Can you savour the contours of a perfectly tailored suit, or the potpourri of a warehouse’s worth of recycled items? This year, the team at Singapore's Nutmeg & Clove sets out to do just that with the launch of their new cocktail menu "The Stories of Our Community", which features 12 new cocktails designed to capture the essence of 12 local businesses, the people who helm it, and the crafts they champion.

Rattantastic ($26)

For example, Chun Mee Lee Rattan Furniture (122 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-68) was established in 1948, specialising in handmade rattan furniture that possesses a natural longevity in the skillful hands of its current proprietor Chen Fook Kee. The refreshing Rattantastic ($26) evokes the rattan palm in the form of bamboo liqueur and rum, paired with dried sugarcane, pine tea and green apple and celery juice. Guests may also notice the chic rattan lamp shades when visiting Nutmeg & Clove, which were commissioned from Chun Mee Lee.

Clay It Cool is a spin on the classic Ramos Gin Fizz made from Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Whisky, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, walnuts, carrots, tarragon, cream and egg whites inspired by Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle (85 Lorong Tawas), home to the oldest and only surviving wood-fired dragon kiln, dating back to the 1960s. The cocktail is served in a customized hand thrown cup manufactured by the Tan family, who have been managing the dragon kiln since the 1950s.

Dirty Kopi ($26)

Kim Guan Guan (1550 Bedok North Avenue 4, #05-30), established in 1988, champions Singapore’s coffee heritage through their dedication to roasting and preparing traditional Nanyang-style coffee. Inspired by this heritage, the Dirty Kopi ($26) elevates the classic Kopi with a symphony of flavors: Bacardi Ocho 8 Year Rum for oaky depth, KGG Cold Brew Coffee for bold aroma, Cherry Brine for tartness, Berry Tea for floral notes, Fino Sherry for salinity, and Black Sesame Foam for nutty texture, completing this homage to Singapore's coffee culture.

Pin Cushion

Pin Cushion is a floral-accented version of a Vesper Martini made in tribute of C. Armani Tailors (14 Scotts Road, #02-42 Far East Plaza), a tailor shop that's been around since 1997 and helmed by owner Jeetu Mahtani, who was the also creator behind the uniforms at Nutmeg. Made from Monkey 47 Dry Gin, fino sherry, lillet blanc, fernut hunter granit, bergamot, patchouli and geranium, Pin Cushion is also served with a selection of three different garnishes, allowing patrons to select their own bespoke garnish pairing. 

In creating this menu, the team, under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Colin Chia, Group Operations Director Shelley Tai, and Assistant Head Bartender Alvin Koh, sought out 12 local businesses that have been passionately plying their craft within the local community, playing a part in bringing connection to the people around them. The months-in-the-making project was a huge undertaking, as the team wanted to not just support these individual businesses but also to raise awareness by putting faces and pictures to their stories, in hopes that they can continue plying their craft in the face of today’s challenges. 

In the same vein, says Shelley Tai, Nutmeg & Clove has built a community around its warm hospitality, touch of nostalgia, and a place for good times for the past 11 years. “Just as how the businesses featured have brought generations together, our inspired cocktails bring together creative combinations of unique flavours, each with a story to tell,” she says.

Beyond their innovative cocktail program, Nutmeg & Clove's new menu also features enticing new food items designed to complement the drinks. Savory highlights include the Crispy Brussels ($15), featuring fried Brussels sprouts with a rojak glaze, pickled ginger flower, pomegranate, chopped peanut, and shaved parmesan; the Pork Curry Puff ($17), a delectable combination of Kurobuta minced pork curry, mozzarella, and turmeric aioli encased in flaky puff pastry; and the Har Cheong Pork Bites ($20), showcasing Borrowdale free-range pork collar infused with prawn paste and served with sambal belacan and calamansi. For a sweet finish, the Ice Cream Roll ($10) offers a unique blend of attap seed ice cream, peanut brittle, popiah skin, and coriander.

Nutmeg & Clove

Address: 8 Purvis Street Singapore 188587

Opening Hours: 5:00 PM to midnight daily

Contact Number: +65 9389 9301

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Happy sipping! 

@lotusroot518