A heritage bar with its own heartfelt history
Colin Chia started Nutmeg & Clove in 2014, when the local craft cocktail scene was still young and hardly any of the pioneering bars told a story of Singapore.
'A motivation was to bring our guests closer to the heritage and history of Singapore,' said Chia, a self-described 'proud Singaporean' who shares a birthday with the country.
The bar takes its name from its original location on the second floor of a shophouse at Ann Siang Hill, which used to be a plantation of nutmeg and clove.
When Covid-19 hit, it moved to its current location at Purvis Street: the first floor of a shophouse, where a full-kitchen set-up allowed it to operate despite tough pandemic-era dining-out curbs.
Purvis Street also holds an important position in Chia's childhood, as his family once owned a shophouse there.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
Sign Up
Sign Up
'I wanted something close to my family, close to my roots,' said Chia. 'Everything I do is all about feelings, about things that are close to my heart.'
His grandfather, an immigrant from China who built a life in Singapore's port industry, was one of the early pioneers here.
'Since young, I was very curious about how all these migrants played a part in building Singapore to what it is,' said Chia.
Nutmeg & Clove explores the country's heritage in its latest menu, released at the start of 2025. The 12 cocktails represent humble, longstanding local businesses – from a wet market to an egg farm – that form the foundation of Singapore.
Mama shops and rattan furniture
Chia's favourite on the new menu is Kid Me Not, inspired by a specific mama shop near his house, as well as shared memories of such local convenience stores in public housing estates.
Chia's own childhood memories are of going to mama shops to help his mother buy five-spice mixes, while grabbing snacks and sodas along the way.
These flavours reappear in the gin-based tipple. It is garnished with a house-made hawthorn flake, mimicking the traditional disc-like sweets made from hawthorn, and features the flavours of sarsaparilla – best known in the form of the F&N Sarsi canned drink – along with ginger, five spices and cranberry.
'So basically, it's all my favourite things in one glass,' said Chia with a smile.
Translating the vibe of heritage locations into flavours required a significant amount of research and development by a team of 10.
Rattantastic, which pairs bamboo liqueur and rum with dried sugarcane, pine tea as well as green apple and celery juice, evokes the handmade rattan creations of Chun Mee Lee Rattan Furniture, founded in 1948.
Local tailor C Armani Tailors, meanwhile, inspired the dry-gin based Pin Cushion, a twist on classic Martini variations like the Vesper and Gibson.
Just as tailors offer customisation services, the drink comes with three different garnishes – an olive, a cheese cube and smoked onion – that give guests a tailored experience with the Martini.
Local tailor C Armani Tailors inspired the dry-gin based Pin Cushion. PHOTO: NUTMEG & CLOVE
The crowd favourite, said Chia, has been Pasar Punch, a savoury yet fruity tipple inspired by Singapore's wet market.
Smells and flavours of the fresh produce available in a wet market are captured via notes of cucumber and passion fruit, as well as purified beef stock and clarified milk, with hints of peppercorn.
Building a legacy
In 2024, Nutmeg & Clove ranked sixth in Asia's 50 Best Bars – having made the list five times before – and debuted at 28th in the World's 50 Best Bars.
Purvis Street, where Nutmeg & Clove (above) is located, holds an important position in founder Colin Chia's childhood, as his family once owned a shophouse there. PHOTO: NUTMEG & CLOVE
Chia noted that Nutmeg & Clove's purpose will always be to connect guests with Singapore culture and champion all things local, by translating the country's short yet rich history into drinks.
'So 11 years old and 11 years on, we are still doing the same thing,' he said, adding that while he wants the cocktails to rekindle Singaporeans' memories, he also hopes to share stories of the country with tourists.
While the current menu will run till next year, the next all-things-Singapore menu is already in development.
'All our menus want to make sure our guests leave the place with more fun memories of Singapore,' said Chia.
