#tipsyturvybars

[mytipsyturvy]

A new menu by one of Malaysia’s best bars is always worth trying, so I was quite psyched about Bar Trigona’s latest menu, called Foraged Malaysia. The drinks are based on flavours and ingredients from four different regions in Malaysia - Peninsula, Islands, Sabah, and Sarawak. So, what you’ll get are drinks that have some very familiar names and flavours, from laksa to bah kut teh, teh tarik to limau ais, pandan to coconut… you get the idea. Have yet to try them all (with a price range of RM60-RM70, it’s a little tough on my wallet), but did manage a taste of two drinks last week. Got to taste the Salt And Pepper from the Sarawak menu, which is meant to showcase the “evergreen combination of salt & pepper”. But at its core is a pretty tasty Gibson that has cucumber and oolong flavours alongside Sarawakian black pepper and homegrown caviar. Goes really well with its pickled garnish I have to say. The Teh Tarik from the Sabah menu was the one I ordered having heard good things about it. Made with Michter’s Rye Whiskey, local tea, sweetened with monkfruit, and with Chantilly Cream and Cassia dust, it’s an eclectic mix of ingredients that somehow comes together to make for a drink that tastes like, well, teh tarik with ice. While the drink itself is pretty good (using rye does add a bit more spiced whiskey notes to it), to be honest, if I wanted teh tarik with ice, I’d order an actual teh tarik with ice, not a RM60 cocktail that tastes exactly like a teh tarik with ice. (There’s also a RM50 zero proof version,BTW.) Am still pretty curious about the rest of the drinks though (there are 20 drinks in total, including zero proof versions of 4 cocktails). But at the rate I’m going, they’ll probably launch another new menu by the time I get to finishing this one LOL. #cocktails #klcocktailbar #bartrigona #cocktailmenu #tipsyturvycocktails #tipsyturvybars #mytipsyturvy (at Bar Trigona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNXj5-pbn9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mytipsyturvy]

Reka (@reka.bar) has just launch another new Spotlight Menu, called Unseen Beauty. Comprising 5 drinks and 3 dishes, the menu pays homage to “the beautiful cultures of our brothers and sisters from near and far who have come to make their home in Malaysia in search of a better life for themselves and for their loved ones”. In a nice meaningful touch, Reka will also be donating a portion of the proceeds from this menu towards supporting a local refugee non-profit. On to the drinks. Each drink highlights a particular food or ingredient from countries like Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Indonesia and Cambodia. My personal favourite was the Bor-Honey (Ocho Blanco, Ginger-Honey, Mint Lassi, Black Salt, Calamansi), a perfeftly balanced drink of distinct parts that still serves to highlight the mint lassi that is a popular drink in Bangladesh, where former Reka bartender @bengali_tapster is from. The Mocha Java was an interesting Negroni twist with Appleton rum, Indonesian coffee and ginger (which I’m not really fond of tbh), and the Yangon Pale Ale (YPA) was a kombucha-esque tipple with a hoppy IPA-like finish. The last two drinks were the sweet, yam-my Halo-Hello (based on a Filipino deasert) and the nice warm Nomadic Breakfast, a hot buttered rum-like drink inspired by the hot beverages Nepalese sherpas drink in the mointains. There’re also three dishes paired with the menu, one a yummy snacky Pakora (Jackfruit Seed Pakora, Green Chili Pesto), the delicious Lahpet (barramundi fillet with Lahpet Thoke Salsa), and Cassava dessert (Cassava Cake, Burnt Miso Corn, Coconut Ice cream). All in all, a pretty unique new menu that has the added bonus of letting you drink for a good cause! #rekabar #mytipsyturvy #tipsyturvybars #tipsyturvycocktails #cocktails #cocktailbar (at Reka:Bar) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpxK_2VpRSb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mytipsyturvy]

