Gin has experienced a massive renaissance across the globe, particularly in Singapore, where it has become a leading favourite. Tequila has also fortified its reputation as bars began crafting tequila cocktails with artisanal variants, rendering the Mexican spirit less of a potential hangover in a shot glass as drinkers embraced its many dimensions.
Rum, we believe, is next in line to experience the limelight. The sweet spirit is a firm favourite in many tropical countries and has a staunch place in many tiki-style cocktails that recall languid holidays on the beach. For too long, rum has been regarded as a liquor best drunk mixed, but that is a misunderstanding perpetuated by the fact that Singapore doesn’t have enough bars that tout the rum gospel — until The Bar at 15 Stamford arrived.
Located in the Capitol Kempinski Hotel, The Bar at 15 Stamford has undergone a conceptual overhaul, growing from your template hotel cocktail bar to the site that houses the largest collection of rum in Singapore. Over 160 bottles are listed on the menu, sourced from both old and new rum-producing regions. These span the standard array of fine rums, including the likes of Diplomatico and Appleton Estate, as well as rare expressions from ghost distilleries.
Apart from offering these neat, The Bar at 15 Stamford also offers rum-based cocktails. Plantation 1840 is the house signature. The cocktail harkens back to the pioneering sugarcane plantation and distillery in Singapore, run by the Balestier family during the colonial era. It features Cuban rum, bolstered by pineapple, lemon and sugar cane juice, as well as a touch of sweet vermouth. If drinking rum neat is a daunting prospect, start off with a well-made cocktail like any of those on The Bar at 15 Stamford’s menu to ease yourself into this up-and-coming spirit favourite.
The Bar at 15 Stamford is located at Capitol Kempinski Hotel, 15 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178906, +65 6368 8888.