If you appreciate the art of a beautifully crafted cocktail, then SGCF cannot be news to you. Singapore’s premier cocktail festival kicks off today at Empress Lawn, and is on for 10 days, until 13 May. Here are 5 highlights you can look forward to at the event.
1) Artisanal Spirits
The festival village, held at Empress Lawn will see the return of the Artisanal Spirits Tasting Room, which was a hit at past events. It will feature handcrafted small-batch spirits for sampling and will also present festival goers with an opportunity to speak with the makers. We recommend sticking around to chat with these geniuses while you sip on your drink. Most of them are very passionate about their craft and have invaluable insight.
2) Asia Bar Battle
Just as the name implies, this competition will see bartending teams from Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and many other countries go head-to-head in a bid to create the best cocktail possible. If you’re a fan of reality TV shows, here’s a chance to catch a non-scripted version.
3) Festival Workshops
So you’ve always wanted to be a mixologist? SGCF brings you the unique opportunity to rub elbows and learn from some of the best in the business. Be sure to check out Kyrö Distillery Company’s Gin Blending Workshop to gain some insight on the intricacies of gin-making and even take home your own creation. Another one we suggest checking out is TGIF (Thank God It’s Fermented) led by guest bartender Sasha Wijidessa of Operation Dagger. As the more perceptive of you would’ve guessed, it takes a look into the history of fermentation and techniques that have made its way into cocktail-making.
4) Food Street
Considering you’ll be subjecting your body to a “healthy” amount of booze, you’ll want to make sure your belly is lined well. For this, we recommend hitting the food street, where you’ll find eats by a wide range of restaurants. Some of the names you might recognise include Ninja Bowl and Ninja Cut, The Astronauts Group, Sinfonia Ristorante and Zui Hong Lou.
5) Cocktail Passport
Like we mentioned, the festival occurs from 4 to 13 May, so if you’re planning to hit a few bars during this period, we suggest purchasing a Cocktail Passport. While it may not take you across borders, this little document will allow you to enjoy special deals, from discounted cocktails to exclusive cocktails, and even food pairing menus. For the full list of participating venues check out singaporecocktailfestival.com