The Singapore Cocktail Festival is a Weeks-Long, Global Celebration of the Art of the Drink
Offering a lifetime’s worth of tantalizing sips, The Singapore Cocktail Festival returns May 5th to 21st 2023 with nearly 100 cocktails available for only S$15 each (about USD $11).
Singapore Cocktail Festival. Image: The Drinks Business
The Singapore Cocktail Festival is a Weeks-Long, Global Celebration of the Art of the Drink
Globally, few cities take the art of the cocktail quite as seriously as Singapore. The destination has made a name for itself through the years, managing to climb the ranks and earn a majority of the spots on the coveted World’s 50 Best Bars list.
The city is dotted with one-off speakeasies, sleek clubs, and posh bars serving up genuinely unique concoctions, utilizing ingredients that would be hard to find anywhere else. Some of the techniques in Singapore are so unique, Singapore-inspired lounges and bars are now popping up around the world, such as at New York City’s celebrated Jelas and Singlish.
Singapore’s Rise a World-Class Cocktail City
To that end, it makes sense why Singapore plays host to one of the region’s largest cocktail festivals. But it wasn’t always this way. In the late 2000s, cocktail bars in Singapore were few and far between, with beer and whisky being the poison of choice for most drinkers.
A Singapore Sling. Image: Liquor.com
And while Singapore isn’t exactly a stranger to drinkable creations (Singapore’s legendary Raffles Hotel Long Bar was the birthplace of the Singapore Sling), these high-class environs catered to an international crowd by design.
Fast forward decades, and it really wasn’t until Tippling Club and 28 HongKong Street came about that Singapore’s scene started picking up steam as a destination for interesting drinks and world-class bartenders to try new ideas.
Now, with the Singapore Cocktail Festival entering its ninth year, the celebration is bigger than ever, with more variety and creativity on display than ever before. With drinks, food, and personalities, the 17-day-long festival is sure to please every palate and serve as a destination in itself.
Up Close and Personal with the World’s Best Liquors & Spirits
With brand pop-ups from Bacardi, Beam Suntory's Roku Gin, and Edrington's Naked Malt, just to name a few, you won't want to miss the outdoor Brand Zone. Malfy, Hendrick's Gin, and Monkey Shoulder will be among the top brands shaking things up, while the Artisanal Spirits showcase will feature over 30 craft spirit brands from around the world.
Good to Know.
The Singapore Cocktail Festival’s Festival Village is open 5 - 7 May 2023 at the Bayfront Event Space, while the Singapore Cocktail Festival’s City Takeover lasts from 5 - 21 May 2023, taking place all around the city.
Food Street offers Plenty of Variety
Indulge your taste buds in the Food Street with pop-ups by leading restaurants Employees Only, Esquina, Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh, and more. Live entertainment will get you into the spirit of the festival, making for a truly special experience. live entertainment (like, an extraordinary DJ line up).
Into the Details with Global Bartenders at the Festival
Don't miss out on the opportunity to chat with bartenders from Indulge Experimental Bistro in Taipei, Maybe Sammy in Sydney, Penicillin in Hong Kong, ReCraft in Manila, Sidecar in New Delhi, and The Bar at The House on Sathorn in Bangkok.
The City Takeover Wristband is a Ticket to Sip
And that's not all - the festival features a City Takeover with 45 of Singapore's leading bars shaking up new possibilities with innovative libations. Purchase a City Takeover wristband and enjoy thematic cocktails priced at S$18 at all participating bars. Plus, keep an eye out for an exciting calendar of Bar Takeovers by the Festival's Singapore-based Headliner Bars, including sleek Analogue, upscale Manhattan, blue-hued Origin Bar, Republic Bar, the café-by-day Stay Gold Flamingo, and The Elephant Room.
Getting In
Early bird passes begin at S$40 (~USD $30), and all-day passes include a City Takeover wristband to use at the 45 participating bars from May 5th to May 21st, 2023. Add on the Artisanal Tasting Cards to sample four shots of artisanal spirits at the Festival Village.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience the best of Singapore's cocktail scene. The Singapore Cocktail Festival is presented in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board, and supported by the Official Festival Hotel, the JW Marriott Singapore South Beach. As a special offer, guests at the JW Marriott Singapore South Beach can enjoy discounts at the on-site bars and restaurants.
For full ticketing details and more information, head to www.singaporecocktailfestival.com.