Kid Me Not
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Straits Times
Jail, fine for man linked to case involving 3 bank accounts that received over $680m in total
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Myanmar national Nyan Win had pleaded guilty to two counts of carrying on a business of providing a payment service in Singapore without a licence. SINGAPORE - A man linked to a case involving three bank accounts that received more than US$531 million (over S$680 million) in total was sentenced to two years' jail and a fine of $109,000 on July 30. Myanmar national Nyan Win, 61, who had pleaded guilty to two counts of carrying on a business of providing a payment service in Singapore without a licence, will have to spend an additional six months behind bars should he fail to pay the fine. His Singaporean accomplice Zin Nwe Nyunt, 58, was sentenced to a year and six months' jail on July 14. Court documents stated that Nyan Win, a Singapore permanent resident, and Zin Nwe Nyunt's husband were childhood friends. At the time of the offences, Nyan Win was a director at Piyar International, a company that dealt with motor vehicles. In 2019, another Myanmar national known as Ko Phillip, who operated a commodities trading business, told Nyan Win he was looking for someone to incorporate a company in Singapore to assist in the operations of Ko Phillip's business. This company would then create corporate bank accounts that be used to receive and transfer funds under Ko Phillip's instructions. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore MHA to support HSA's crackdown on Kpod abusers and help in treatment of offenders: Shanmugam Business S'pore's economic resilience will face headwinds in second half of 2025 from tariffs, trade conflicts: MAS Business S'pore's Q2 total employment rises, but infocomm and professional services sectors see more job cuts Singapore Fewer than 1 in 5 people noticed suspicious items during MHA's social experiments Asia Powerful 8.8-magnitude quake in Russia's far east causes tsunami; Japan, Hawaii order evacuations Singapore Migrant workers who gave kickbacks to renew work passes were conservancy workers at AMK Town Council Asia Japan, Vietnam, EU contest terms of US tariff deals behind the scenes Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made He offered Nyan Win a commission of 0.5 Myanmar kyat (S$0.0003) per US dollar received under this arrangement. Nyan Win, who was interested in this opportunity, was uncertain whether he could set up a corporate bank account through Piyar International. Without revealing details, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ryan Lim said this was because banks had previously closed the company's corporate bank accounts. Nyan Win approached Zin Nwe Nyunt's spouse and told him about this potential business opportunity with Ko Phillip. As the husband was holding an undisclosed full-time job, he suggested that his wife could assist in the firm's incorporation. Nyan Win's Singaporean accomplice Zin Nwe Nyunt, 58, was sentenced to a year and six months' jail on July 14. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG It was later agreed between Zin Nwe Nyunt and Nyan Win that the corporate bank accounts would be controlled by Nyan Win. Commissions would then be split between the pair. Zin Nwe Nyunt incorporated wholesale trading company Unione, and from July 2019 to May 2021, she opened accounts with three different banks through the firm. She then handed the banking details to Nyan Win, the court heard. DPP Lim said: 'Across 2020 and 2021, Nyan Win would liaise with Phillip to make arrangements for money to be received into Unione's corporate bank accounts. 'Nyan Win would also receive instructions from Phillip on where to transfer the money once it had been received into the bank accounts. Nyan Win would provide Zin with information regarding the incoming transactions for her to compute the commission amount.' Between January and July 2020, Nyan Win used one of Unione's bank accounts to receive more than US$150 million before the money was transferred out. Court documents do not disclose the source of the money. Following these transactions, Zin Nwe Nyunt made over $56,000 in commissions while Nyan Win received more than $34,000. On July 21, 2020, the bank closed the account due to the large number of suspicious transactions. The DPP told the court: 'Zin, Nyan Win and Unione did not have in force a valid licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore and were not an exempt payment service provider.' Following the closure of this account, Zin Nwe Nyunt took instructions from Nyan Win and opened a corporate account with another bank. Between late July 2020 and April 2021, Nyan Win used this account to receive more than US$250 million before the money was transferred out. Zin Nwe Nyunt received nearly $76,000 in commissions while Nyan Win pocketed more than $50,000. DPP Lim said that between August 2020 and March 2021, a third bank account was used to receive more than US$127 million. Over $119 million was then transferred out. In August 2021, the police received information that an Australian scam victim had transferred US$1.8 million to several bank accounts maintained by companies in Singapore. Investigations revealed three of these firms had transferred over $480,000 to the third bank account Investigators then uncovered links between Zin Nwe Nyunt, Unione and Nyan Win. The pair were charged in court in 2023. On July 30, Nyan Win's bail was set at $20,000, and he was ordered to surrender himself at the State Courts on Aug 7 to begin serving his sentence.
