7 UNIQUE Places In Singapore To Get Whiskey, Gin and Beer For Your Weekend Indulgence

Photo: The Vagabond Club

A luxurious and extravagant interior greets guests the moment they set foot on its plush floors. Located within the compounds of boutique hotel The Vagabond Club, The Whiskey Library is beautifully decorated with ornate Art Deco designs curated by renowned designer Jacques Garcia. Artistic pieces such as a solid brass rhino and ginormous sculptures of elephants and a monkey are found all over the library, which resembles a charming old-school Parisian salon. It is here where you’d get over 1,000 whiskies on offer — some are rare and very exclusive bottlings — displayed behind vitrines designed and hand-crafted by a local woodsman. While sipping your beverage, you might be entertained by intimate theatre performances, musical showcases, book readings and more. A haven for whiskey connoisseurs.

Price: The drinks here are perfect if you want to splurge. If you’d want special perks, sign up for their membership programmes – you can get premium member benefits for $250 a month or become an elite member at $3000 a year. Benefits include special bottle pricing, privileged access to 80 lockers (each with it own tasselled key in which you can store up to 15 bottles of whiskey), 10-room nights at The Vagabond Club, access to the Vagabond Club gym and reserved seating at regular Whiskey Club events and experiences. How very posh.

39 Syed Alwi Road, 207630, tel: 6291 6677. Opens 5pm to 2am on Mondays to Sundays.

Instagram @thevagabondclub

Photo: Atlas Bar’s website

Be prepared to be completely blown away by the grandiose Atlas bar. It currently stands at the number eight spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2018 list, thanks to its carefully crafted cocktails and opulent interior that boasts art deco designs from the 1920s. The incredibly tall painted ceiling and 15-metre gin tower adds to the jaw-dropping factor. Housed in a gothic-style building everyone fondly describes as Singapore’s “Gotham Building”, the elegant interior is said to be inspired by the skyscrapers of Europe and New York, and is the spot to be if you have friends of exquisite tastes.

Price: A glass of bubbly starts from $22 for their Charles Heidsieck “Brut Réserve” Magnum ($240 for the bottle). But, F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote: “Too much of anything is bad, but too much champagne is just right.” If you would like to heed his advice, check out the bar’s most expensive bottle, the Louis Roederer “Cristal” ($700). It’s okay to pamper yourself once in a while. Cocktails are available as well — martinis cost $24, Gin & Tonics cost $19 to $24, and a glass of Spanish Marqués de Tomares Crianza 2016 red costs $18 ($85 for a bottle). For something more indulgent, go for their Atlas Collections menu. It features 50,000 bottles of fine wine, over 10,000 bottles of whiskey, as well as two of the world’s most remarkable physical collections of gin and champagne.

Parkview Square, 600 North Bridge Rd, 188778, tel: 6396 4466. Opens 10am to 1am on Mondays to Thursdays, 10am to 2am on Fridays, 3pm to 2am on Saturdays, closed on Sundays.

Instagram @atlasbarsg

Photo: Little Island Brewing Co’s Facebook page

Fancy a pint of craft beer that is brewed on our very shores? It doesn’t get more unique than this. Drop by Changi Village’s Little Island Brewing Co, where you get to try out exquisitely crafted beers made in-house at their microbrewery. This 480-seater space spans over 10,000 square feet, and is stylised in an alfresco setting that overlooks the Straits’ waters. Here, you can unwind and enjoy the scenic view while chatting with friends. What’s more, you can satisfy your bartender fantasies with their self-pouring brewery section that allows you to control the amount you want to consume. Just perfect when one pint’s too little, and two’s too much. Tip: Make sure you tilt the glass as you’re pouring, or you’re just gonna end up with a whole lot of foam and very little booze. What fun!

Price: To pour the beers yourself, purchase an RFID (radio-frequency identification) card from their cashiers and you’re good to go (it costs $2, which is a refundable deposit). The initial top-up is $10 but you can subsequently top up as much as you need. The bill is charged according to the amount you drink. Draft beers starts from $2 for 100ml of American Pale Ale to $80 for their 4L tower of it. Their beverage menu also includes draft wines (from $5.50 for 100ml to $11 for 200ml), cocktails ($6 or $8 for 100ml of Gin & Tonic and margarita respectively), mocktails (coolers go for $2.50 for 100ml) and soda (they currently offer only an apple spritzer that’s $1.80 for 100ml). Food options are available as well.

#01-01/02, 6 Changi Village Road, 509907, tel: 6543 9100. Opens 12pm to 11pm on Mondays to Thursdays, 12pm to 12am on Fridays, 11am to 12am on Saturdays and 11am to 11pm on Sundays.

