It’s Day 10 since the ‘Circuit Breakers’ have been implemented—and I have to say, the barfly in me is just itching to get my hands on a well-crafted cocktail, and soak up the vibes in a cosy bar.
Well, Brass Lion Distillery can help out with one of the two. Famous for their flagship spirit, the Singapore Dry Gin, this gin distillery is here with pre-bottled cocktails and even a full DIY cocktail making kit—perfect for you to try your hand at the art of cocktail-making.
Let’s talk about the pre-bottled cocktails. Brass Lion Distillery is lending a hand to local bars, from blending to bottling and delivery of cocktails. This means that you can kick back on a Friday night and sip on tipples from Smoke & Mirrors, Bee’s Island Drinkery, and IB HQ—all from the comfort of your couch.
I took a chance on the mesmerising and pretty Lavender Negroni (S$35 for 200ml) from Bee’s Island Drinkery. This small-batch, handcrafted twist on the classic negroni is much lighter on the palate. Specifically, fragrant notes of lavender mingle with the Brass Lion Butterfly Pea Gin and the bittersweet Campari to rest on the tongue in a floral finish.
This cocktail packs a punch at 28% ABV, so don’t be fooled by its pretty-in-purple looks.
Brass Lion also stocks two other cocktails for now: the Bergamot & Gimlet (Lion Edition) (S$45 for 200ml) from Smoke & Mirrors, and the Merlion Spritz (S$38 for 200ml) from IB HQ. The former clocks in at 22% ABV, while the latter rounds off a nice 25% ABV.
If you prefer a stiffer drink—these difficult times surely warrant a strong drink or two—then hop over to the gins instead. You can get the full-sized bottles of The Singapore Dry Gin (S$88), Butterfly Pea Gin (S$98) or Pahit Pink (S$98) to keep and slowly savour.
Or for a teaser taster, the Brass Lion Miniatures (S$88) comes with two of each gin, in 50ml bottles. The Pahit Pink, in particular, caught my fancy. This amber-hued gin, unique in colour for the usually pale spirit, is Brass Lion’s take on the classic pink gin popularised by the British Royal Navy.
House-made Brass Lion Singapore Bitters come together with The Singapore Dry Gin to produce warm, cinnamon and spice notes in this full-bodied gin. Sip it on the rocks, or mix in some ginger ale to really boost the lingering ginger finish.
Those who want to experiment during the #StayHome period, Brass Lion has got you covered. Get the Circuit Breaker Survival Kit (S$98) to stir and shake up a storm. Each kit comes with The Singapore Dry Gin (200ml), two drink mixers, two bottled modifiers, two cocktail recipes, a cocktail shaker, a hybrid spoon-straw, ice tongs and a jigger (15/30ml).
I’m not the most well-versed when it comes to crafting cocktails, but this looks like a really fun #StayHome project. If all else fails, at least you’ll get a good arms workout, as you try to shake up your cocktails.
Dates & Times: Now available on Brass Lion Distillery’s website
Prices: From S$38 per bottle
