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Time Out
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
How to experience the World Class Cocktail Festival in Singapore
The challenges As the first phase of the competition, Singapore's top bartenders kickstarted with a high-stakes shake-off on April 2, challenged to craft two showstopping cocktails in one day. The first was a tequila-based creation using Don Julio, followed by a rum-based concoction featuring Zacapa. The Don Julio challenge called for bold tequila-based drinks using both local and Canadian-inspired ingredients – a nod to the grand finals in Toronto. Think pandan and gula melaka meet maple syrup and Hawaiian pizza – a wild, multicultural flavour ride. But it wasn't just about taste – bartenders had to bring storytelling, technique, and creativity to the table, paying homage to Don Julio's legacy dating back to 1942. Then came Zacapa's dreamy Above the Clouds challenge, featuring Asian ingredients like kaya, Japanese yuzu, and even Himalayan sea buckthorn. We saw everything from using dry ice to create a foggy effect to fluffy foam that mirrored the puffy clouds. Sitting on the judging panel were the global winner of World Class Bartender of the Year 2019, Side Door's Bannie Kang, and two-time World Class Bartender of the Year Singapore winner, Jigger and Pony's Aki Eguchi. They were joined by industry leaders, including the director of Diageo Bar Academy Asia Pacific, Lam Chi Mun; the brand ambassador of Diageo Philippines, Rian Asiddao; Bar Convent Berlin's Henry Stonham; and Augustman's Indran Paramasivam. The competition was fierce, the cocktails phenomenal, and the crowd were full of excitement. Now, the top 20 are prepping for round two – taking on Tanqueray and The Singleton – before the next challenge with Johnnie Walker. Here are the top 20 bartenders: Tryson Quek – Side Door (winner of the first challenge and the Don Julio category) Marco Maiorano – KOMA (standout in the Zacapa category) Sam Pang – Night Hawk Josiah Chee – Bar Bon Funk Colin Chng – Bar Bon Funk Kelvin Saquilayan – Republic Bar Mate Csizmadia – The Bar at 15 Stamford James Dela Rosa – WAKUDA Cherry Lee – Origin Bar Anton Gornev – The Mirabilis Bar Ooi Foo Giap – Last Word Lam Ho Yung – Last Word Orman Bag-ao – CUT by Wolfgang Puck Qing Ting – Madame Fan Zana Mohlmann – Manhattan Jeeivan – The Elephant Room Kim DongJe – The Backdrop Valerie Natasha Valentine – Atlas Gabriel Gan – Gibson Joel Accad – Silly Goose SUSHISAMBA stirred up some serious love from fans, earning it March's World Class Cocktail Festival Experience of the Month. The bars to check out during the festival Now it's your turn to drink in the action – literally. The World Class Cocktail Festival is the perfect excuse to bar hop between some of Singapore's most stylish, talked-about, and downright delicious drinking spots. Whether you're partial to dimly lit speakeasies tucked behind unmarked doors or love the vibe of plush hotel bars, each venue is pulling out all the stops for this city-wide celebration. And the fun doesn't stop with the top 20 contenders. Bars all across town are joining the party, including SUSHISAMBA, WOOBAR, Sugarhall, Plume, MO Bar, and many more. Each serving up their own inventive festival-exclusive cocktails featuring the heavy hitters of the spirits world: Don Julio, Zacapa, Tanqueray, The Singleton, and Johnnie Walker. It's a full-on flavour fest – and the perfect chance to catch these cocktail maestros in their element, shaking, stirring, and serving up liquid gold right at their home bars. The festival's exclusive cocktails to try Now, let's talk about the drinks. These aren't your average cocktails – they're masterpieces crafted exclusively for the festival, and you won't want to miss any. Spice things up with The Backdrop's Pho-ntastic Ensemble ($27), a tequila-based concoction with lemongrass, kaffir lime, and a fiery chilli twist. Or, sip on Plume's PaJANGma ($25), a bold mix of Don Julio Reposado, grapefruit liqueur, gochujang, and lime for a smoky-spicy kick. For something truly unique, The Elephant Room's Indian Lion ($25) is a must-try, blending The Singleton whisky with tandoori nectar, fenugreek vermouth, and pickled onion for a savoury surprise. If you're dreaming of your next holiday, let Bae's Jungle & Single ($26) whisk you away to a tropical paradise with The Singleton whisky and vibrant passionfruit, or take a trip to Japan with KOMA's Hanami Dream ($25) – a delicate and fruity fusion of Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky, lychee, sakura, and peach soda. For creamy spins of Ron Zacapa 23, Last Word's Banana Punch ($27) delights with banana, Branca Menta, yuzu, and milk, while Night Hawk's milk punch-style The Hollow Glass ($25) does so with fermented honey syrup, black tea, lemon-pineapple blend, and balsamic vinegar mist. Side Door's Tiramisu ($25) – a decadent rum-based treat featuring Zacapa 23, brownie, coffee, and Baileys – and SUSHISAMBA's Velvet Pursuit ($20) with The