Part of the fun and joy of being initiated into the world of spirits is the journey of discovery and experimentation. It begins with the first sip of a mind-blowing dram of whisky. Or perhaps the peculiar and unique taste of a particular rum that completely turned what you thought alcohol could taste like on its head. Oftentimes, all we need is a little nudge in the right direction with the help of a knowledgeable and friendly bartender to guide us into the world of spirits.

The cosmopolitan city of Singapore has a pretty colourful and creative bar scene, especially when it comes to experimental cocktails of the sort. But many may not be aware that Singapore is also home to some great whisky and fine spirits bars. In fact, we’re no stranger to some the best ones in this little city ourselves.

We’re un-gatekeeping our favourite haunts for the best places in Singapore you can go to discover a whole range of whiskies, rums, and the highest quality craft spirits of the sort.

1. The Swan Song

If you’re an old soul at heart or someone with an appreciation for the rare and unique, you’ll love The Swan Song’ high-quality selection of vintage and rare whiskies. The Swan Song has a strong focus on Scotch, and their rare and vintage selections are handpicked to be brought into the country. You can expect to come across many exquisite bottles here that you can only find here.

The Swan Song is also brand agnostic, meaning their selection is incredibly diverse and amongst the widest where it comes to vintage Scotch. You'll also find a tidy selection of Bourbons and rums, but more importantly be sure to say "hi!" to Arun, the well-regarded barkeep!

Visit The Swan Song at:
41A Boat Quay, Singapore 049830
+65 6235 7674
Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 5:00PM – 11:00PM
Closed on Sundays

2. The Single Cask

Tucked away in the historic building complex of CHIJMES right in the heart of Singapore’s civic district is The Single Cask, the whisky bar and international independent bottler where you can regularly find their own bottled Scotch. The Single Cask is a great place for beginners or anyone that might feel a little intimidated by the world of whiskies – the folks at The Single Cask are always friendly and can guide you through your search for the perfect dram.

They're constantly running masterclasses to introduce the community to emerging brands and in our opinion, TSC does a fantastic job of bringing the social to spirits! Be sure to give a shout to Yixian, Weide or Brendan if you're over!

Visit The Single Cask at:
30 Victoria Street Caldwell House, CHIJMES, #01-25, 187996
+65 6837 0953
Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 5:00PM – 12:00PM
Closed on Sundays

3. La Maison du Whisky

Originally established in France, La Maison du Whisky, is a major importer of whiskies and spirits into Singapore and is one of the largest fine spirits distributors in the world. They’re also the guys behind the city’s major whisky and spirits event of the year, Whisky Live Singapore. It’s no surprise then that you’d be able to find a wide range of whiskies and all different kinds of spirits here for you to taste and discover.

La Maison Du Whisky’s outlet, located amidst the laid-back atmosphere of Robertson Walk, is a popular haunt for whisky and spirits enthusiasts to try out new releases and imports into Singapore - they distribute some of the most renown spirits brands! Its robust retail selection also gives you the option to purchase and bring home a full bottle of something you might have really liked. Here you'll find whiskies - Scotch, Japanese and world whiskies, Bourbons, Rums, Mezcals, Gins, Liqueurs and a whole lot more!

Visit La Maison du Whisky at:
80 Mohamed Sultan Rd, #01-10, Singapore 239013
+65 8725 8985
Opening Hours:
Tuesday – Wednesday, 12:00PM – 12:00AM
Thursday, 6:00PM – 12:00AM
Friday – Saturday, 12:00PM – 1.30AM
Closed on Mondays and Sundays

4. Samsu Huay Kuan

There’s a special charm about a whisky bar that has a “hidden away” feel to it, and Samsu Huay Kuan is a unique find in the Singapore bar and whisky landscape where you can find a wonderful range of niche whiskies and fine spirits. Samsu Huay Kuan is a Japanese whisky-focused bar with probably one of the most diverse Japanese whisky selections you can find on this island. For a category that's become very popular over the last decade, they sure have a solid foothold on the hot stuff! They also have a good selection of rums and other types of spirits such as cognacs and brandies.

Samsu is also regularly hosting masterclasses, bringing a whole assortment of brands to make their debut on the island - keep a watch out for those! The bar is also the perfect hideaway for some respite from the crowd of shoppers at Orchard Road. Give Jeremiah the owner and man-behind-the-bar a wave for us!

Visit Samsu Huay Kuan at:
100 Orchard Rd, #02-33 Concorde Hotel & Shopping Mall, Singapore 238840
+65 8808 2806
Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 5:30PM – 12:00AM
Closed on Sundays

5. The Auld Alliance

Among the whisky enthusiasts in Singapore, the Auld Alliance’s library of fine spirits and whiskies make this place a must-visit if you’re looking to dive deeper and explore a wide range of spirits. The Auld Alliance has a great selection of rare and vintage scotch, while also having a heavy focus on quality rums. They’re also a globally reputed bar with their own independent bottlings, often partnering with other well-regarded bottlers to bring in some incredibly rare vintage spirits under their own flag.

The warm atmospheric lights, wooden finishings of the bar and cozy armchair seatings make this the perfect environment for an evening of appreciating fine whiskies, good conversation and conviviality.

Visit The Auld Alliance at:
9 Bras Basah Rd, #02-02A Rendezvous Hotel, Singapore 189559
+65 6337 2201
Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday, 5:00PM – 1:00AM
Closed on Tuesdays

6. Quaich Bar

For those who love whisky and cocktails, you’d probably want to add Quaich Bar to your list of watering holes in Singapore. Quaich Bar is also the distributor for many well-know brands such as Springbank, and often brings in highly regarded whisky brands with a focus on Scotch. Since opening at their original location at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront in 2007, they’ve expanded to three locations offering great cocktails and whiskies for an evening of good-quality sipping.

Visit Quaich Bar at:
Grand Copthorne Waterfront, 390A Havelock Rd, Singapore 169664
+65 6732 3452
Opening Hours:
Sunday – Thursday, 5:00PM – 1:00AM
Friday – Saturday, 5:00PM – 2:00AM

Till next time, happy sipping!

@ChopstickPride