In celebration of World Martini Day on June 17^th, the House of Suntory has partnered with 11 restaurants and bars across Singapore to create unique Martinis with its premium Japanese spirits Roku Gin and Haku Vodka across the whole month of June. 

Martini lovers will get to try a total of 33 different concoctions in a variety of ways – dirty, dry, wet, sweet, perfect – throughout the month-long celebration. Each promises clever iterations of the gin or vodka-based cocktail with innovative additions while staying true to its dry, savoury signature profile. 

A classic cocktail in the bible of mixology, the martini was created at the end of the 19^th century in the United States and has cemented its place as one of the most popular cocktails in the world. Traditionally made with six parts gin, one part vermouth and a garnishing of lemon zest or olive, it can also be concocted with vodka. This June, the House of Suntory is elevating martinis to a next level of luxury and refinement with their premium craft spirits – Roku Gin and Haku Vodka.

Roku Gin’s unique blend of six Japanese botanicals makes it an excellent choice for crafting a martini. Harvested in its Shun (the tradition of enjoying every food and drink in its proper season, and only when the ingredients are at the peak of their flavours), the six botanicals include Sakura flower, Sakura leaf, Sencha and Gyokuro teas, Sansho pepper, and yuzu peel. The careful blend of these botanicals creates a complex, multi-layered yet harmonious taste that can be used to create a range of martini styles, from classic and dry to fruity and sweet, without overpowering other ingredients.

Crafted from 100% pure Hakumai Japanese rice and filtered through bamboo, Haku Vodka has an unparalleled soft, round and subtly sweet taste that is versatile and pairs well with a range of ingredients. Its smooth finish with a sophisticated lingering sweetness elevates the classic martini to the next level, creating a truly indulgent and memorable drinking experience.

Sip these unique martinis created by some of the most skilled bartenders in the city throughout the month of June at these venues to celebrate World Martini Day with Roku Gin and Haku Vodka.

VUE

A celebration of herbs and flowers.

VUE presents the Gherkin-Tini ($25++) that pulls out the herbaceousness of Roku Gin with gherkin and capers, shaking them up for a cocktail heavy with brine, garnished with gherkin on a cocktail pick. This is followed by the Red Velvet ($25++), a floral concoction of Haku Vodka fragranced with Velvet Falernum and housemade hibiscus/hawthorn syrup before gently stirred with edible flowers. By The Bay ($30++) marries both Roku Gin and Haku Vodka in a fragrant brew with housemade herbal tea and shaken with Dry Vermouth before finished off with toppings of white fungus.

Address: OUE Bayfront, 50 Collyer Quay Rooftop Level 19, 049321

Website: https://www.vue.com.sg

Instagram: @vuesingapore

Ginger Lily

Bold, mysterious and unforgettable.

Ginger Lily plays with multiple layers of mystery for its cocktails, beginning with the Maybe? ($22++), a dark and brooding martini made from Roku Gin, Bailey’s and a shot of espresso before things take an unexpected turn with strawberry oat and rose buds. The Lady in Blue ($22++) will leave you wondering in pleasant surprise with Haku Vodka dressed in lychee and peach juice, Litchi Blue liqueur and Firewater Tincture bitters disguised under a blanket of foam and topped with chrysanthemum flower. Put your tastebuds to the test with the Hi! Hello! ($22++) which concoction of Roku Gin, yuzu beer reduction, foam and sweet cicely will stretch your palate beyond what you think you know.

Address: 333 Orchard Rd, Hilton Singapore Orchard, Level 5, Singapore 238867

Website: http://www.hiltonsingaporeorchard.com/ginger.lily  

Instagram: @ginger.lilysingapore

Anti:Dote

A Japanese reinvention of classics.

Anti:Dote serves up Saku ($22++) that plays up the sweetness Roku Gin with cold-brew Sakura green tea infused Haku Vodka and layers it with Shiso Sakura Vermouth for complexity. A dash of yuzu liqueur and sancho bitters complete the profile. Meanwhile, the Umami ($22++) gives Haku Vodka an Oriental touch with kombu sake and genmaicha infused aged plum umeshu before finishing things off with olive brine for an homage to its namesake umami. The Sohon ($22++) is no less skillfully prepared with Roku Gin tinged with Sweet Vermouth and fragranced with St George spiced pear brandy, orange bitters and a garnishing of torched rosemary.

Address: 80 Bras Basah Rd, Level 1 Fairmont, Singapore 189560

Website: https://www.fairmont-singapore.com/dining/antidote/

Instagram: @antidotebar.sg

Akira Back

Deep, rich, and refined flavours.

Akira Back draws from its deep well of simple yet potent Japanese recipes for cocktails like Meiryo Suru ($24++) of Roku Gin emboldened with Nolly Prat-infused sencha and yuzu. The Meiryo-Sa ($24++) sips to delicious creaminess with Haku Vodka sweetened with melon, Nolly Prat and soy milk before a dash of citrus brightens the whole profile. Finally, the Furorarumatini ($24++) is a sweet and floral dream of Roku Gin, Amaro nonino, elderflower and orange bitters.

Address: 30 Beach Road, Level B1M, Singapore 189763

Website:  https://www.akiraback.sg

Instagram: @akirabacksg

Crossroads at Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel

A refinement of classics with a touch of luxury.  

