Some much to do, so little time. SG Cocktail Festival 2019 kicks off even before the big night at the village on 10th May, Empress Lawn (all info here.) Bars are already pushing their parties and guest shifts from the 8th, and you’d do well to sort your tickets early.

Let’s go. 

Asia’s 50 Best Bars X Four Pillars Gin Tour

Sign up for this gin tour on Saturday 18 May, from 5pm to 8pm. Featuring four stops at bars on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2018 list (Atlas, Employees Only, Jigger & Pony, The Other Room), the tour will allow participants to glean gin-sights, sampling a Four Pillars flight, and even whip up their own gin punch. Tickets are available from singaporecocktailfestival.com and priced at $98 per person.

Also, at Jigger & Pony, there’s The Unofficial Singapore Cocktail Festival Welcome Party ft. James Irvine (Four Pillars Gin’s first-ever Creative Director for drinks.)

8 May, Wednesday. Time: 8pm – 12am.

5th Birthday Month-Long Celebration X SGCF

Nutmeg & Clove celebrates its 5th anniversary (already?!) this month a series of guest shifts for all kinds of punters and palates (8-18th May). The joyous affair kicks off with Our Family Homecoming Party with former Nutmeg & Clove bar managers Bannie Kang (Anti:Dote), Adam Bursik (Origin Bar) and Kae Yin (AHA Saloon Taipei). Treat yourself to a menu of innovative tipples from the award winning trio on 8 May, from 6pm till late.

Flavours of South East Asia Experience: The stellar line-up of seven bartenders doling out their signatures includes Diageo World Class Country Winner 2016 Vinh Tran; Shawn Chong of Kuala Lumpur’s Omakase; Bell Paradee and Supawit Palm of Bangkok’s Vesper; Ann Pinsuda of Bangkok’s The Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental; Lester Lignon of Manila’s ABV, and Zio Trendy from Jakarta. 11 May, 7pm till late.

An Aussie Invasion: Matt Linktaker of Melbourne’s legendary Black Pearl (#30 on World’s 50 Best Bars) will join Evan Stroeve of Sydney’s Bulletin Place on 14 May, from 8pm till 12 midnight.

A Classical Japanese Experience with the renowned bartender behind Tokyo’s High Five (#12 on World’s 50 Best Bars), Hidetsugu Ueno and Ryu Fuji of Osaka’s Bar K will charm you with punchy classic, crafted to perfection on 16 May, from 8pm till 12 midnight.

Three Sheets London: Max Venning of Three Sheets in London (#29 on World’s 50 Best Bars) takes on the starring role on 17 May, from 8pm till 12 midnight, while Le Syndicat Paris rounds off the festivities with Juliette Larrouy of Le Syndicat (#24 on World’s 50 Best Bars) on 18 May, 8pm till 12 midnight.

More info at Nutmeg & Clove

Smoke & Mirrors (Passport only)

As part of SGCF’s Cocktail Passport, Smoke & Mirrors will offer their popular Peel and See cocktail for S$20++ (usually $28++) between Friday, 10 May to Saturday, 18 May 2019.

Peel and See follows a multi-step process of sous vide, dehydration and fat-washing, the mix (banana, miso and olive oil integrated into a base of London dry gin) is then combined with quinine aperitif and served with an additional dash of olive oil for garnish.

Say hi to bartender Jorge Conde and ask for his special barrel-aged Remy Martin cocktail – Terroir, People & Time as well.

Jigger & Pony’s 7th Anniversary

The bar will be holding 7 smashing events over the SGCF period. An event not-to-be-missed is a guest shift by Roman bar Jerry Thomas Speakeasy. As its namesake, this bar is quite a celebrity in its own right, and has placed steadfastly on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. Opened by four Italians in 2010 as a small club in the heart of Rome, the bar has grown into one that invokes an old school charm of a bygone era, The Roaring Twenties! Psst, no password needed to gain entry.

The Bartenders’ Brunch at Idlewild

Don’t forget to eat. Idlewild has a 5-course set menu paired with cocktails crafted by Andy Griffiths (with Never Never Gin), John Ng (Michter’s Whiskey), Grazia di Franco (Mancino Vermouth & Rinomato) and Mitch Wilson (Plantation Rum). It will be a free flow afternoon with cocktails galore and ‘live’ entertainment by The Wild Ones, their resident band. Idlewild, Sunday 12 May, 12pm to 4pm .

Once Upon a Time in Cognac

Award-winning bartender Nico de Soto of Mace, New York City, and Tippling Club’s Head Bartender, Andrew Loudon, will be joining hands to pay tribute to the Sidecar cocktail. The duo will each be preparing a Rémy Martin VSOP Sidecar with their own spin to the classic recipe. Other bespoke cognac cocktails will also be available on this evening.

Cocktails from the one-night-only menu will be priced at $24++ each. Available for bookings only, you can get all 5 drinks and 5 dishes from the kitchen at $155++. Reservations here: https://www.exploretock.com/tippling-club/event/60908/once-upon-a-time-in-cognac.

Tippling Club, 10 May, 8pm – 12am.

Mekhong Thai Sabai x Jim Thompson

Fancy some Thai? A Mekhong Thai Sabai, that is. This is the ‘winning’ cocktail as picked by the special guests who attended a Mekhong session by its ambassador Kitiphum “Ponn” Karnmaitrejit. The people have spoken and this sabai drink (fresh lime juice, Thai sweet basil leaves and a splash of soda water) will be served at Jim Meehan from 10-18 May at Jim Thompson, 45 Minden Road, Dempsey Hill.

Neon Pigeon (Passport and Festival Village)

Neon Pigeon’s Passport featured cocktail is the Kyoto 75 (S$16++), a simple twist on the classic French 75 made with Japanese ingredients such as Sparkling sake, Yuzu and Strawberries. Kyoto 75 will be available in Neon Pigeon from Friday, 10 May to Saturday, 18 May 2019.

The bar will be serving two signature drinks – Lobby’s Forest and Passion Smash – at $12 at the village.

Kyoto 75, Lobby’s Forest and Passion Smash will also be available at Neon Pigeon from Friday, 10 May to Saturday 18 May 2019.

The Botanist Gin Residencies at Gibson Cocktail Bar

The Botanist presents Alice Cheongdam Residency at Gibson

Theme: A Showcase of Asian Ingredients

Date: 10 & 11 May. Time: from 6pm 

>> 15th Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2017 + 26th Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2018

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The Botanist presents Lamp Bar Residency at Gibson

Theme: A Spotlight on Japanese Ingredients

Date: 17 & 18 May. Time: from 6pm

>> 45th Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2018

MO Bar (Guest Shifts and Masterclass)

MO Bar will be holding a series of guest shifts and masterclasses:

On Wednesday, 8 May 2019, Italian bar Baccano’s Beverage Manager, Mario Farulla will be taking over MO Bar from 8pm until late.

On Thursday, 9 May 2019, Cocchi Vermouth will be holding a Masterclass with distinguished wine producer Roberto Bava from 2pm – 4pm.

Friday, 10 May 2019 sees Head Bartender Aldrin Ancheta of speakeasy The Back Room, Manila taking over from 8pm onwards.

On Sunday, 12 May 2019, creative cocktail bar PS40 hailing from Sydney and contemporary Paris bar, Danico will take over from 8pm till late.

All info and tickets at Singapore Cocktail Festival 2019 

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