This list is compiled with love and care, cos we’ve been going through quite a lot of spirits lately, and you deserve the best.

Westward Whiskey Pinot Noir Cask

Westward’s stunning new custom bottle design and logo celebrate the whiskey’s provenance and indelible link to the culture, climate and natural ingredients of the American Northwest. Their three new offerings are the Stout Cask, Cask Strength and Pinot Noir Cask — the latter our favourite with its fruity fig and apricot notes, rich malt and dark chocolate finish. This is a tribute to Oregon’s legendary Willamette Valley wine country and the region’s premier grape varietal: Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir Cask begins with the original Westward, which is then matured for up to an additional two years in French Oak wine casks from a handful of award-winning producers in the region. (The expression earned a double gold award in San Francisco World 2021.)

Bottled at 45% ABV, this is available from whisky.sg (S$168) and at several bars across the island, such as Underdog Inn, The Secret Mermaid, The Bar at 15 Stamford and The American Club.

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House of Cane Rum

House of Cane is a perfect marriage of mature rums from the Caribbean and Asian regions, blending the taste of two worlds. The first in their collection is a special Singapore Limited Edition, with rums from Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Panama, Venezuela and Thailand — each aged separately for up to 23 years. No sugar, no colourants, no artificial flavourings are added.

Created by industry stalwart Jarek Iwanoski, House of Cane is developed by blending only naturally aged premium rums, with every spirit used in the blend expressing a distinct character of their origin country, aided by the use of French oak and ex-bourbon casks.

SG$98. Buy it here. (The brand donates 2% of its annual sales to certified charities working on sustainable causes.)

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Bago Founder’s Batch Singapore’s Rum

Made of three rum blends: 23-year-old Thai solera style aged rum; unaged pot-still Jamaican rum; and 3- to 5-year-old Dominican rum. (All ageing took place in the respective tropical climates in first-fill ex-bourbon casks.)

Most importantly though, is that it’s a Singapore rum, created by our favourite limin HQ Lime House Caribbean. “I wanted to offer a high-quality, accessible rum that enables us to build a tangible cultural bridge between the rich rum heritage of the Caribbean and its origins here in Asia,” says founder Chris Morris.

The Bago Founder’s Batch has light flavours of tropical fruits, brown sugar, chocolate and some orange and spices. Try it with a Daiquiri or El Prez.

Available at Lime House outlets, various SG bars and from Spun Spirits ($99+).

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Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This is one of the most awarded whiskies in the world. Taste it, and you’ll understand why: All their whiskies are aged at least eight years in new American oak, which results in a long, sumptuous finish with flavours of caramel, dark fruits, mint, toffee and spice. It’d make a great Old Fashioned. The distillery also produces Sazerac Rye, Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon and the impossible-to-buy Pappy Van Winkle. 

Fun fact: Buffalo Trace was originally called ye Olde Fine Copper Distillery until they changed their name in 1999.  

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Hennessy Paradis

When sixth generation Master Blender Maurice Fillioux created Paradis in 1979, he implemented his love for the symphony as a starting point: Maurice was the conductor and the rare eaux-de-vie from the legendary Cellar that Maison Hennessy used to call “Paradis” were his instruments. 

Created through a meticulous blending process and long maturation, Paradis can be considered a “cognac lover’s cognac”. This is a subtle and harmonious spirit with a silky mouthfeel and a nuanced balance of exceptional eaux-de-vie, giving rise to notes of dried fruits, cinnamon, cardamon and jam. There are also hints of peaches and apples.

Consumers can craft their own paradise with bespoke bottle personalisation of Hennessy Paradis through the Hennessy Hands experience — a homage to the Maison’s craftsmanship and innovation — exclusively available at Crystal Wines located at CapitaSpring.

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Glenfiddich Grand Yozakura

Glenfiddich turned to Japan for their latest experimental bottling – the fantastic, limited edition, East-meets-West Grand Yozakura. The first single malt Scotch whisky that’s finished in vanishingly rare Awamori casks, the 29-year-old expression offers up zesty, ripe fruits on the nose, hints of cinnamon and a distinctive herbal zing. As you sip, creamy vanilla blooms on the palate, interspersed with spice and sherbert lemons. Awamori, Japan’s oldest distilled alcoholic spirit with 500 to 600 years of history, lends its unique flavour to the liquid, giving it a finish unlike any other. Collectors of the Grand Series, which includes Glenfiddich Grand Cru — aged for 23 years in American and European oak casks and then finessed in French Cuvée oak casks — will appreciate its elegant, cherry blossom-inspired display box.

Glenfiddich Grand Yozakura is available across duty-free stores at Changi Airport and domestic retailers. The RRP of SG$2,430 is only applicable to duty-free stores at Changi Airport.

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