Republic Bar – Christmas Drinks Now Available!

It’s that time of year again… & Republic Bar has a Festive Cocktails menu with 5 options (at $26++ a pop) to get your Christmas spirit on. Available daily ’til 31st December 2022, from 5:30pm onwards.

I couldn’t pass up Eggnog (pictured in the tall glass, next to the Negroni), as it is one of my favourite things about Christmas – especially the alcoholic variant. Creamy, sweet drinks deviate vastly from my typical go-to flavour profile for cocktails… But this is probably the only exception.

Expectedly, this is dangerously easy to drink. Quite reminiscent of when I’d put Bailey’s in my milk & cereal, & sit at the back of the LT to inconspicuously slurp it up during class. But this drink is better, in part because it isn’t as sweet as the “cereal milk” left behind post-meal.

The lightness in the whipped texture of cream & egg provides a comforting mouthfeel in every sip. & as you swallow, you get the warm contrasting depth of the dark spirits – Barcadi 8 & Michter’s Bourbon. Of course, there is that touch of nutmeg for a homely Christmas feel… The warm hug that envelopes everything so nicely together.

I enjoyed this from start to finish, but am cognizant that I might be a little bit biased, festival-wise. Try it for yourself & pass your own judgement 😉

Hot Buttered Rum ($26++) was recommended by one of the friendly waitresses. I originally thought I’d stop at 1 Christmas drink, having had a few from the regular menu already… But this sounded too good to pass up.

I was pleasantly surprised.. I loved this even more than Eggnog! Super baffled – because I eat my kaya toast without butter (don’t judge), yet I’d happily drink a litre of this warm, comforting buttery rum…? What sorcery is this!?

Perhaps it was the simplicity of this drink that won me over: Bacardi 8, butter, festive spices. & as I’d mentioned above, it’s served warm. So past the creamy top that gives you a comical moustache, you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside that feels almost self-healing. Mana regen ftw.

Other drinks on Republic Bar’s Festive Cocktails menu:

𝑴𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒆 ($26++)
Remy Martin VSOP, Shiraz, Citrus, Festive Spices

𝑷𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒂 ($26++)
Telmont Champagne, Cointreau, Cranberry Juice

𝑷𝒊𝒎𝒎’𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒖𝒑 ($26++)
Pimm’s No. 1, Lager, Ginger

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Indoor seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations – I used SevenRooms
💦 Water is not chargeable; neither are the dish of nuts served as nibbles
📍 Inside the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia

Laut – Supporting Local Food & Cocktails

Had a really enjoyable night with a plethora of delicious food, good variety of cocktails & even better company. I enjoyed listening to the unique stories behind each of these & I’m sure you will too. All part of the experience & good vibes here.

So the food at Laut – how do I summarize it, if that’s even possible. Each dish has a story of its own, inspired by local flavours, staying quite true to that yet managing to be unique/intriguing.

Sometimes, you just need to try a dish to really be wow-ed by it. Describing it doesn’t do it justice (or maybe it’s just me 😂). The Burnt Eggplant Dip ($12+) was that for me. It’s essentially that, with a tomato & onion relish – served with curry spiced papadums.

First of all, props to the papadums for being fresh & crispy, because there’s nothing like a soggy papadum to ruin your day. Secondly, what sorcery is exactly in this dip?? Such distinct yet harmonious flavours: The smokeyness from the char, creaminess of the eggplant, & flavourful spice (not heat!) from the papadums. This was a hot favourite for the original days when customers would order this during CB 1.0 for delivery. &, of course, it still is.

The Bergedil ($15+) is another dish that has a cool story to it. It does remain true to its tasty fried potato nature – with good fragrance & flavour which I believe is in part from the Madras curry oil, balanced with the earthiness from the trumpet mushrooms. But what truly takes the cake is what they call the umami soil. That’s where the story gets pretty cool to me! I’ll leave that to the good folks at Laut to tell it to you. I was quite fascinated as Damian took me through the narrative. 😍

I had a Malay-speaking friend who asked me if Laut was seafood-inspired cuisine, as laut translates to seafood in Malay. The scrumptious sharing plates I enjoyed had seafood as the main star. When dining restrictions open up, I’d recommend dining in with a sizeable group, so you can order more items off this sharing menu.

