If you haven’t heard, Asia’s premier gin festival is back, with an expanded set of activities for gin lovers and alcohol amateurs alike. Organizers of the event East Imperial have finally announced the full programme for the festival happening Nov 27-Dec 3, and needless to say, we’re pumped.
For one, there’s hopping through the 43 participating local bars (including 28 Hong Kong Street, Manhattan, The Horse’s Mouth, Crackerjack and even the Lobby Lounge at Conrad Centennial Singapore), where you’ll get to try the bartenders’ unique gin & tonic creations as they compete for “Best Gin & Tonic” in Singapore.
There are also exclusive parties, masterclasses and pop-up events, featuring fun collaborations and tasting opportunities. On Nov 28, #Ginning: Tricks of the trade of gin cocktail making (Bulldog Gin and Kilo Lounge) will give out special deals on Bulldog Gin cocktails and bottles.
Nov 29 is an action-packed day, but we’d recommend making your own gin at the Kyro Gin Blending Workshop at The Dempsey Cookhouse & Bar; or learning about cocktail-making at the G&T Salon Social at The Proof Flat by EC Proof. Alternatively, there’s the East Meets West Nightcap Session at The Four Seasons, which will combine West Winds gin, bar bites from Braci, and gin-based cocktails by Tanqueray.
On Nov 30, prep your taste buds for a host of guest takeovers at bars like Oxwell & Co. and The Other Room. Where to head to on Dec 1 is a no-brainer—the Juniper Festival Guest Shift at Neon Pigeon will welcome Sean Kenyon, American Bartender of the Year 2014, to go behind the bar for one night only.
But the highlight of the festival will no doubt be the iconic Gin Lane—the annual closing party, this year being held at the laneway behind Amoy Street. As if you haven’t already had enough gin to drink over the last seven days, the event on Dec 2 will see pop-up bars and gin brands set up on-site for party-goers to try out the various G&T creations. Music collective Mustard Music will be providing the tunes, but more importantly, the winner of “Asia’s Best Gin & Tonic” will be announced on the night, making it a proper closing hurrah. Still feeling peckish? The handcrafted East Coast gin (Brooklyn Gin) at the after-party It’s a Brooklyn Thing at Skinny’s Lounge should take care of that.
For the full calendar of Gin Jubilee events, head here.
