Three acclaimed local bars share recipes for drinks with hints of familiar flavours you can shake up effortlessly
Singapore's cocktail industry has grown by leaps and bounds to emerge as one of Asia's most sophisticated. Six home-grown bars, including Jigger & Pony, Native and Manhattan, made it into the World's Top 50 Bars list last year, compared to only one entry in 2009. Meanwhile, a total of 11 bars flew the flag for the country in the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2019 list.
Creating the perfect tipple goes beyond making established classics and more bartenders experiment and make their mark by adding a local twist Follow these simple recipes provided by some of our favourite bars using some pantry essentials and common household ingredients to craft that refreshing drink you need and crave for, injected with plenty of Singaporean flavour.
1. Foragers' Garden
By Native
Known for its dose of antioxidants and vibrant hue, butterfly pea flowers—often used in Thai, Malay and Peranakan cuisine—plays an integral role for this concoction. Referring to its bright blue hue, Vijay Mudaliar, co-founder of Native says: "We hope that this drink would brighten the day of cocktail enthusiasts who prepare it at home." Firstly, bring a mixture of tonic water, white sugar, calamansi, a pinch of citric acid powder and handful of dried butterfly pea flowers to a boil until the colour intensifies. This forms the base cordial for the cocktail. Stir it into a glass half-filled with ice, together with a splash of soda water and ginger beer for the perfect perk-me-up on a warm weekend afternoon.
(Related: Where To Get Handcrafted Cocktails Delivered To Your Doorstep In Singapore)