I hate it when squid/octopus are overcooked, rubbery & tough to the chew. Laut’s Squid Gado ($27+) was anything but that. The seared whole squid was done so marvellously that it was almost melt in your mouth… I had to pause to think about whether I actually put the correct thing in my mouth 😂 (just an excuse to have a 2nd bite, amiraiiii?)

& the “Gado” in the name – you guessed it – the peanut sauce in the Gado Gado we all know & love.

BUT WAIT, that’s not all. Introducing the Otah ($37+) – by far the most atas otah you’ve ever had… & dare I say, it is worth it. The mix of fish? Oh, no big deal, just some awesome barramundi, blended mackerel & squid. 🧐

This otah really left me wanting more. Its texture is bouncy & firm, & the rempah mix was on point with good flavour. I loved the Nyonya Achar on the side as well, which provided nice refreshing acidity in between bites. It actually also goes well with the otah in a single bite, too. On the whole, this was an addictive dish & one of my favourites of the night.

Now, on to the drinks. I tend to be wary when cocktails arrive at my table very pretty. I appreciate good aesthetics, but not at the expense of bad taste, i.e. saccharine sweet or artificially syrupy. This was anything but that; & the variety of bespoke cocktails here is quite impressive:

🔸Grass ($21+) – slightly savoury & refreshing 👌🏻
➡️ Gin, Ginger Flowers, Pickle Brine, 3 Grass Kombucha

🔸 Kopi O ($21+) – strong flavours, but thankfully I was able to sleep that night. Personally enjoyed the creaminess of the coconut oil that goes well with the coffee.
➡️ Trigona vodka, nitro charged Sumatra coffee, toasted bread vinegar, orange pekoe tea, coconut oil

🔸 Mata Kuching ($21+) – as a sweet treat, this isn’t my typical cocktail profile, but is likely an easy drink for some folks.
➡️ Aged malt, smoked longan distillate, rambutan & lychee soda, cat whiskers flower (they upsized our flower for us haha)

🔸Lengkuas ($21+) – refreshing, beachy vibes, feels like a summertime drink without the scorching heat or sunburn
➡️ Aged Malaysian Molasses, Citrus Granitas, Laut triple spiced ginger beer.

Thanks Damian / @drinking_noodle for the invite & hospitality! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🙋🏻‍♀️ Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST

Get out of Tanuki Raw by 21:15hrs, ok?

Tanuki Raw honestly needs no introduction… Happy Hour from 5-8PM daily; their drinks aren’t anything to shout about, & I only order them because they are a prerequisite to get the happy hour bites.

Plate of 12 Oysters (max-ed out our limit with 2 drinks)

Oysters at $2++ a pop (which is half off the usual price of $4++ a piece) if you order a drink (max 6 oysters per drink); these were well-shucked & delightfully creamy to my preference.

5 slices of salmon sashimi for $7++ (limited to 5 slices aka 1 set per drink); I can’t eat raw fish so I can’t say much, only that they look fairly thick – but my dining partner said these were okay.

Lobster Salad & Salmon Bao at $5++ a piece. Again, didn’t try this but here’s a pic for reference.

Tanuki Raw’s Truffle Yakiniku ($19++) hasn’t changed much over the years – decently delicious, an average sized portion. However, quite disappointing to see that our request to serve the onsen egg (of another bowl, not in picture) separately was not taken seriously. It was indeed in a separate bowl, but had egg white remnants on the beef slices. If the diner requested for this & had an actual egg allergy.. 🤔

But wait, there’s more! That wasn’t the ultimate turn off during this particular visit. Get this – we were reminded FIVE times from 20:53 – 21:12hrs that we had to leave by 21:15hrs, as that was when they were closing.

We had already been informed of this upon arrival at 19:53hrs. Reminding us once would be acceptable but 5 times in 20 mins? Especially when you can clearly see we were in very intense conversation throughout dinner? How rude.

However, let me try to make the most out of this occurrence. I interpret this ferverent frequency of reminders as a reflection of how important this is to them.. So here’s me doing my part & making a public service announcement: To all who dine here, GTFO by 9:15PM, alright?

Our waiter was in such a hurry to clear our table that he spilled food back on the table in his haste to do so, & didn’t clear it up properly. Omg, punctuality is really so important at this outlet.

“You all are the last ones here already,” he barked at us, & even rapped on our table with his knuckles to bring his point across. Ok… Can.

What a way to make your customers feel so welcomed. Not sure if any other diners had experienced this before, but I certainly hope not.