One of the ‘must visit’ bars on my list was Tippling Club (@tipplingclub). The bar placed 43 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list last year, and its restaurant also made it on the World’s Best 50 Restaurants list as well, so if you’re in the mood of good food AND cocktails, this self-styled ‘gastro-cocktail destination’ is the place to be. However, I was only there for drinks, so if you’re looking for a review of its food, you’ll have to look elsewhere. But drinks-wise, Tippling Club really tickled my fancy indeed. My favourite part of the bar was the way they displayed their back bar stock of bottles - instead standing on shelves, they’ve tied a wire around the bottles and hung them up above the bar, which not only give the bar a pretty unique look, but also making it easy for guests to see what they have in stock. Its current menu is called ‘A Guide to Modern Drinking’, and features drinks inspired by drinks and music from different decades in the past. Only got to try one drink off the menu this time round though, the Get Up Everybody Get Up (Get Up), named after a Salt-N-Pepa song, which was basically a Dirty Martini with kampot pepper, grey goose vodka, and capers brine. Not a big fan of capers though, so the drink didn’t really resonate with me. I did prefer the off menu drinks we had - one a Boulavadier twist with absinthe, the other a no frills Vesper, which was pretty decent. All in all, Tippling Club lives up to ita reputation, and is definitely one I’d visit again to try more of their drinks. #tipsyturvybars #mytipsyturvy #singaporebars #sgcocktailbars #cocktails #cocktailbar #cocktails #tipsyturvycocktails (at Tippling Club) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpcg8FBpv9X/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mytipsyturvy]

Another famous Singapore bar that has been a regular on the ‘Best Bars’ lists is Native (@nativebarsg), a bar that puts the focus on regional ingredients and flavours that would normally not be found in other cocktail bar menus. A quick look at the menu revealed interesting ingredients such as goat’s milk, butter roasted coffee, and even a drink that is made entirely of coconut by-products (arrack, coconut milk, coconut nectar, coconut wine, coconut water, and coconut husk). They also have one signature drink that is quite literally made with ants, or rather, ants distillate, along with lemongrass, coconut yoghurt, calamansi, and basil, and with a garnish that features real ants. Flavour-wise, it was a creamy, almost savoury drink that was pleasant enough, but to be honest, this would not be a drink I would be antsy to try again. Overall, I liked the cozy, unpretentious atmosphere of the bar and the friendly bartenders. The 3 drinks I tried were a little hit and miss for me – I liked the Achar (which tasted like, well, acar), and the Ants was interesting, but the Pineapple Arrack drink was disappointingly ordinary. Still, it’s worth a visit just to check out the hype, the drinks and their take on those unique ingredients. #tipsyturvybars #mytipsyturvy #singaporebars #sgcocktailbars #cocktails #cocktailbar #cocktails #tipsyturvycocktails (at Native) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpXJhcAJg9j/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mytipsyturvy]

Live Twice (@livetwicesg) is a bar that is meant to transports you to “mid-century Japan”. The bar, with its wooden furnishes and relatively low seating, gave me a bit of a small alleyway Japanese izakaya vibe, albeit one that is much more refined and polished. Drinks-wise, the bar has a rather minimalist approach, and specialises in deceptively simple yet complex tipples. When I asked about its signature drink, I was recommended the Vesper, which was not unexpected, considering the bar itself is named after the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice. As befitting its status as a signature drink, the Vesper turned out to be one of the highlights of my night. What surprised me about it though, was the little ice shards in the drink, which the bartender said is a deliberate touch that adds another dimension of texture to the classic and usually quite precisely made drink. Another interesting drink was the Little Crane which uses an unusual base spirit in the form of Kyro Juuri, an unaged malted rye spirit by Finland’s Kyro Distillery Company, which is more famous for its award-winning Kyro Gin. The malty rye notes of the spirit combines perfectly with the herbaceous notes of  another unusual spirit – Muyu Vertiver Gris (a liqueur inspired by the Amazon rainforest), and is balanced out by the sweet tropical notes of pineapple and the dryness of Oloroso sherry. Overall, well worth a visit if you’re in Singapore and looking for classics. Or you could make it a first stop then move on to Gibson upstairs… #tipsyturvybars #mytipsyturvy #singaporebars #sgcocktailbars #cocktails #cocktailbar #cocktails #tipsyturvycocktails (at Live Twice) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpSVRXhpwy0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mytipsyturvy]

