Turn the holiday mode on in Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau. By Shu Mi.
DRiNK lovers rejoyce! Three cocktail- and whisky-focused festivals are taking place in Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau during the Labor Day holiday. Whether you’re a resident in one of these cities or traveling there, you’re bound to find something that will satisfy your palate and make your holiday just that little bit more colorful.
Singapore Cocktail Takeover
When: May 1 -12
Where: 30 bars in Singapore
Initiated by a group of local bar industry veterans including Guoyi Gan (Jigger & Pony Group) and Colin Chia (Nutmeg & Clove), Singapore Cocktail Takeover is a celebration of the city’s exceptional cocktail scene.
From 1 to 12 May, 30 bars around town will offer two signature cocktails at the special price of S$18++. Participating bars includes award-winning and well-known haunts such as Jigger & Pony, MO Bar, Neon Pigeon, Nutmeg & Clove and MO Bar.
Also on schedule is a program of guest shifts, brunches, DJ parties and new product launches, such as Seoul’s Zest and Chamber at Jigger & Pony on May 5 and Barcelona’s Paradiso at Republic on May 8.
For the full list of participating bars and the schedule of guest shifts and other events, please visit sgcocktailtakeover.com.
Hong Kong Whisky Festival
When: May 4-5
Where: InterContinental Grand Standord Hong Kong
Hailed as one of the biggest whisky festival and educational events in Hong Kong, this annual event will once again take up four floors of the hotel and draw in thousands of whisky enthusiasts at all levels.
The festival will featurs over 1,100 different spirits and over 35 master classes hosted by brand ambassadors. The whiskies on show come from a wide range of regions, including Scotland, Japan, the US, Ireland, England, Taiwan, India and more. One highlight is that Vintage Bottlers and Compass Box, two world-renowned independent bottlers, will make their debut in Hong Kong for the first time.
There are also four limited-edition whiskies exclusively bottled for the Hong Kong Whisky Festival available, namely The Glenlivet 17yo (First Fill Sherry Butt, HK$2,350), Kavalan 10yo (Port Cask, HK$1,600), Invergordon 36yo (Jamaican Rum Cask，HK$1,780) and Mars Tsunuki Yakushima 6yo (Sherry Hogshead Cask, HK$2,780).
One-day ticket is HK$188 and two-day ticket is HK$258 (including a whisky glass and a lanyard). For more info of the festival and online ticketing, please visit hkwhiskyfestival.com.
World Class Cocktail Festival
When: April 22 – May 10
Where: 17 bars in Hong Kong and Macau
With the return of the Diageo World Class Competition to Hong Kong and Macau, a cocktail festival has set on in these two cities.
Titled ‘World Class Cocktail Festival’, the almost-three-week-long event sees 20 talented bartenders craft two cocktails using Johnnie Walker Black Label and Don Julio under the themes – “Beyond A Nightcap”, exploring the limitless possibilities of Johnnie Walker Black Label; “2030 Margarita”, a visionary take on the classic Margarita cocktail. Visit the venues where these bartenders work and you’ll get a taste of the vibrant mixology culture these two cities offer.
Participating Bars in Hong Kong: Argo, Bar Leone, COA, Dio Café Bar, Gishiki Lounge, Lockdown, Mercury Recalls, Ozone, Penicillin, Qura, The Old Man, 001 Bar
Participating Bars in Macau: Aji (MGM Cotai), Aux Beaux Arts (MGM Macau), Gordon Ramsay Pub and Grill (The Londoner Macao), The Mews (The Londoner Macau), Vida Rica Bar (The Mandarin Oriental Macau)
The top 12 finalists will be selected out of the 20 participating bartenders to compete in the semi-finals in early June and the winner will represent Hong Kong/Macau at the highly-anticipated World Class Global Final, taking place in Shanghai this September.