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
📱 Accepts GrabPay
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Only seats the group when all are present
💦 Water is not chargeable

Set of Six Before Dark

When I’m alone, I usually sit at the bar for a nice view of the bottles & the occasional chit chat/playful banter. But at Set of Six, it might be a tough call.. Both seem like good options. The seats look quite comfy & yes that is a disco ball 😉

Doesn’t look like something I’d typically order, but looks can be deceiving – Orchard Smash ($25++) is a cognac-based cocktail with citrusy goodness. Deceivingly refreshing with Dry Curaçao & Mint, go slow & savour it in all its cheerfulness, despite the temptation to slurp it all down. It’ll hit you with a fairly nice buzz after.

Didn’t have much time to spend here, but glad I made it & I will certainly be back. Make your reservations early as it gets packed as night falls. Yes lol I was here at 5pm on a Saturday – was able to walk in, but not before they asked me how long I’d be staying.

45 mins, I laughed. Hehehe.

Everyone takes a photo here (outside the bathroom)

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations online/by phone
💦 Water is not chargeable

GUDSHT Bottled Cocktails by Elite Bar Solutions

If you can’t go to the bars.. Let the bars come to you. Been seeing a plethora of bottled cocktails offerings pop up everywhere since circuit breaker measures were introduced in Singapore. Quite apt because I think most of us are going crazy staying at home.

Elite Bar Solutions took it a step further to pay it forward, & I was fortunate enough to receive a free GUDSHT cocktail of my choice, delivered to my home! I picked the Unicorn Barf ($48.00 nett), a glittery cocktail of Roku Gin with homemade Yuzu Rose Infusions & Butterfly Pea Syrup Infusion.

It’s quite unlike my usual drink choice.. Deeznuts ($54.00 nett) would be more aligned with my default. But I wanted to try something different, & Unicorn Barf sounded quite refreshing & floral.

Yo guys this kept me quite happy in the 2 nights that I drank it over. I wanted it to last longer (lol) so I served it over an ice ball – happy to report that it wasn’t too diluted at the end. I loved the citrus from the yuzu & also the sweetness (think sweet plum & honey) that was just right for me. I dislike insanely sweet cocktails, but this was fine.

Elite Bar Solutions‘ cocktails are free of preservatives, so they should be consumed within 10 days from bottling. Generally not a problem for me 😛

I usually float around to different bars to drink their cool cocktails (obviously), but also to appreciate their ambiance, as I’m mostly alone & enjoy it this way. Can’t do the latter anymore, but with a nice jazz playlist in my bedroom, cocktail in hand… I’m not really complaining. Yet.

Happy to be able to pay it forward myself by nominating someone to receive a bottled cocktail as well. I think I shall nominate the most extroverted extrovert I know, whom I’m certain is quite miserable during this circuit breaker period. & who also is an alc– I mean, who also enjoys tasty adult beverages, just like me. Yes, that’s what I mean.

The Elephant Room – Cocktails Paying Homage to Indian Heritage

As I entered The Elephant Room, I got seated at the bar I was served a Welcome Drink on the house. It was a clean & refreshing one of gin, green mango & sour plum. It gently woke my taste buds up.. I was ready to explore.

My Welcome Drink – gin, green mango & sour plum

The Elephant Room’s cocktails & nibbles are “inspired by Indian heritage” – cool concept, but I only truly understood this when I flipped through their menu. Reading through each drink’s descriptions & details, I learnt that each one has a story behind it. The stories are centered around Indian culture & childhood experiences, & iconic landmarks/experiences around Little India.

While these stories don’t necessarily resonate with me, I was captivated listening to the bartender tell them. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, this will be quite the novel & special experience for you.

My drink of choice was Mogul’s Sweets ($22++), which alludes to the nostalgic memory of the local childhood sweet shop. I picked this because of the unique use of savoury, nutty ingredients: Salted cashews & roasted chickpeas. They sounded like they would go well with the characteristic spicyness of the Amrut, an Indian single malt whiskey.

& by golly, they did. This was delicious in a buttery-smooth & creamy way. It felt like I was drinking a nutty alcoholic milkshake. Despite the slightly oily notes it had (which I generally am not a fan of), I enjoyed it through & through til the very end.

If that doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, don’t worry. The Elephant Room has other cocktails like Tekka (Old Monk rum, spiced palm & banana skin), Jothi’s Flower Shop (Jasmine gin, davanam tinture, lime & honey) & Beeda Man (sour mango rum, caraway & jeera goli).

