A year or two ago, we headed down to a quaint little bar at Craig Road to discover the possibilities for healing through what was termed Singapore's first "mental wellness" bar.

Walking into Spectre two years on, I was quite chuffed to see that not much had changed, with the familiar sight of a TV wall in the far corner, as well as bushels of dried flowers hanging near the entrance.

But some things have changed! Case in point: Bar Spectre has revamped their cocktail menu revamp, which just so happens to be the very reason I'm here today. 

Before we get into the new menu, Bar Spectre was founded by ex-Masterchef contestant Inch Chua and SEA Suntory Brand Ambassador Andrew Pang back in 2023, marrying the concept of mental wellness with the unexpected aspect of the bar and alcohol.

Despite the latter being very much associated to addiction and bad decisions, Bar Spectre has since done very well in transforming that stereotype.

As Andrew greeted me with his usual cheer this day, bartender Justin Su put me through a little ritual that I was rather pleased stuck around. For those familiar with Bar Spectre, this is perhaps one of their most familiar features:

Before any menus appeared, I was handed a slip of paper and told to inscribe something from my past or future that weighed upon my mind. After which, a lighter was thrust into my hands and I was told to set it on fire as a sort of cleansing act.

Seems like Bar Spectre has continued to try and improve its ability to serve as a platform for mental wellness since we last went, too. Andrew shares that he is trying to send all his staff for what he calls "Psychological First Aid", or how to better help guests who could use said help. He confesses it's something easier said than done.

"The idea is, how do I cut people off if they've been drinking? How do I tell them to scan the QR code to see a counselor and things like that?" The basis of Spectre is all about rethinking mental wellness, but also in part revisioning mental struggles. 

"Personally, I find that it's not so much that there is always a vicious downward spiral. It could be upwards as well. So keeping them busy learning or things to do or engaged, that's what we do here, even for our own staff. But a lot of people, you know, realize or discover something while they're here just having conversation with other people," he added.

The revamped menu is quite an ingenious one, too.

The menu is designed such that when you open it to the middle, you see the classics and Spectre's signatures on a page apiece. As Andrew says, classics are important to the folks at Bar Spectre because they are comfort drinks, but the design will also allow for a comparison between classic cocktails and the drinks with Spectre's riffs on them.

There's also a section of non-alcoholic drinks that can also be "alcohol-itised"! 

"The flavors are very similar, but we didn't just want the people who were not drinking alcohol to feel left out. You actually have your own zing with your own recipe, and then you can always make it alcoholic."

So, how do some of the drinks from the new menu taste like?

First up to bat is the rather refreshing Narrative. Considered under the non-alcoholic selection, I first had it without any alcohol, as intended. It's a marriage of Citric Acid, Umami, Celery, Cucumber, Onion and Tonic Water.

I must say, it's expectedly a rather savory, moreish drink. The fascinating trio of umami, celery, and cucumber, is in equal parts cool, refreshing, bright and lip-smacking. Cut through with the citric, the presence of onion adds a surprising amount of sweetness with a classic onion kick on the end. There's that nice bitter tonic to tie everything together too!

For the alcoholic version, Justin threw in some Mezcal, which I must say really does elevate this drink. The smoky grassiness of the Mezcal brings out the earthiness of the Onion and Cucumber even more. Somehow, it makes the whole drink even more moreish and refreshing, with just enough savoriness remaining to make you remember every sip.

The meaning behind the drink is interesting too. The drink was made with the concept of being mindful of the voices around you. Andrew explains: "When you're going through something tough and difficult, what are other people around you telling you? Are you surrounded by people who tell you it's not that bad? Or are you surrounded by people who say, "Hey, I'm here with you. We're gonna work this out together"?"

The second drink, Dialog, made me mildly confused for a moment, seeing as to how there was a rather large cherry tomato sitting at the bottom of the glass. A murky green mix of Lillet Blanc, Nordes Gin, Garlic, and Umami.

This is exactly what it sounds like: A Martini with a twist. The Lillet Blanc contributes its classic floral, honeyed, and slightly bitter citrus notes at the entrance, which together with the umami creates yet another sweet, gently savory experience. 

In addition, the use of gin brightens it up a fair bit, and makes it lean toward a botanical, perky cocktail instead of an overly savory one. The garlic is curiously, not as overwhelming as one might expect, instead taking on a subtle role of lending a somewhat sweet, subtly spicy kick that only barely registers on the finish. Lovely all the same!

This drink acts as a bit of a flip side for the Narrative. The difference?

"Narrative is what people talk to you about, right? Dialog is where you have other people who actually have a discussion with you. We can talk about you being separate from your feelings. If you're angry doesn't mean that that's your character. You're just angry in the moment. So you should be able to separate that with your being."

The third (and last) drink is the Precipice of Old, a bold combination of Grapefruit bitters, Tumeric, Peppermint Kombucha, Rice Spirit, Lillet Blanc and Roku Gin. 

For all the ingredients, this is certainly a clean-tasting cocktail. It's all the right kinds of herbal, bitter, floral, and even subtly spicy . The Lillet Blanc shines through again with its bittersweet-botanical flair, accentuated ever so slightly with the faint presence of grapefruit bitters.

I'd like to think the tumeric presence adds a slight spark and earthiness to the body, which is already nice and silky due to the rice spirits and Gin within. This is complemented by the refreshing zest of peppermint, which also brings a tangy edge that's curiously enough, almost imperceptible and not at all cloying (Which peppermint might sometimes be). Overall, the ability to tell the flavors apart, however slight, is delightful despite it being a slightly more spirit-forward drink.

And of course, it certainly lives up to its name, being quite the bold, complex drink that really makes the concept of "moving on" all that more salient.

In my opinion, Spectre continues to be a thought-provoking standout in Singapore's bar scene. With a well-meaning concept, intriguing drinks and an equally-adept bar team, I'd certainly recommend a visit if you're feeling down. If you're not, grab a friend who could use a little pep up and head on down!

Lok Bing Hong A budding journalist that loves experiencing new things and telling people's stories. I have 30 seconds of irresponsibly sanctimonious brilliance a day. I do not decide when they come. They are not consecutive.