Crossroads gives the martini a sweet and sour take with its Lime Drop Martini ($18++) of Roku Gin made tart with lime juice but balanced out with caramel syrup and then lent a delicate fragrance with kaffir lime leaf. Doing a 180-degrees, it turns around and pays homage to classics like the Espresso Martini ($18++) with Haku Vodka added with coffee liqueur, a shot of espresso and vanilla syrup as well as a Classic Martini ($18++) of Roku Gin, olive brine and Dry Vermouth.

Address: 320 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238865

Website: https://www.crossroadssg.com

Instagram: @crossroads.sg 

The House Bar

Redefining the basics with elegance and luxury.

The House Bar goes back to basic with its offerings, sampled in cocktails like the Roku Dry Martini ($26++) of Roku Gin is layered with Cocchi Americano vermouth and brightened with lemon juice. For its Haku Dirty Martini ($26++), Haku Vodka and Cocchi Americano vermouth is given extra olive brine for the prized martini saltiness. For something fruity, the Raichi Martini ($26++) marries Roku Gin with lychee milk liqueur and lychee juice before flavours are deepened with Campari. A veil of rosemary smoke lengthens on the tail of the cocktail for flavours that linger long after the last sip.

Address: 1 Cuscaden Rd, #01-02 Conrad Singapore Orchard, Singapore 249715

Website: https://thehousebar.com.sg

Instagram: @thehousebar.sg

Lumo

Indulge in bold and complex flavours this season.

Lumo exercises its innovative spirit of mixology with The Rest of the Senses ($23++) of Roku Gin layered with Dolin Genepi, St Germain elderflower liqueur, Clarin Communal rum and a dash of olive brine, a concoction meant to awaken the five senses on top of just taste. Stronger flavours can be found in its Courage ($23++) of Haku Vodka emboldened with rye whisky, Lillet Blanc, Benedictine DOM and shisho bitters. Sip crispness with the Clarity ($23++) of Roku Gin lifted with Green Chartreuse, Blo Nardini Grappa, Taylor’s Velvet Falernum and just a few drops of whisky barrel-aged bitters.

Address: 50 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058682

Website: https://www.lumo.sg

Instagram: @lumo_sg 

Tess Bar & Kitchen

Fruity and floral, a bright twist on the classic.

Tess Kitchen & Bar unveils the North Side ($23++) that will tickle the tastebuds with ripe profile of Roku Gin sweetened with Poire pear puree, lime juice and Togarashi salt and a garnishing of mint leaves. Umeshu lovers will revel in the Plum Treasure ($23++) that shakes up Haku Vodka with umeshu, cherry blossom cordial and rosé wine for sips that are fruity and floral. Fragrance comes in a glass with the Lemongrass Gimlet ($23++) of Roku Gin fragranced with lemongrass cordial, St Germain elderflower liqueur and lemon juice. 

Address: 36 Seah St, Singapore 188392

Website: https://tessbar.com

Instagram: @tessbarsg

Catfish

An exotic Oriental immersion.

Catfish takes an exotic oriental spin on its cocktail offerings with drinks like Salmon Saketini ($25++) of Roku Gin, Junmai sake and Bianco vermouth teased with unconventional additions of fresh salmon and soy wasabi, all in one glass. There’s also the Haku Matchatini ($25++) that’s a boozy take on matcha green tea with Haku Vodka and Galliano Ristretto sweetened with yoghurt liqueur and shaken with matcha powder. The Haro ($25++) will sit well with more conventional palates with Roku Gin, Haku Vodka and Lillet Blanc brightened with yuzu juice and lemon peel.

Address: 5 Gemmill Lane, Singapore 069261

Website: https://catfish.sg

Instagram: @catfish.izakaya

Club 5

Indulge in a palette of colours.

Club 5 looks to Suntory’s Japanese roots with the Wasabi-Tini ($22++) of Roku Gin laced with yuzu sake for brightness, wasabi for a punch of heat and embellished with jelly for texture. For something richer, the Choco Mallows ($20++) combines Haku Vodka with chocolate and coconut for a rich creaminess and colours it a deep blue for a treat for the eyes with Butterfly Pea Flower extracts. Floral freshness comes with the Okinawa’s Winter Flower ($20++) that dresses up Roku Gin with roselle, ginger elderflower and lemongrass for blooming flavours reminiscent of the height of spring.

Address: 7500 Beach Road, Singapore 199591

Website: www.panpacific.com/club5-prsin

Instagram: @club5sg

Las Palmas

Inspired by the stories of Old Hollywood.

Las Palmas takes cocktail appreciators to a trip down Old Hollywood with its renditions of the martini like Ol Blue Eyes ($20++) of Roku Gin emboldened with sherry and fragranced with rose syrup, almond extract and lemon juice. The Marilyn ($20++) is a nod to one of cinema’s greatest names with Haku Vodka layered with hazelnut, passionfruit and tonka bean before it is refreshed with lime juice. Finally the Rat Pack ($20++) transports drinkers to the brazenness of New York at night with Roku Gin shaken up with sherry, Bruto Americano, lemon and pearls.

Address: 99 Irrawaddy Rd, Level 33 Courtyard Marriott Singapore, Singapore 329568

Website: https://www.laspalmasbar.com

Instagram: @laspalmasbarsg

All photos courtesy of Brand Cellar. 

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team