Whilst sipping on my drink, I was introduced to the other Amrut whiskey variants on the shelf. Being very new to Indian whiskey, I listened intently while being schooled about them. Service here was attentive & warm, & the bartenders are friendly & chatty. I did feel a bit bad having to work on my phone from time to time, but I was glad to be left alone when that had to be done. Appreciated 😉

Different types of Amrut Indian single malt whiskey

I ended off my night by sipping some of their Ghee liqueur neat. Honestly, it smells ordinary, but tastes AMAZING. It’s like liquid butterscotch on steroids!!! I don’t like ghee in my food, but I’d happily drink this all day. Totally blew my mind.

The Elephant Room has sold me on these crazy funky infusions. I am sure it’s not easy to get the perfect balance, but I do hope they continue to reinvent their infusions & cocktails in fresh ways to keep things exciting. They already have these cool ones – ghee liqueur, briyani whiskey, chickpea whiskey!? Daaaamn son. Keep them coming.

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
📱 Accepts reservations via Chope

Rookery’s 3rd Outlet Serves Up Good Mains, Plentiful Tapas & Drinks

In the last year, I’ve patronised Rookery’s other outlet at Capital Tower fairly frequently, & it was packed each time I went. They must be doing well because they now have a 3rd outlet at China Square. Congrats guys!

There is a live band that plays on Thursdays, & it was a little too noisy for me to chat properly while they’re playing. However, it’s nice if you are dining solo or aren’t trying to make conversations with anyone. The band played a good mix of classic songs.

Regrettably, I forgot to take a photo of my drink after taking a few sips. That’s a Tokyo Martini hanging out in the back. My drink – the Old But Not Forgotten (Happy Hour $13++, U.P. $17++) – is in the foreground.

This well-rounded drink had much to offer, & is in line with my drink preferences. The smokeyness from the Laphroaig whiskey (ohh my love) & the burnt butterscotch, caramelized sweetness of brandied cherries, & citrus hints from the flamed orange peel.

If cocktails aren’t your thing, you can choose from their extensive menu of spirits. There’s bound to be something for everyone. I picked a Lagavulin 16 ($15++) on the rocks.

I usually order & enjoy pasta dishes at Rookery’s other outlets, so I was eager to try their mains. These mains are available from 11:30AM onwards, great for the CBD crowd to drop by for lunch & dinner. Being so used to their pasta & as noodle lover in general, I was surprised how much I enjoyed these mains.

I eat sooo much chicken at home that I rarely order chicken when I’m dining out. However, it delights me when I’m served up a good chicken – & that’s what the Roast Chicken & Stuffing ($25++) was. The cranberry stuffing made this dish slightly sweet, & you get your fill of carbs with the creamy mashed potato underneath & roasted pumpkin.

We unanimously decided that the Miso Glazed Norwegian Trout ($28++) was the best dish of the night. No wonder there’s a chef’s hat next to it on the menu! Served medium, it’s super moist inside & is a highly forkable piece of fish. It practically melts in your mouth.

Sliced cherry tomatoes & asparagus drizzled with garlic yuzu oil keep this dish light & fresh. The zucchini noodles underneath are tossed with a creamy pesto mayo that compliments the natural flavour of the trout. I do wish there were more zoodles to match the proportion of fish, as they were quite addictive.

If you’re all about the nibbly life, Rookery has a Tapas menu (available after 3PM) you can choose from. I can’t say much about the Har Cheong Gai Wings ($16++) as I don’t eat chicken wings, even more so when they are fried… But damn this smelled hella good.

The other tapas we had:
᛫ Wagyu Beef ($25++)
᛫ Meatballs ($17++) – these are made of beef, btw
᛫ Iberico Pork Ribs ($18++)
᛫ Sakura Ebi Capellini ($14++)
᛫ Crispy Pork Belly ($17++)

As a seafood lover, the Scallops ($22++) is totally my kind of tapas. Nicely seared Hokkaido scallops that are plump & juicy, served in a pool seaweed & miso butter. As I chomped down on my first scallop, I liked how firm its texture was without being rubbery. I dipped the crispy thin toast into the butter & was impressed. It’s pretty good; I had to go for seconds.

You might think the Vongole Alla Blanc ($16++) is served with the same sauce as the Scallops, but they tasted different to me. The Korean clams are swimming in a broth made from garlic, white wine & chilli flakes for a nice kick. I preferred to dip my toast into this one!

