What You Can Look Forward To At The Singapore Cocktail Festival 2020

Due to the Dorscon Orange advisory by the government, the annual celebration is now split into two events with bar tours and promotions in May and the Festival Village in October

Singapore has one of the world's best cocktail scenes, evident in the number of bars that made it onto the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 list. It also means that there's much to look forward to at this year's Singapore Cocktail Festival (SCGF).

Due to coronavirus Covid-19, the festival will be split into two headline editions this year. The first part takes place from October 23 to 30 with a bevy of bar tours, drink promotions and cocktail experiences at 45 participating bars and restaurants.

Looking to revisit your favourite watering holes such as IBHQ, Idlewild, Jekyll & Hyde, Origin Bar and Smoke & Mirrors? Well, they’ll be offering attractive promotions that you can redeem via the Sluggr app. Adventurous tipplers may even sign up for the bar tours, which will bring them to four different cocktail venues in one night.

(Related: 30 Insider Tips To Drinking Better)

Above The Festival Village will have different sections for cocktails and spirits

Above The Festival Village will move to an even bigger location at the Bayfront Event Space

WEEKEND AT THE VILLAGE

The much-anticipated SGCF Festival Village will take place from October 23 to 25. A total of 8,500 attendees attended the event last year, so this year, in anticipation of a larger number of visitors, the Festival Village will be located at the sprawling Bayfront Event Space (next to Marina Bay Sands). Says Wai Mayleng, co-founder of SGCF: “With a bigger venue that is hallmarked by Singapore’s beautiful city skyline, we are proud to bring to life once again Asia’s largest celebration of cocktails.”

This year’s showcase will also see the debut of the BarStar award to highlight talented young bartenders (aged 28 years old and below). Participants will be asked to create cocktails that best represent the neighbourhood of the bar they represent. The winner will be part of the SGCF pop-up in Asia next year. The location of the pop-up will be revealed soon.

As the theme suggests, there will be loads to "taste and learn" at the Festival Village. Guests can choose to glean insights at this year's trade conversations, however, the topics will only be announced in mid-March. These discussions are organised by #SGCFBarAcademy, the educational arm of the festival.

Or, better yet, sign up for the 50 Minutes with 50 Best, a series of masterclasses conducted by the world's best bartenders, held in collaboration with The World's 50 Best Bars.

It's the perfect opportunity for festival-goers to get a head start to imbibing delicious cocktails, and there’s much to savour from the line-up of 50 Best acclaimed bars, including The Old Man Singapore and Hope & Sesame (Shanghai, China).

Above Participating bars will offer special promotions, redeemable through the Sluggr app

The cocktail festival continues to evolve to represent the local market's changing tastes. Gin has grown in popularity over the years, so one can expect a crowd at this year's Gin Pavilion, a showcase of fine examples from notable international brands such as Hendrick’s Gin, Monkey 47 and Roku Gin, as well as local champions Tanglin Gin and Brass Lion Distillery.

The growing legions of fans of whiskey and rum will be glad to know that there'll also be a pavilion dedicated to these brown spirits. They may even get a taste of stellar expressions from the likes of Glenglassaugh, Havana Club, Maker’s Mark, Monkey Shoulder, Old Forester and Woodford Reserve.

As the Singapore Cocktail Festival enters its sixth edition, and Jean Ng, executive director of the Singapore Tourism Board, shares: "We are confident that the festival—together with Asia’s 50 Best Bars—will showcase the best in the bartending scene in Singapore and the region, and delight both cocktail connoisseurs and industry players.”

(Related: Singapore's Top 30 Bars)

Tickets to the Singapore Cocktail Festival are available here.

Topics

singapore cocktail festival sgcf best bars in asia festival village cocktail bars in singapore

Tatler Asia

What You Can Look Forward To At The Singapore Cocktail Festival 2020

WEEKEND AT THE VILLAGE