A Look At Singapore’s Inaugural Whiskey Weekend 2017
PUBLISHED May 26th, 2017 06:24 pm | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:26 pm
Golden x The Great Escape, the quaint rooftop cafe and bar on the fifth floor of Golden Mile Tower, recently played host to the inaugural Whiskey Weekend on 20 and 21 May 2017. The venue, equal parts hipster and elusive, was the perfect setting for an evening of American BBQ and whiskey appreciation.
Guests were first greeted by the two pop up food stalls by Blue Label Burgers and Meat Smith, serving up standard American fare such as burgers and classic barbecued meats. The sight of perfect orders all lined up, coupled with a whole roasted pig which laid tantalisingly behind Meat Smith’s counter and the delicious smell of cooking meat permeating the air, made it truly hard to resist temptation.
Cult favourite bar 28 Hong Kong St and Employees Only also made an appearance, offering up two bespoke blends each for $10 each. The Rebel Wilson (Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon, spiced pear, apple cider, East Imperial Mombasa Ginger Beer, lemon) from 28 Hong Kong St highlighted the finer flavours of the Kentucky bourbon with the subtle fragrance of rosemary, complete with a candied orange slice for a beautiful pop of colour. Employees Only’s Lime 2.0 (Southern Comfort, EO Lime Cordial, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon) was a tart icy shake of lime and bourbon, a perfect cooler for the humid Singaporean weather.
The whiskey tasting bar was the undisputed star of the night, representing 6 different American brands, namely Willett, Rebel Yell, Buffalo Trace, Mitcher’s, High West, and Beam. Whiskey connoisseurs and amateurs alike were treated to a masterclass by the knowledgeable bartender, who offered up various options according to their specified taste profiles.
A make-your-own mint julep bar kept guests busy, where helpful bartenders taught them how to make their own cocktails using Hudson Baby Bourbon. Participants were all rewarded with their creations, to the delight of the fast learners!
Prizes were also up for grabs in a unique carnival style game at the Blind Tasting Booth- three unmarked whiskeys were presented to challengers, who had to (by luck or skill!) identify the different spirits. Those who got two out of three walked away with a Rebel Yell souvenir, and gigantic stuffed animals were reserved only for those who managed to answer all three correctly.
Despite the rain on Sunday evening, good vibes abounded in the space, with the glow of warm lighting more than amply making up for the chill in the night air. As the combination of soul food, scrumptious cocktails, and good whiskey hit, guests found themselves grooving to the wonderful house tunes of the DJ, making for a perfect goodbye to the week past, and an ideal welcome to the week ahead.