Instagram @littleislandbrew

Photo: The Horse’s Mouth

Established in October 2012, its secretive location and dim-lighting is what makes The Horse’s Mouth a quaint speakeasy that is perfect for a mysterious rendezvous. How secret is it? Well it’s stowed away at the basement of Forum, accessible only through a dark stairway — and that’s only if you ask Uma Uma Ramen’s staff where it is. Inspired by contemporary Japanese zen designs with dark teak furniture, rattan seating and Shoji-inspired light fixtures, this Izakaya bar prides itself on treasuring the works of all-things-creative and treats every cocktail on their menu as a piece of art. Gather your posse and watch the pros whip up something artistically remarkable.

Price: Cocktails are priced from $20 – $22, and they’re as enigmatic as the location itself — they do not explicitly show the contents of their concoction online. If you want some light bites to go with your drink, their Japanese food menu includes sashimi ($28 to $98 for daily and premium upgrade respectively) and fried pork belly strips with nori ($8).

#B1-39 Forum the Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Road, 238884, tel: 8188 0900. Opens 6pm to 12am on Mondays to Thursdays, 6pm to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, closed on Sundays.

Instagram @horsesmouth

Photo: The Writing Club

Established by couple Tan Soo San and Sherin Ong, The Writing Club was launched because Soo San’s extensive collection of prized vintage whiskeys from distilleries and liquor stores around the world was overcrowding the couple’s apartment. Their solution: Turning his hobby into a business, by giving everyone an opportunity to taste and indulge in his “liquid gold” collection. This whiskey-focused bar boasts an upscale, masculine and sophisticated interior that’s complete with plush leather sofas, gold accents and woody furniture — just like an old-world gentlemen’s club. Very chic.

Price: Cocktails start from $24 for a glass of Gin & Tonic, whereas their bespoke drinks (customisable according to your preferences) will cost you around $30 per glass. Their signature drinks, such as The Writing Club Old Fashioned and Signature Negroni (both priced at $28 each), come highly recommended by regulars. Of course, this being a whiskey-driven bar, you wouldn’t go wrong with any of its selection of 500 whiskeys. Whiskeys come in two types of pour, either half or full . From bottles like Williamson 2005 and Cadenhead Linkwood 28 years to Speyside Region 1973, whiskey aficionados, you’re in for a treat.

Palais Renaissance, #02-10, 390 Orchard Road, 238871, tel: 9362 8626. Opens 12pm to 12am on Tuesdays to Thursdays, 1pm to 12am on Fridays and Saturdays, 12pm to 10pm on Sundays and Mondays.

Instagram @thewritingclubsg

Photo: Gibson Bar’s website

From their gold-accented interior to the antique ceiling, it’s all about an interesting blend of old-meets-new at Gibson Bar. Tucked away at the second floor of a shophouse at Bukit Pasoh Road, this cocktail haven’s old-school setting is contrasted with its contemporary menu that’s bursting with Asian flavours. Their goal is to reflect Singapore’s cultural melting pot while being universally inclusive, so their concoctions comprise a mix of local and international ingredients discovered from their travels around Asia. An unpretentious spot, here’s where you can have some laid-back fun without worrying about appearances.

Price: From classics (like The Gibson and Gibson Whiskey Sour) to Japanese-inspired drinks (a Sake-tini or Banana Ume, anyone?) to tipples with a touch of South-East Asia (Wild Nectar, Chestnut Blazer and Buddha’s Mule are a few of our faves), cocktails are priced at $23 per glass.  They also have punch bowls going at $180 if you’re out to get more booze with your friends! Also, if you’re down for a snack, satiate your tummy with bite-sized nibbles, like their Brown Crab Croquette ($17) or Chicken Karaage ($20).

2nd Floor, 20 Bukit Pasoh Road, 089834, tel: 9114 8385. Opens 6pm to 1am on Mondays to Thursdays, 6pm to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, closed on Sundays.

Instagram @gibsonbarsg

Photo: Cook & Brew’s website

Perched at level 33 of The Westin hotel, this hotel gastropub impresses with its amazing view of the Marina Bay. Not only that, its suave, leathery interior resembles an updated, modernised version of a British pub (more classy, less gritty) and its elegant dark wood fixtures, black marble bar-top and live band every Friday evening (from 6pm onwards) is also the reason why we think you should head over there, stat.

Price: Beer lovers, check out some of their draught offerings — such as the Pilsner Urquell ($11 and $14 for half and full pint respectively) and Kirin Ichiban ($11 for half a pint, and $13 for a full pint) — as well as bottled beers that start from $12 for a San Miguel. Not a fan of fermented malt? Their cocktails are all priced at $18. Two of their signature cocktails, the Ruby Duchess (a mix of strawberry and ginger with vodka) and Choconana (chocolate puree and banana with Bailey’s and vodka) sound absolutely divine. Classics like the Cosmopolitan (Sex and the City fans, you know what we’re talking about) and the Mojito are available as well. If you’re feeling peckish, nibble on some of their pad thai fries ($16) or the crispy calamari ($14).

Level 33 of The Westin, 12 Marina View Asia Square Tower 2, 018961, tel: 6922 6948. Opens daily from 11am to 11.45pm (till 12.45am for Friday), closed on Sundays.

Instagram @cookandbrewsg