Thanks Rookery for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
🎶 Live Band on Thursdays

No.5 Emerald Hill’s Crazy Chilli Vodka & Happy Hour

I’ve been here before, but this was my first time at No.5 Emerald Hill when the sun was still up 😂 Sitting at the bar alone, my eyes wandered around & couldn’t help but notice the tank of vodka with lots of chillis in them.

Introducing…. No.5 Emerald Hill’s Grey Goose Chilli Vodka Infusion 🤯 The fiery red chillis sit in the vodka for 3-4 months, really lending their spicy flavour to the liquor. I had to have a shot of this or at least try at 1 of their cocktails.. But which one?

The novelty was just too good to pass up! I had to get the 5pice Me Up ($12+) once I heard it’s reminiscent of an Old Fashioned. I don’t eat crazy spicy food (not a Mala lover), but this cocktail pushed all the right buttons for me.

I was impressed not only by the zing of the heat/spice from the chilli, but also how smoothly the drink goes down. It also helps that, like my favourite Old Fashioned, this isn’t saccharine sweet!

5pice Me Up, with a complimentary bowl of peanuts

Surprised at its affordable price, I was tempted to get a 2nd one, but I resisted 😂 I’ll try some of the other options next time: the Hi-5 ($12+) highball with soda, Cherry Snap ($17+) a sweet treat, & Bangkok Martini (2 for $20+).

I have many fond memories after dark (9PM – 1AM, specifically) here, where their extensive Martini menu goes at a sweet 1-for-1. & practically all day before that (12 – 9PM), housepours start from $8 — & that’s a gentleman’s pour of 45ml, not the regular 30ml.

You truly get your money’s worth here. Just like I did with my Hennessy on the rocks 😍 So if chilli vodka isn’t quite your kind of thing, don’t worry about it… You definitely have other options here.

Ps: Also love nibbling on the peanuts & throwing the shells on the floor…. Who’s with me?!

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Quandoo
🙋🏻‍♀ Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST

Caffe Fernet – Happy Hour with a View

Had some time to kill in the vicinity – chanced upon Caffe Fernet’s happy hour & decided why not. Predictably, the King Cole Old Fashioned ($15++) spoke to me. Bulleit Bourbon, Fernet Branca liqueur, Angostura Bitters. Totally up my alley!

Service is quick & by golly, this drink is a stiff one. I like that, because at the end of it all, I don’t find it too diluted & meh. Holds its weight throughout.

Caffe Fernet’s King Cole Old Fashioned Against the MBS Skyline

I happily sipped on it & thought about life as I took in the nice view of MBS, having been allocated an al fresco seat facing the waters. I was here in the evening, towards the later half of Happy Hour (3 – 7:30PM). I’d imagine that the sun would be quite in your face had I been here earlier in the day… So try to sit indoors during lunch time.

Quite a boisterous crowd on Thursday evening. I will be back & perhaps the next time I’ll order off their dinner menu. I have my eye on some pastas…

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Indoor seats available (not air-conditioned)
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations – I used Chope
📶 Free WiFi available
💦 Water is not chargeable

Rabbit Carrot Gun’s Bespoke Cocktails Are Addictive

Rabbit Carrot Gun‘s Specialty Cocktails menu had me taking a second glance. They aren’t discounted during Happy Hour… But I still went for these 2. Yes, even without the discount.

Started off with a Smokey Bloody Mary ($21++), which sounds like a match made in heaven. I enjoyed the taste of health from the tomato (hahaha) & also the woody, peatyness from the Old Young’s Oak Smoked Vodka. The cheeky spice that hits you at the back of your throat is what I appreciate in a good Bloody Mary, too. In all, this was very enjoyable.

Felt like I couldn’t stop there, so I ordered another Specialty Cocktail: the Earl Grey Martini ($18++). I appreciated how the subtle flavours of the chilled Earl Grey Tea really came through, despite the strength of the vodka. A dash of sugar syrup sweetened this cocktail just nicely without making it too saccharine sweet.

Would be back, though probably just for drinks as the food is on the pricey side. Other Specialty Cocktails here include:
• Mango & Pepper Gin & Tonic ($19++): House-infused Mango Gin, topped with cracked black pepper
• Hugalibre ($18++): Angosutra 1919 Rum, Fresh Lime, Ginger Ale

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
☀ Al fresco seats available
💦 Water is not chargeable