Photo: Ash Edmonds
Cover Photo: Ash Edmonds

Quench your thirst with our bi-weekly recommendations of alcoholic tipples

Take a breather from the hustle by gathering your fellow hopheads for a good old drinking session. This month, an exciting lineup of exclusive pours awaits you in the bar scene. From dedicated oenophiles to casual drinkers less inclined to alcohol, our list of popular pours and mocktails prove that there’s a waterhole for everyone.

Kick off the week with Tapas 24 for a casual sit-down of tapas paired with 1-for-1 beverages. Next up comes Komyuniti, the “It” place for placebo fixes. To toast to a more meaningful cause, head down to MO Bar for a sustainable cocktail or Heart of Darkness and The Spot to partake in the upcoming Negroni Week. 

See also: Meet the Master: Richard Hemming, Wine Communicator and 67 Pall Mall Singapore’s Resident Master of Wine

1. Tapas 24

Unwind with Spain’s trademark laidback counter-culture, here at the first Asian outpost of the iconic Barcelonian concept Tapas 24, created by Michelin-starred Chef Carles Abellán. The hot quayside tapas bar offers a buzzy atmosphere and refreshing pours to go with your choice of sublime tapas. From now till  October 31, the restaurant is welcoming diners back with their good sundowner promotion, whereby guests can enjoy 1-for-1 drinks between 3 pm to 6 pm daily. Though this promotion is applicable across a wide selection of martinis, cocktails, beers and wines, you’ll want to look out for the four new summery cocktail concoctions.

Peruse the tropics with additions like the vodka-based Banana Split, a grown-up spin on the well-loved dessert, shaken with banana liqueur, and topped with chocolate syrup, fresh strawberries, and cream, or the citrusy Amaretto Tropical Punch and zingy Melon Amor. You might also find an invigorating accompaniment to your tapas in the Spiked Afternoon Tea, brewed with rum, elderflower liqueur, chamomile tea and lime. Book here.

Tapas 24 Singapore | 60 Robertson Quay, 01-04 The Quayside, S(238252) | 6513 6810

See also: 15 Stylish New Restaurants in Singapore to Visit in 2021

2. Komyuniti

The beating heart of Yotel Singapore lies in its F&B—namely, Komyuniti Bar & Restaurant. Spurred by creativity in flavour, function and variety, the bar has launched a range of placebo cocktails. Made with alcohol-free spirits, these drinks are the perfect go-to for relaxing after a workday evening, without the dreadful aftereffects of the morning after. Seasoned drinkers may be skeptical about the fun-factor of non-alcoholic crafts, but Komyuniti’s hand-crafted cocktail menu begs to differ.

Boasting nine exciting creations priced, the list provides satisfying alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages to embrace a more moderate, sober-conscious approach to consumption. Kick off the night-out with No-groni, a mix of botanical London dry spirit, Italian orange spirit, Aperitif Rosso and orange candy. Foregrounding the taste of Campari, this pour does away with the usual overpowering sweet taste of a Negroni, with notes of bitterness creating the perfect balance for your taste buds. Next, reach for The Gardener—a blend of pea-infused London dry spirit, dill and cucumber shrub and fresh herbs. With notes of fresh herbs and citrus, this curated delight is perfect for those with less of a sweet tooth. Book here.

Komyuniti | 366 Orchard Road Level 10, Yotel, S(238904) | 6866 8067

3. Heart of Darkness

Tatler Asia
Dark Corner Negroni Ale
Above Dark Corner Negroni Ale

A September 13 to 30 exclusive, Heart of Darkness is celebrating the 9th edition of Negroni Week with an exclusive beer brewed just for the occasion. Founded by Imbibe and Campari, the international charity initiative will once again be taking place in venues across the world to raise money for a range of charitable causes. The bar will be collaborating with The General Brewing Co. to put a hoppy spin on the classic Italian cocktail, The Dark Corner Negroni Ale. Infused with Campari and a selection of botanicals traditionally found in gin, this unique pour will be available on draft and by the bottle. Warm your heart with each sip, with the knowledge that 20% of proceeds from Dark Corner Negroni Ale sales goes to mental health support for Singapore’s hard-hit F&B industry.

While you’re there, make sure to order a regular favourite such as the First Sunset Kumquat Pale Ale, a golden-hued concoction boasting aromas of ripe apricot and kumquat peel. Refreshing and light, the finish is a zesty citrus with smooth notes of nectarine. Book here.

Heart of Darkness | 1 Keong Saik Rd, S(089109) | 6208 7940

See also: 6 Best Locally Brewed Craft Beers to Celebrate With

4. MO Bar

Tatler Asia
Tea in the Afternoon
Above Tea in the Afternoon

Situated in the luxurious Mandarin Oriental, this illustrious bar is humbled by its environmental pursuits. From September 1 to 30, MO Bar will be participating in the Flor de Caña Zero Waste Month Global Initiative, a noble project dedicated to making the world a more sustainable home by raising awareness of the importance of reducing food wastage. As a contribution to the cause, the hotel bar has crafted an exclusive Zero Waste Cocktail, Tea in the Afternoon. This refreshing concoction is inspired by re-purposed ingredients from the bar’s popular daily afternoon tea service.

The pour is infused with fat-washed Flor de Caña vanilla scones topped with MO BAR’s sparkling wine, a home-made combination of red and white wine soaked with leftover fresh citrus. Rounding off this bespoke tipple is three drops of MO Blend Bitters, garnished with dehydrated vanilla scones with clotted cream and MO blend tea leaves. Elevate this drinking experience is the stunning views of the Marina Bay skyline and the outstanding personalised service for which MO BAR is renowned. Book here.

MO Bar | 5 Raffles Ave, S(039797) | 6885 3500

See also: Hong Kong's COA Tops Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021 List for the First Time

5. The Spot

In honour of Negroni Week, The Spot presents Shaken & Stirred by Remz Ocampo, a symbol of hope and kindness given to those in need. Taking baby steps to reach out and fund communities without proper access to education, The Spot will be raising money for Little Free Library, claiming that “Knowledge is something we invest in, that cannot be taken away from us.” Hence, from September 13 to 19, a portion of every Negroni sold at The Spot will be donated to Little Free Library to help build communities, inspire readers, and expand book access for all.

Crowned Mixologist of the Year at the World Gourmet Awards 2021, Ocampo pays tribute to the origins of the Negroni with three different interpretations of this cocktail. He showcases the drink’s versatility and repertoire through the years, leading to a modernised classic, beginning with Negroni Classico and Barrel-Aged Negroni. This is followed by the specialty Tales of Spice, a gin bearing hints of pine, citrus and juniper notes. This is married with a sweet vermouth, which adds lovely dried fruit flavour that is further accented by an elegant harmony of vanilla, and red fruits, from port and Campari. Book here.

The Spot | 5 Straits View, 01-26/27 East Tower, Marina One Show Gallery, S(018935) | 9835 9972

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