A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting this pop up bar to sample some, if not all, of their signature cocktails. Now, I am no expert in alcohol and truth to be told, I have always associated cocktails as a concoction of alcohol and fruits. I had to google what 'spirits' mean (the pop up bar aims to promote American craft spirits brought into SouthEast Asia by Singapore-based company, Liberty Spirits). Having just returned from Germany, where drinking seems to be a national favourite pastime, I owe it to them for introducing me to whiskey and coke which quickly became my go-to drink during my survival from social meltdowns in clubs and bars. I was so ready for this.
Here's a list of what I had (by the order of photos above):
Tasting Flight
Any three spirits and in predictable Trisha fashion, I chose three types of whiskey under the recommendation of the bartender of the night - Outlaw, Roundstone Rye, World's Best Moonshine
Rushmore Thyme
New Deal 33, thyme, lemon juice, egg white and lavender bitters
Weekly Special
Dragonfruit & some yummy stuff'
Darjeeling Jungle Bird
Ragged Mountain Rum, Campari, lime and pineapple juice
Budapest Old Fashioned
Lapseng Sauchong Cactotin Roundstone Rye, orange ginger sugar and basement bitters
Cascara Bee Sting
7 Stars Moonshine, honey, lemon juice and Ceylon Cascara coffee cherry tea
Who knew with cocktails that bear names like Darjeeling Jungle Bird and Rushmore Thyme (which took the crown for best cocktail in my books) would get me tipsy by the end of the night! Do people even get drunk from drinking cocktails?? I'm a wuss.
On a side note, thought it was brilliant to print name/descriptive cards for each cocktail served on thick card that double serves as coasters too. Always had a soft spot for the company's choice of graphic designer.
Huge thanks to the team at FreeForm for coordinating my visit and enlightening me with the good stuff that is American craft spirits. You know what they say, 'once you go American, everything becomes different.'
Just made that up.
44 at APW
* All shots taken with an iPhone 5s because the author had conveniently left her memory card used for her DSLR in the office as she was making her way down to this event.
T.