach with an awesome bowl of oden or yakitori from next door. In addition to the unbelievable selection of sake, addictive bar snacks and friendly service, we like the selection of ceramic and glass cups you get to choose from when you open a bottle.
#01-02 Robertson Walk, 11 Unity St., 6836-5710.

TEQUILA (35-40%)

Outside of Mexico, tequila still has something of a bad rep. But trust us, there’s much more to it than shooters and student misadventures.

Café Iguana
If you’re game for a little nostalgia, Café Iguana offers three-shot tequila samplers. The sets highlight the differences in flavor between blanco, reposado and añejo tequilas from two brands. The more well-known Partida goes for $13, while the artisanal Oro Azul set will cost you $22. Although you won’t get a formal explanation, there are short tasting notes for reference.
#01-03 Riverside Point, 30 Merchant Rd., 6236-1275.

WHISKY (40-55%)

Forget the notion of whisky being the preserve of old men in tweed. Put yourself in the right hands and you’ll discover why exploring different malts and varying vintages becomes a lifelong passion for so many people.

The Auld Alliance
Helmed by Emmanuel Dron, one-time regional manager of La Maison du Whisky, The Auld Alliance claims to have Southeast Asia’s largest collection of whiskies with over 1,000 beauties. Oozing old world charm with dark timber, distinguished leather couches and a menu about as thick as a mid-length novel, you’ll also find four different tasting sets, each showcasing four malts: Whiskies Around the World ($30), Lands of Scotland ($30), Four Laphroaig Cask Strength ($80) and Tullibardine Vertical Tasting ($85). We reckon the first two are better suited to whisky newbies, while connoisseurs will appreciate the nuances of the latter two. The elegant stemware doesn’t hurt either. If you can manage it, grab yourself a seat at the bar so you can chat with Dron and draw on his encyclopedic knowledge about whiskies. Hardcore enthusiasts should sign up for The Singapore Whisky Club, which meets once a month for a private tasting session. At $250 per month, exclusivity doesn’t come cheap. The next one, Five Decades of Macallan, happens on Jul 5, and will showcase five different vintages of the Scottish single malt—1955, 1966, 1974, 1983, 1991.
#01-07/08/09 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria St., 6337-2201.

Quaich Bar
This is a decidedly less swanky spot than The Auld Alliance, but its homey, laidback vibe and friendly staff (who have been trained in Scotland) make it most appealing. They also have eight different tasting sets that vary from $38 to $80, so everyone is well-catered for. While they carry a range of whiskies, the attention here is clearly on scotch. A good starting point for introducing beginners to whisky is the Regional Malts of Scotland ($30) sampler, which includes four glasses each filled with 15ml of malt from distinct regions (color-coded with a sticker). For those familiar with whiskies, we suggest the Bunnahabhain Vertical Tasting ($80) featuring three vintages. Since all sets come with tasting notes and explanations, you have the option of taking your journey with the bar staff or finding a quiet corner and doing it on your own, with friends or that special someone you’re dying to impress.
#01-09/10 Waterfront Plaza, 390A Havelock Rd., 6732-3452.