It would appear as if we say this every year, but the Singapore Cocktail Festival continues to expand as it returns for yet another edition. This May 15-22, the event will not only mark the celebration of drinks at a new venue (Bayfront Event Space), but it will also feature the inaugural BarStar Award, which spotlights emerging bartending talents among the festival’s partner bars.
As soon as the festival kicks off the Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony on May 14, expect eight days of tasting and fun to follow, especially at the Festival Village (May 15-17), that offers a revamped suite of experiences.
The SGCF Pavilion will feature 50 Best acclaimed bars including Shanghai’s Hope & Sesame and local spot The Old Man. There’ll also be the Gin Pavilion that showcases renowned gin makers such as Brass Lion Distillery, Hendrick’s Gin, Monkey 47, Tanglin Gin and Roku Gin. Meanwhile, the Whiskey and Rum Pavilion is where fans of Havana Club, Maker’s Mark, Monkey Shoulder, and many others can come together. Then there’s the Open Marquee, where 24 of Singapore’s best bars, the likes of Cin Cin, Ce La Vi and more will be setting up shop. The popular Artisanal Spirits Tasting Room returns too, showcasing limited production spirits worldwide.
And as mentioned, don’t miss the launch of the BarStar Award. It’s a competition that challenges young bartenders to create a cocktail inspired by the neighbourhood of the bar they represent. The top five finalists will helm bars at the event and dish out their special concoctions for all to try. The winning bartender will eventually join the festival in a pop-up in Asia next year.
What’s a drinking festival without some entertainment to take us to a different kind of high; festival-goers can look forward to live music and DJ sets by musicians from Ce La Vi and Nineteen80. Plus, nosh can always be grabbed from the Food Street, which is said to bring together some of Singapore’s best restaurants.
As always, promotions (redeemable via Slugglr) and events are also happening across various venues to coincide with selected festival dates, so keep your eyes peeled for those. We’re definitely hopping onto the bar tours that each take us to four cocktail venues in one night.
The Singapore Cocktail Festival 2020 is happening from May 15-22. Super Early Bird tickets for the Festival Village are on sale till Jan 31, and priced from $30 for a single-day pass. More information here.