Independent Singapore
16 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Man earning less than S$30k a year sets goals to break out of his rut, asks locals for ‘side hustling tips'
SINGAPORE: Getting out of a rut isn't exactly a walk in the park, but one man recently shared online that he's tired of feeling stuck and ready to turn things around. In a candid post on a local forum, he admitted he's not what most people would call 'successful.' He earns less than S$30,000 a year, has little to no social life, and feels like he's been drifting through life without any real goals. However, instead of staying in that slump, he's decided to add some structure by setting a few random goals to achieve before the year ends. His first mission, he said, is to make $5,000 in two months through side hustles. 'I just want to try, I guess,' he wrote. 'I was thinking of doing GrabFood with my spare time/on my lunch breaks at work.' Hoping to get some fresh ideas, he turned to the forum and asked, 'What are your little side hustles? Give me some tips to achieve my goal. I'd really appreciate any and all help! Open ears and an open mind right now.' 'Work on yourself first.' Rather than simply offering quick money-making ideas, Singaporean Redditors encouraged the man to take a step back and reflect on what he truly wanted to do with his life. One Redditor shared a personal strategy that had helped them gain clarity in the past. 'Instead of setting a random goal, maybe take some time to think about what you actually want. I know it sounds easier said than done, but I've found the following method to be helpful. 'Take a piece of paper and then write down in large font, WHAT DO I WANT? Then whatever comes to mind, just write it down. It doesn't matter if it sounds stupid or is frivolous or you don't think you're going to get it or whatever. The point is to list as many things as possible first, and then you can go through it later and filter stuff out.' Another commented, 'Sometimes your ideal passion and dreams come without you knowing. Just explore and keep trying things. Volunteer for stuff. Make new friends. Explore the world. Try new jobs. You may find out what you want in the midst of it.' A third suggested, 'Work on yourself first, get proper certification, and be street smart.' Others also emphasised the importance of focusing on personal well-being. One said, 'You may think this is irrelevant, but see if you can make yourself healthier, exercise more, learn a sport, join activity groups, etc, y ou would be surprised to see how fast your mood improves, your ability to learn improves, your mindset towards life changes, and stress and anxiety get so much better. It's actually backed by science too. Hope it gets better for you.' In other news, a domestic helper has taken to social media to share her distressing experience working for a Singaporean family, claiming that she has been subjected to 'shouting, bullying and verbal abuse' since the day she arrived. In her post on the Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic Helper Facebook group, the helper said she was hired about two months ago and was initially hopeful about the job. See also Employer who 'didn't pay maid for 13 months' gets fined $14,000 Read more: 'All I hear is shouting, bullying, and verbal abuse' — Helper says she's been mistreated since day one
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Straits Times
Actress Eleanor Lee wins lawsuit against former assistant who doctored her audio recording
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Singaporean actress Eleanor Lee has not updated her social media accounts since appearing in a video clip posted on her social media accounts on May 21. China-based Eleanor Lee has won a lawsuit against a former assistant who edited an audio recording which got the Singaporean actress into hot water with Chinese netizens. The 25-year-old daughter of local Taiwan-born host Quan Yifeng was in the news in May for allegedly making derogatory comments about the people of China, which she denied. On May 21, a netizen claiming to be her former assistant posted an apology on Chinese social media platform Weibo and admitted to posting the edited recording. On July 29, Lee's agency wrote on Weibo that it had received the Chinese court's Certificate of Judgment Enforcement and attached the document. 'Eleanor Lee has always loved and respected Chinese culture and stood firm in her position,' the agency wrote. 'We firmly defend her legal rights and urge everyone to refrain from believing or spreading rumours, to jointly resist false information and build a clean cyberspace.' The agency also shared a post from Mr Yang Shuguang, a senior partner from Hai Run Law Firm, who shared a legal statement on the progress of the case. The statement said the court had issued a ruling on June 23, with the ruling taking effect on July 17. It also noted that the false content posted online by the former assistant had damaged Lee's reputation, causing her mental distress and affecting her business activities. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore's Q2 total employment rises, but infocomm and professional services sectors see more job cuts Business Seatrium to pay $168m to Brazilian authorities, $73m to Singapore authorities to settle corruption case Singapore Migrant workers who gave kickbacks to renew work passes were conservancy workers at AMK Town Council Singapore 2026 school year to begin from Jan 2 for MOE kindergarten, primary, secondary students Asia Japan issues tsunami warning after 8.8-magnitude earthquake strikes off Russia Singapore Singapore prepared to recognise State of Palestine in principle, says envoy at high-level UN meeting Business MAS keeps Singapore dollar policy unchanged amid US tariff risks to economy Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made 'The court ordered the defendant to run a statement of apology to Eleanor Lee on the defendant's Weibo account for 60 consecutive days, and to pay damages to her for mental stress, legal costs and other financial losses,' said the statement. It also said the legal firm has identified several social media accounts which maliciously fabricated and spread false information, and stated that it will continue to monitor these users. 'If the relevant network users still fail to promptly delete the infringing content they have posted after the release of this statement, or continue to commit the infringing acts, our lawyers will promptly collect additional evidence and file a lawsuit in court with the client's authorisation.' The furore began when a netizen claiming to be Lee's former assistant released a poor-quality audio recording that lasted about 30 seconds on Weibo in April. In the recording, which features much background noise and some muffled words, a woman is heard saying she is 'doing this not for fame, but for money' and that 'most people in China are idiots'. The incident gained traction after the media in China and Taiwan reported on it in May. Lee has not updated her social media accounts since posting a video clip on May 21, in which she gave her side of the story. There is no word if her role in the upcoming Chinese period drama, The Journey Of Legend, will be affected by the saga. Shi Hang Law Firm, which is representing the producers of the show, said in a statement posted on Weibo on July 29 that it is planning to take legal action against certain online users who have been spreading false information and continuously posting defamatory content about the series.