A Last Word at Last Word and a Gibson at Gibson. Two of my favourite cocktails, and so I just HAD to try them at the bars named after them. Happily, both were superb. I liked the laid back vibe at The Last Word.(@lastwordsg), with its nice long sitting bar and friendly atmosphere. My experience at Gibson (@gibsonbarsg) was a blur though, cos it was my last stop of the night and it was PACKED. But it was nice to see @woofyinying and @the_joepeg there! #tipsyturvybars #mytipsyturvy #singaporebars #sgcocktailbars #cocktails #cocktailbar #cocktails #tipsyturvycocktails #gibson #lastword https://www.instagram.com/p/CpJzMfppx7y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mytipsyturvy]

Remedy is a new cocktail bar at Taman Paramount, PJ (that place is really upping its bar game). Wanted to visit it a while ago, but then @jonleekw posted about its classics, I knew I HAD to. Then I walked in and saw Josh (@lan584485) behind the bar, and it made sense. Josh used to be part of the Hyde at 53M team, bit I’ve known him since his Troika days and he always struck me as one of the more promising ypung bartenders at the time. He had great ideas for drinks, which needed a lottle refinement at the time, but I’m glad to see him heading Remedy now. On to the bar! Remedy is another bar with that little neighbourhood cocktial bar vibe which I like - cozy and unpretentious, with a surprisingly large space with 3-4 ‘booths’ for groups and a decent bar space. They serve cocktails (classic, modern and original) but also Guinness on TAP, which always gets a plus point for me (hey, not everyone drinks cocktails ok). Anyway, managed to try three drinks when I was there: - HOTEL NACIONAL (Aged rum, apricot liqueur, pineapple, citrus) - CHURCHILL (Blended Scotch whisky, Cointreau, sweet vermouth, citrus) - BKT (Cognac, peated Scotch whisky, sweet vermouth, aromatic bitters, vegan herbal broth) The first two were part of their Classics & Modern Classics menu, and I like the fact that they’ve chosen some less conventional classics there. The Hotel Nacional is a nice slightly light tropical tipple and the Churchill has a bit more of a sour punch on it. The BKT was the one I REALLY wanted to try though. It’s served hot, and I have to say, I’ve tried several attempts to replicate Bah Kut Teh in a cocktail before, but this is probably the best one I’ve had yet. The herbal notes are there, but it’s not sharp and harsh like many others, and the drink itself is savoury and smooth, lingering long in your mouth. It’s not a starter drink though, more like an end of the night drink. I love the fact that there are more bars opening around m PJ, and Remedy is definitely worth a visit. And yes, the classics are on point. #tipsyturvycocktails #tipsyturvybars #cocktails #cocktailbars #cocktailbar #barreview #klcocktailbar #drinkstagram #mytipsyturvy https://www.instagram.com/p/CpCxGy7plo6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mytipsyturvy]

Bā by 61M is a new whisky bar by the folks behind 61 Monarchy, IMHO, one of the best whisky bars in the Klang Valley. Located inside the Pavilion @ The Fives, Bā is a collaboration with Japanese restaurant Kazu, and mainly focuses on Japanese whiskies. It doesn’t just have Japanese whiskies though - as befitting a project by 61 Monarchy, there is also a decent range of official bottlinga and independent bottlings as well. In terms of cocktails, it’s mainly bottled cocktails by 61 Monarchy for now. Ambience-wise, if you’re familiar with whisky bars like 61 Monarchy, you’ll be right at home, with a slightly too dark but chill atmosphere. You can sit at the bar or any of the lounge chairs around the relatively small bar. With all the new cocktail bars popping up recently, it’s actually quite nice to have another specialist whisky bar for those who prefer just a quiet dram. #tipsyturvywhisky #whisky #whiskybar #japanesewhisky #61monarchy #mytipsyturvy #tipsyturvybars #barreview (at Sushi Kazu) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoMSUxMpZhO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mytipsyturvy]

