Public voting begins today and ends July 8. By Holly Graham.
Now everyone has recovered from The Bar Awards Hong Kong and Macau, The Bar Awards heads to Singapore, with Public Nominations opening today. The Panel will then whittle Public Nominations down to the Top 10s and Top 4s, announced on July 23 and August 13 respectively, and the final winners will be announced on August 19.
Selecting the 14 categories for the awards this year were the Singapore Lead Panel. Made up of some leading personalities in the city’s f&b scene, they are:
Colin Chia (Nutmeg & Clove)
Denise Khan Tan (Bacardi)
Guoyi Gan (Jigger & Pony, Sugarhall, Humpback, Flagship, Gibson and Caffe Fernet)
Rachel Tann (Remy Cointreau)
The Bar Awards Singapore 2018 will also be the first time the gongs recognise the hard work of eduction and community ambassadors (eg. brand ambassadors). The Lead Panel felt that because Singapore has become a focus for the Asian and global bar community and has a large concentration of these representatives, they should be acknowledged for their commitment and hard work in helping Singapore get to the top.
Of the new award, Lead Panel member Colin Chia said: “While it’s important to champion our bars, I think it’s equally important to champion the brand ambassadors who put in the gruelling work year in year out to help make our industry one of the best in the region, especially as there are so many of them based in Singapore.”
To submit your favourites for this year’s Public Nominations, visit thebarawards.com/nominate. Here are the categories open for nominations from June 25 to July 8:
The Bar Awards Luminaries, presented by Angostura
This is the inaugural year for The Bar Awards Luminaries. The inductees to The Bar Awards Luminaries are those that have greatly contributed to the growth and development of the Singapore bar community. This award may honour an individual, a number of individuals, a group and/or an initiative.
The Rising Star, presented by Perrier
To encourage more young people to choose the hospitality industry as a career, The Bar Awards recognises young and talented people who are doing great work and have recently joined the f&b industry. Nominees must be 25 years old or younger (born on or after January 1, 1993).
Best Restaurant Bar, presented by Restaurant, Pub and Bar Asia
This award recognises the restaurant that appreciates diners want great beverages to accompany great food, and that understands how a well-thought-out beverage program will enhance an already memorable dining experience. To be considered for this category, establishments must first and foremost be a dining venue (the majority of their consumers are there for a culinary experience).
Best Beer Bar, presented by Peroni
This award recognises an establishment with an exciting and well-curated beer offering (not necessary the largest selection), that’s also backed by knowledgeable and passionate people. These establishments are taking great strides in providing a great beverage, paired with an overall great drinking experience.
Best Wine Bar
Similar to the Best Beer Bar category, this award recognises establishments that have an exciting wine list paired with a hardworking and knowledgeable team that provide Singapore with the best wine experience.
Best Beverage Event presented by Melbourne Moonshine
This award seeks to recognise the city’s best beverage focused event within the last year, to encourage creation of future events and activations that help promote better and high quality drinking. This category is open to all beverage events and activations but they must have been held in the last 12 months from the date of nominations. The Bar Awards events or activations are excluded from this category.
Best Education and Community Ambassador, presented by Altos Tequila
This year, The Bar Awards wants to recognise the hard work and dedication an education and community ambassador (eg. brand ambassadors) puts in to promote the Singapore community. This category is open to all individuals that are promoting any beverage brand, education or the community in Singapore.
Best Specialist Concept, presented by Pierre Ferrand
This award recognises an establishment that offers a unique, specialised and focused concept as well as a well curated experience. The Bar Awards hopes this new category will encourage new and unique concepts to be developed that both broaden the mind and allow everyone to experience something a little different in Singapore.
Best Hospitality Ambassador, presented by Fever-Tree
This award recognises the individuals who embody the greatest values of hospitality. These individuals dedicate their lives to being the most warm and welcoming person they can be at work and outside of work. This category is open to any individual working in the hospitality industry including but not limited to bar backs, runner, waiters, bartenders, sommeliers, managers, owners and any members of the culinary team. Nominees must be working in an establishment in Singapore that serves alcohol as of the nomination date.
Best Hospitality Team, presented by Hendrick’s Gin
This award recognises that it’s teamwork that makes the difference between a good bar and an excellent one. The Best Hospitality Team awards the most hospitable service team that compliments an establishment’s already excellent beverage team. This awards strives to encourage more people to join the service side of the industry with this mark of appreciation.
Most Creative Cocktail Program, presented by Cointreau
This award recognises the establishment with the most creative cocktail program, taking into account the hard work and effort that a team puts in to creating the most innovative, unique and creative collection of cocktails.
Best New Bar, presented by Campari
This award recognises a new establishment that has made an impact on the local bar culture. Opening a bar is difficult, and takes a lot of leadership, hard work and talent. People who put together a great bar from day one and set high standards for new entrants to the bar community should be acknowledged. To be considered the establishment must be open on or after June 25 2017.
Bartender of the Year, presented by Monkey Shoulder
The Bartender of the Year is an award given to the bartender whose skills, knowledge, and the ability to connect with people is extraordinary beyond measure. The level of leadership, skill and hospitality extended during and outside of work by this individual is an experience in itself. To be considered, nominees must be bartending in an establishment in Singapore as of their nomination date.
Bar of the Year, presented by Mekhong, the Spirit of Thailand
This award recognises the best bar in Hong Kong, acknowledging the hard work of an outstanding bar team in the local bar and beverage community. This bar should be assessed on every factor that makes a great bar. This may include but not be limited to; experience, atmosphere, skills, hospitality, price, profitability, cleanliness and so forth.
After the form closes on July 8, the longlist will next be handed over to a bigger group of city panelists to narrow down the field to their Top 10 favourites, and then a ranking of the Top 4 and winners for Singapore. The winners will be announced at this year’s The Bar Awards party, held on August 19 (location to be confirmed).
To submit your favourites for this year’s Public Nominations, visit thebarawards.com/nominate.
To learn more about The Bar Awards, see our hub page here, or their Facebook page here.
DRiNK Magazine is the official publication partner for The Bar Awards 2018.
