The fourth edition of the East Imperial Gin Jubilee will be hitting Singapore next week (Nov 20-26), bringing with it a heady dose of gin culture to town after making their rounds in KL, Hong Kong, Phnom Penh and Bangkok. There are tons of activties to check out, but we’ve flitered that list down to shine the spotlight on some promising ones.
Competition for the best gin & tonic in town
Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall uses The Botanist for their entry.
One of the highlights of this festival has to be the Asia’s Best Gin & Tonic competition, where bartenders from various bars cross Hong Kong, Pnom Penh, KL and of course, Singapore, go head-to-head to create the perfect G&T ever known to man. A total of 36 bars will be making up the Singapore contingent, including 28 HongKong Street, which made it to the world’s 50 best bars 2016 list and Highball by Kino Soh, who was a finalist in the Singapore edition of Diageo World Class 2016. With such strong competitors, it’s going to be tough to vote for the best one. Like elections and singing reality TV shows, have your say by going down to the participating bars and and post a picture of your favorite G&T on Instagram with the hashtag: #GinJubilee2016.
Get educated on all things gin
For most alcohol-centric festivals, the organizers would include masterclasses for anyone ranging from the novice drinker to the aficionado. The East Imperial Gin Jubilee is not any different, offering a slew of gin masterclasses. Here are a few highlights.
Fords Gin Masterclass with Simon Ford (Nov 22)
Every gin expert will be pleased to know the renowned Simon Ford will be popping by the Tippling Club to share his extensive knowledge on gin. He is one of the founders of New York’s The 86 Company, which birthed the popular Fords Gin, so don’t miss the opportunity to speak to the man who overcame great odds and avoided bankruptcy before reaping the successes of the company. RSVP to [email protected]
Bombay Sapphire Gin Masterclass with Ricky Paiva (Nov 24)
The famed Ricky Paiva who used to mix up snazzy concoctions at the swanky Manhattan bar will holding a masterclass at the new Red Tail bar for one day. He will be putting the iconic Bombay Sapphire Gin in the spotlight, taking you through an exquisite tasting session. RSVP to [email protected]
Have a seat with Stuart Danker, one of the scene’s rising stars who made it to our hot bartenders list, at Highball, as he’ll be giving you the 411 on all things gin, including how you can concoct the perfect G&T at home. Best part of the night? Pay $15 to enjoy non-stop Bluecoat gin and tonics all night.
Keep calm and party on
Gin Lane 2015
What’s a tipple without a party? There will be a gin-inspired block party (Nov 25) at Conrad Centennial, replete with barbeque fare and interesting gin variations that go for only $12 throughout the night. You can also customize your own gin at their pop-up bar, so get creative with the bitters and garnishes. Ending this festivity with a big bang, the entire stretch of HongKong street will be transformed into a happening gin street party. At the now legendary Gin Lane (Nov 26), you can get to try the competing bar’s gin and tonic, alongside great music, bar bites and live graffiti.