I love coffee and I love cocktails, and Dissolved Solids (@dissolvedsolids) is one place that ticks both these boxes perfectly for me. It’s a bar/cafe that serves great coffee and great cocktails, and of course some great coffee cocktails as well. I was there earlier this week on a whim for a revisit, and was happy to see they’ve got a CNY cocktail menu right now, and you get some cool angpau packets for free with every order from that menu. I tried the Drunken, Panda (made with a Scotch + bourbon blend, soy, marula cream, liqueur, gоії, and grass jelly), and it was a lovely desserty drink. I especially liked the edible goji and glass jelly in the drink, so yummy! And of course, I also had to have an Espresso Martini, which I havr to say is one of the best I’ve had in KL. The creamy, caffeine-soaked power of the coffee is balanced nicely with the vodka and also allows just a smattering of sweetness to come through to add some depth. If you love coffee, this is a must try cocktail here. If you’re not in the mood for cocktails, their coffee is pretty good as well, and I love the fact that you get both a cafe AND a bar vibe here at the same time. Dissolved Solids is one of those places I would definitely visit a lot more if they were closer to me or easier to get to via public transport. But don’t let that stop you from checking it out if you haven’t already. #dissolvedsolids #cocktailbar #cocktails #coffeecocktail #coffee #cafebar #klcocktailbar #tipsyturvycocktails #tipsyturvybars #mytipsyturvy #barreview (at Dissolved Solids) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnTQn3kJWIl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mytipsyturvy]

Triptyk (@triptyk.my) is the latest project by industry stalwart Angel Ng (@angelngji), located in a pre-war shoplot on Jalan Tuba (around the Kampung Attap area). Founded by Angel and development consultant and architect Ahmed Zareh., Triptyk is a “food and beverage collective” that is made up of three concepts: two restaurants and a bar, which is also called Triptyk. The bar is a low to zero-proof bar, and also practises zero waste and sustainable practises. Highlights from the menu include the Jacky Joseph, a highball-style drink woth Jameson Black Barrel, jackfruit tea and soda, and the Hafu, using shitake mushroom vermouth, miso tequila and Jameson seaweed bitters. There’s also classic low ABV cocktails on the menu like the Bamboo, Amaretto Sour and Garibaldi, as well as local rice wines and tuak. But don’t let the no- low-concept fool you. A look at the backbar reveals some pretty awesome spirits as well, so if you’re looking for something, well, stronger, you can get it here as well. The interior is very minimalist, meant to pay tribute to the pre-war history of the space, and true to its goal of sustainability, every ‘new’ addition to the building is salvaged and repurposed from other renovation sites. Angel once told me she had a vision for a low-ABV bar concept that curates great drinks for those who want to have a good time with great tasting drinks but don’t necessarily want a lot of alcohol at the same time. With Triptyk, I’d say she’s fulfilled that goal. #triptyk #cocktails #lowabv #cocktailbar #klcocktailbar #mytipsyturvy #tipsyturvybars #tipsyturvycocktails (at Triptyk) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cma4SLHJiHE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mytipsyturvy]

Throwback to last week’s joint guest shift by Surinder (@thesurindervirk) and Jordan (@jordanshakes) for Soma Cocktail Bar’s (@soma.cocktailsandwonders) 4th anniversary celebration Soma is one of those bars I should be going to more often but don’t because, well, it’s a little out of my way and I don’t usually go to that part of TTDI often. But don’t let that stop you from going there. Founder and head barman Jason has curated a menu full of “cocktails and wonders” that are worth checking out. The rum-spiked Tau Foo Fah is a must try, and also the Spirits of Borneo (Vodka, Borneo Tuak, Orange Juice, Vanilla Syrup, Lemon Juice, Sour Plum). There’s a reason it’s been around for four years already - Soma is a fun, sociable cocktail bar that really does have its fair share of wonders. Now, maybe I should try making it there more often as well… #tipsyturvybars #mytipsyturvy #tipsyturvycocktails #somacocktailbar #cocktailbar #klcocktailbar #cocktails #cocktail #TTDI (at Soma Cocktail Bar) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl0vJBjpSPi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=