Singapore Whisky Monthly: May

Last Edit: 21st May 2011

Here it is folks! After much gathering of information, sgwhisky proudly presents to one and all the inaugural Singapore Whisky Monthly newsletter. Essentially a post that highlights all the major events in the Singapore whisky scene, Singapore Whisky Monthly aims to share with all whisky lovers out there what is happening every month so that one can stay informed. This segment will highlight events, tastings, promotions, new places and also new whiskies on a monthly basis and will be updated as the month goes on when new events are confirmed by the various whisky establishments in Singapore.

As sgwhisky has stressed over the past few posts, the month of May is indeed exciting with numerous events, new whiskies and promotions ongoing so without further ado, sgwhisky proudly presents the Singapore Whisky Monthly for May:

SINGAPORE WHISKY MONTHLY: MAY

Events:

Whisky Live 2011

Arguably the biggest annual whisky event to be held in Singapore, Whisky Live 2011 is a grand whisky tasting and appreciation event that brings together the best whiskies of the world all under one roof. This year's event will be held at One at the Bund at The Fullerton Bay Hotel on the 16th of May 2011. Tickets go for $75 and can be purchased at SISTIC's website. For more information, do check out sgwhisky's preview of Whisky Live 2011.

Weekly Tastings at The Connoisseur Emporium

The Connoisseur Emporium located at Marina Bay Link Mall has started regular whisky tasting sessions every Friday at their establishment since April, and this May one can look forward to more great Single Cask, Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured drams as they look to make these events permanent. Focussing on sharing knowledge about whisky and great drams, these tastings are perfect for those who are looking to know more about this lovely drink. For prices and more details, one can contact The Connoisseur Emporium @ 66342268 for more details, as the prices subject to the bottles that are opened during each tasting. Places are limited so book in advance! For more information, one can look at sgwhisky's review of one of these tastings here.

New Bar @ Ann Siang Hill

Mike Soldner, owner of the highly successful Malt Vault, has relocated his exclusive Whisky and Jazz bar further up the road at The Club Singapore, a boutique hotel owned by the Harry's chain. The classically furnished bar will serve a selection of 100 exclusive whiskies picked by Mike himself, as well as a range of classic cocktails. Helming the bar is renowned mixologist Aubrey Sim, who won the Singapore World Class 2009 (Singapore's Search for the Best Bartender) and she has prepared a mouthwatering list of classic cocktails, which she feels is all about 'going back to the basics'. Mike's dedication to Jazz is also evident in the bar, with posters and music all paying homage to the world of Jazz, and he too has recruited the best talents in the Jazz industry here in Singapore. All these great attractions make this bar one of the places to be in Singapore. Whilst the bar is almost done, its opening is slated probably in late May or early June. Keep your eyes on this space as Sgwhisky brings you a more in-depth review of this new bar soon.

Promotions:

New Tasting Sets @ The Auld Alliance

The Auld Alliance @ CHIJMES has also unveiled a new array of tasting sets this month to cater to the various wants of whisky lovers out there. Of particular note is the Bowmore Tasting Set which highlights the Auld Alliance's whisky of the month: Bowmore. 4 2CL shots of different Bowmores: The Bowmore 12, the Bowmore 18, The Bowmore 25 and The Bowmore 1981 go for $80 a set, and help expose one to the varying styles of this great distillery. In addition to the Whisky of the Month set, The Auld Alliance has also officially unveiled a few other sets, including an interesting Tullibardine set which allows one to taste a special 1965 vintage bottled specifically to commemorate the Birth of Singapore!

Whisky of the Month @ Highlander Bar: The Wild Geese Whiskey

The whisky (or in the case, whiskey) of the month at The Highlander Bar for May is the fiercely independent Irish Whiskey, The Wild Geese. Named after the Irish who left Ireland after the loss to William of Orange (Social Studies flashback anyone?), The Wild Geese is bottled an independent bottler who source their whiskey from Cooley's. The Wild Geese has four expression, though three are being offered this month: The Rare Irish Whiskey and Limited Edition fourth Centennial (both of which are blends), as well as the Wild Geese Single Malt Whiskey. Offers are 20% off all bottles/shots, and an additional 10% for a second bottle. 

New Whiskies:

The Single Cask: A New Series @ The Connoisseur Emporium

The Connoisseur Emporium will also be releasing a new set of 4 Single Cask bottlings from Independent Bottler Edition Spirits Limited. Aptly named The Single Cask, this series contains whiskies from Linkwood, Glen Scotia, Glenrothes and Caol Ila. Sgwhisky was fortunate enough to get a taste of 3 of the 4, and they were simply gorgeous whiskies. With only 200+ bottles for each of the 4 single casks bottled, these are likely to fly off the shelves so grab your bottle quick!

Generations: A Singapore Exclusive @ Drinksfellas

May is also a very special month for the Singapore whisky market as Drinks fellas - the distributor of several whisky brands like BenRiach and Tullibardine here - officially unveils a new special bottling for the Singapore market. Named "Generations: A Singapore Exclusive" after the Gen-Y Singaporeans born in the 1980s, this 1988 vintage is specially bottled for our very own little island! Details about pricing and where it would be sold have yet to be released, but if one truly wants as 'Singaporean' a Scotch whisky as one can get, this bottling will definitely be one great collectors' item! For more details, one can see sgwhisky's exclusive review on this whisky here.

New Whiskies @ Fine Spirits at La Maison Du Whisky

Fine Spirits at La Maison Du Whisky always has something new coming in every month from all over the world, such is their passion for new whiskies. This month, there are two special whiskies that are particularly interesting: The Inish Turk Beg and the Yoichi 1990 Single Malt whisky. The Inish Turk Beg is actually Cooley's whiskey which has been matured on the small island of Inish Turk Beg off the coast of Ireland. The bottles were also actually made partially from the sand of the shores of Inish Turk Beg, making this whiskey a real collectors item. As for the Yoichi 1990, it is a 20YO Yoichi from the line of Yoichi vintages that gave the whisky world the 1987 Yoichi which was World Whisky of the Year. Lovely stuff from a great distillery.

New Cocktails @ The Auld Alliance

On a non-whisky related note, The Auld Alliance has also added two cocktails to their list of available beverages at their bar. Continuing on their theme of France and Scotland, the two cocktails contain liquors from either one of these two countries. The first is a Gin and Tonic made with Hendrick's Gin, a Scottish made Cucumber gin. The other is The Auld Alliance's version of the Moscow Mule, using Ciroc Vodka from France. If one feels like having something a little different, these refreshing cocktails would definitely suit the bill.

That's all for Singapore Whisky Monthly so far but sgwhisky is still currently finding out more on other great new happenings in the world of whisky for this month. Watch this space for more information, including a first look at another whisky bottled specially for Singapore that will be available soon!