Singleton 12, cherry, vanilla, coffee and lemon are set to perk you up. And that's just the beginning. With so many festival-only creations waiting to be discovered, the only real challenge is deciding which to try first. Pro tip: Ask for the World Class Festival menu when you visit the participating bars. Cast your vote for a chance to win a prize As if sipping exclusive cocktails wasn't rewarding enough, you also get to support your favourite bar by voting for it. Cast your vote, and you'll be automatically entered into a lucky draw with some seriously enticing prizes – think bar vouchers perfect for your next night out with friends. The voting refreshes every month after each challenge, giving you another chance to support your favourite bartender (and score more goodies). Just remember: it's one vote per month, so make it count. Haven't voted yet? Time to get started here. This is it – the cocktail event of the year, and it's one no cocktail lover in Singapore should miss. Check out the full list of participating bars and locations here, and get ready to toast to an unforgettable festival. Cheers!
CBC
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
How British Columbians are getting creative with live music venues
Social Sharing Many live music venues are closing. Whether it's nightclubs in downtown Vancouver, a non-profit space in the province's capital or a smaller venue in rural British Columbia, dedicated spaces for artists to perform are becoming few and far between. In general, the high cost of rent for both artists and for business owners running the venues is the main culprit. Communities are being forced to get creative. Traditional theatres and stages may be disappearing, but performance spaces are popping up in unexpected spaces like art galleries and even just random people's living rooms. Podcast host and producer Kristina Rothstein remembers the Sugar Refinery in downtown Vancouver as a place where "interesting things were always happening and people were trying out new things and putting on a play and doing a weird experimental show." "I always felt at home," she said. The venue, located on the Granville strip, shut down in 2003, but music lovers and artists alike still reminisce about the shows they saw there. Rothstein's curiosity around what venues came before and after her favourite spot inspired her podcast, In Search of Lost Venues, where she wanders Vancouver neighbourhoods with local musicians talking about live music events of days gone by. And while remembering the good old days can be cathartic, there still remains a problem: musicians are looking for somewhere — anywhere — to perform, now. Beloved B.C. musician Dan Mangan and his business partner, Laura Simpson, founded Side Door in 2017 after noticing a lack of space for performers. It connects artists with hosts who have a space for them — often their own homes. Both the artist and host are paid automatically through the platform, and thousands of shows have happened since the platform launched. Victoria Levesque has hosted several shows through Side Door since 2019 and has a few coming up. She offers an indoor living room space or, weather permitting, a small garden space in her yard. "When you put the time and effort into hosting artists … it's not for that one day; it's for the future of their career," she said. WATCH | Inside Victoria's DIY live music scene: A look inside Victoria's DIY music scene 8 days ago Duration 3:49 Victoria prides itself on its vibrant art scene. But the last few years have been rough for local live music venues, with beloved spots having to close their doors. Now, local musicians and music lovers are creating their own live music spaces using whatever they have. Rohit Joseph takes us on a tour of Victoria's DIY music scene. In Victoria, a photography studio has become a more broad creative space, hosting live comedy and music. "I was a punk rock kid growing up. I used to go to lots of punk shows and lots of house party shows," said Antonio La Fauci, owner of Cinderbloc Studios. "I kinda like just getting people together and having people build a showcase through creativity." Not far from Cinderbloc, the Little Fernwood Gallery has also offered up space for do-it-yourself live music, where artists rent the gallery space and convert it into a live music venue, bringing the equipment, ticketing the event and everything they need to put on a show. Tarun Nayar, Canadian Live Music Association board chair and a Surrey, B.C., musician, said independent venues — longtime, traditional establishments or DIY spots — are necessary for both local and global musicians. The association recently released the results of a study on the impact live music has on the Canadian economy. It found that in 2023 alone, live music contributed $10.9 billion to the country's GDP and supported more than 100,000 full-time equivalent jobs. "We all know it's important, from the biggest Taylor Swift stadium craziness to the local show at the Biltmore or the Fox," he said.
