We’ve previously featured the best sports and wine bars, and now we’re shaking things up with the ones with the best spirits. Be it scotch, tequila, or gin, there’s something for everyone at these joints. Have a look:
The Auld Alliance
This place stocks well over 1,000 Scotches on its lofty shelves covering every distillery in Scotland from affordable drops to truly astonishing bottles like the Mortlach 70-year-old, the world’s oldest whiskey (distilled in 1938). The bar also has a number of whiskeys from Japan, the US and Ireland, Armagnac, over two dozen absinthes and an impressive Champagne selection.
#02-02A Rendezvous Hotel, 9 Bras Basah Rd., 6337-2201. Open Mon-Thu 5pm-1am; Fri-Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 5pm-midnight.
The Beast
On the edge of Kampong Glam you’ll find this rustic, three-story Southern American restaurant that also specializes in bourbon. Choose from over 30 bourbons, including the more unusual Willet Pot Still Reserve. Or just go with a fruity mint julep, a bourbon mojito or a boozy sweet tea. Fortify your stomach with snacks like chicken wings.
17 Jalan Klapa, 6295-0017. Open Mon-Wed 5pm-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight; Thu-Fri 5pm-1am; Sun 10am-5pm.
Bedrock Bar & Grill
There’s no place better than this Mad Men-esque spot to dig into New York-style steaks. They’ve got a fantastic list of choice cuts like USDA Prime dry aged ribeye and Aussie grassfed porterhouse, but the big thrill is their comprehensive list of Scotch, handily divided by regions such as Isle of Islay, the Highlands and other. They also have essential Japanese stuff like Nikka and Hibiki, along with a handful of bourbons.
#01-05 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites, 96 Somerset Rd., 6238-0054. Open daily noon-3pm, 6-11pm.
Buyan Russian Restaurant & Caviar Bar
A rare Russian restaurant in Singapore, predictably has a big vodka selection from Russia, Poland and the Ukraine—both clear and fruit-based and some house infusions using exotic ingredients like cloudberry and horseradish. For something less esophagus-searing, try their unusual Russian vodka-based cocktails, like the Spetsnaz, made with pickles and pickle juice, and the Szatlotka, which is a mix of fresh green apple juice and bison grass vodka. On the food front are borscht, pirozhki and pelmen.
9 Duxton Hill, 6223-7008. Open Tue-Fri noon-3pm; Mon-Sat 6-10:30pm.
Lucha Loco
A laid-back yet bustling spot does hearty Mexican fare like pork belly tacos and Mexican street corn. It’s probably one of the best places in town for tequila—blancos, reposados and anejos—and mezcal. You’ll definitely need to pad your stomach before sipping (yes, sipping) shots of these.
15 Duxton Hill, 6226-3938. Open Tue-Thu 5-10:30pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm.
Orihara Shoten
Specializing in sake, sochu and all things Japanese and boozy, this Singaporean offshoot of the well-known Japanese liquor store is a place to discover a still relatively underappreciated drink.
#01-02 Robertson Walk, 11 Unity St., 6836-5710. Open Mon-Wed 7pm-midnight; Thu-Sat 7pm-1:30am.
The Rabbit Hole
Chapel-turned-Eurochic restaurant The White Rabbit’s leafy alfresco area has reinvented itself as a gin bar in recent months, with a decent selection of bottles like Brooklyn and Bluecoat (both London dry varieties) and super botanical Spanish stuff Gin Mare, all served with their house made tonic water. In case gin’s not your thing, there’s a lovely wine list as well.
39C Harding Rd., 6473-9965. Open Tue-Fri 6-11pm, Sat-Sun 6pm-midnight.
The Secret Mermaid
Casual Japanese eatery Shinkansen by day and a watering hole and liquor retail store by night, this hidden hangout specializes in rare, small-batch, handcrafted spirits, specifically gin, rum, tequila, vodka and whiskey. For cocktails, there are classics like the Spiced Blueberry Mojito, Salted Caramel Old Fashioned, or the Sangria Sour.
#B1-08 Ocean Financial Centre, 10 Collyer Quay, Open Mon-Fri 5-11pm.
Vasco
The boys behind Jiak Chuan’s The Cufflink Club open their second bar and it’s all about South America, with leather booths, hanging copper lamps and a focus on mezcal, cachaca, rum, pisco and tequila. There are also cheekily-named cocktails like the Cusco Puta with pisco, strawberry, capsicum, chili and lime, alongside caipirinhas and pisco sours. The kitchen dishes out empanadas, a few ceviche and heartier offerings like cubanos.
42 Hongkong St., 8799-7085. Open Mon-Sat 5pm-1am.
The WOW
This classy spot, launched in partnership with Hotel Waldhaus am See in St. Moritz, Switzerland (famed for its massive whiskey collection), offers 250 types of single malt scotch whiskeys—many of which are obscure or unavailable elsewhere.
G/F Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa, 23 Beach View, 6818-3388. Open daily noon-midnight.
