There’s so much going on during this one cocktail week that… I don’t even know where to start. On the SGCW website you’ll find all the info regarding workshops, masterclasses, special brunches, bar takeovers, pop-ups and where to buy your wristbands. Yes, first thing to do before you even start researching is to buy those wristbands, otherwise no soup $14++ cocktails for you.

Yes, about that research. We’ve done the heavy lifting for you, and reckon these are the 7 events/bars/stuff worth watching (unlike say, Jane the Virgin which started off great but then just sorta rotted).

Elyx House @ Potato Head Folk

Gareth Evans, the global brand ambassador of Absolut Elyx will be at Elyx House to serve up specially crafted cocktails such as Asian Spice Trade and Ka Ka Manis. He will also be doing guest shifts at Ah Sam Cold Drinks Stall (Mar 17), New Orleans Night at Gibson (Mar 18), and Raw Lux at Cufflink Club (Mar 19).

International bartenders will also be making special appearances to craft bespoke Elyx cocktails using the brand’s signature pineapple cup.

Free entry. Wed Mar 16 – Sat Mar 19.

Diageo World Class presents: Charlie Ainsbury at The Powder Room

The 2014 champion has created a cocktail menu specially for SGCW. Charlie Ainsbury spent the first 12 years of his career working in some of the best bars in Australia and beyond including The Bayswater Brasserie, Eau de Vie and Bulletin Place in Sydney, and Vancouver’s Chambar and The Diamond. Today, Charlie co-owns This Must Be The Place, a 55-seat spritz and cocktail bar in Darlinghurst, Sydney. TMBTP opened in February 2015 and won Best New Bar in both the Australian Liquor Industry Awards and Time Out Bar Awards later that year.

Free entry. Wed Mar 16, from 9pm.

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Hendrick’s Murder Mystery Night
Also on Mon, Mar 14, The Powder Room together with Hendrick’s will be hosting a night of revelry, suspense and curious characters. Hosted by Hendrick’s brand ambassador, Tasha Lu, the event will run from 7pm till late.
S$100++/pax and include a selection of specialty Hendrick’s cocktails paired with a spread curated especially for the event by The Black Swan’s head chef. Guests are required to reserve their seats* via The Powder Room’s Chope page.

All things rum at Lime House / Bago (upstairs)

Start with the Caribbean Brunch with Ian Burrell (Sun Mar 13, 11am). Burrell is the world’s only Global Rum Ambassador, and this engaging expert will present rum cocktails to go with your Caribbean Fried Bake, Saltfish & Avocado and other goodies.

Then on Mon Mar 14 there’s Diageo World Class presents Rum 101 with Ian Burrell ($40, 6.30pm). Burrell will school you and debunk 10 myths about rum, and the sess includes cocktails as well, natch.

On the following Sunday (Mar 19, 11am) there’s the Caribbean Brunch with Jim Meehan. The man is the legend behind New York’s famous PDT bar, and will be serving you rum cocktails. We don’t really like to say “not to be missed”, but definitely not to be missed.

Cocktail Lessons

Expand your cocktail repertoire by learning up to ’50 Cocktails From an 8-Bottle Bar’ of spirits and liqueurs at Jigger & Pony, perfect for the home enthusiast.

Alternatively, take a crash course on how to achieve balance within cocktails with 28 Hong Kong Street, where you will learn how to create that perfect balance between sweetness and acidity, smokiness and savoury with different fruits, syrups and modifiers.

Jekyll & Hyde will showcase how different ingredients add dimensions to a cocktail and why.

Or learn more about whiskies at La Maison du Whisky.

Book here.

Supper at Bread Street Kitchen

After all that drinking, you gotta eat, right? BSK will be opened till 2.30am all through Cocktail Week. And here’s the makan deal: $55++ for 2 cocktails + 2 snacks (10pm-2.30am, Mar 13-19). Definitely have the Pisco Sour and The Millionare #5.

And they’ve got a casual open door policy for their daily masterclass/guest bartending. It’s free, probably will start just before midnight, and you can learn all about vodka, pisco, drinks history and even make your own cocktails on Sat Mar 19. No rsvp, just show.

Cocktails EVERYWHERE – some more suggestions on where to go:

Vagabond: This sexy stylish bar has a line-up of smooth cocktails that are art/pop culture inspired. Shell out for Ashes & Snow, an homage to artist Gregory Colbert, and Carnival!!! (above), a tribute to Brazil’s biggest party.

Kite: The food is winning, but the comfort cocktails are just as winsome. Def order Who Moved My Kueh and Soap Opera.

Nutmeg & Clove: Just reopened in Ann Siang on a second-floor shophouse. They will be serving a range of Asian-flavoured cocktails, inspired by the area’s history (which was once a nutmeg and clove plantation). Try the namesake cocktail Nutmeg & Clove. And they’ll also have a weeklong celebration, with guest bartenders including Hidetsugu Ueno from Japan, Ronnaporn Kanvichaporn from Thailand, Nick Wu and Angus Zou from Taiwan.

Gibson: The London Takeover, Presented by Rekya, featuring Joe Petch (Reyka Global Ambassador), Chris Dennis (Sovereign Loss), Will Hawes (69 Colebrooke Row) and Stephen Pennack (Zetter Townhouse). Wed Mar 16, 8pm–12am. And on Thursday Mar 17, there’s Hashido x Gibson: Master Chef Kenjiro “Hatch” Hashida presents a selection of three signature ala-carte dishes, including his exquisite sushi, paired with specially designed cocktails by Gibson’s Aki Eguchi.

Jekyll & Hyde: The new open concept kitchen is pretty impressive, serving delectables like Foie Gras Risotto and Ragu Pasta, pair that with the Beatrix, a Diageo World Class competition cocktail with gin, water chestnut, fennel and beetroot.

Get your wristbands at the participating bars.

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