It's pretty established that Singapore is quite the outlier in its part of the world - tourists often remark that their first impressions of the tiny island country is that of a glitzy and modern, almost high fashion sort of place that's where you go to be seen when it comes to Southeast Asia. Yet locals, with their unshakeable pragmatism, will paint you a very different view - one that's often said to be small, with little to do, and at times can even be alittle slow moving. But the food's pretty damn good - that a universal fact that everyone can agree upon.

Being one of the six million citizens of the sunny island, my view often leans towards the latter - the places I spend most of my time and my life growing up in are far less flashy, yet certainly far more homely. The streets, the food stalls, where the nearest 7-11 probably is, and of course the people - it all feels very familiar. That tends to be the case when you've spent some three decades in a place. And that also means that much like my fellow countrymen (and women), I'm not immune to finding the country alittle replete of things to do at times. And so as most folks do, I find myself a hobby. 

Two very different sides of Singapore - both agree that the food's great.

Now if you ask the people here how they found their friends, you'll often find them to be the result of having spent time together as classmates (a remarkable deal of Singaporean life is spent in classrooms after all), through mandatory military National Service (for the men), and for the lucky few through work, or last but not least, through interest groups. And so in rather stereotypical fashion, I too found many friends through my interest in the drinks scene. But does it really matter how one finds their friends? I don't think that has much bearing at all where it comes to the quality of the friendship. A friend is a friend no matter. And everyone loves their friends, no matter where that friendship came from - it's just as real, isn't it? 

Over the past half a decade, I've met a vast array of folks from most any walk of life you could think of - some of them work in the drinks business, in varying capacities, and then many are simply avid drammers (as they say) who simply love good drinks and are often generous enough to share them. And I have to say it's been a thoroughly colourful time with these folks, often filled with laughter, and of course many bottles that I'll remember for a lifetime. That's all to say that these folks whom I've met through my fascination with drinks, have made what I would've otherwise deemed a rather mundane place (which is in totality not the worst thing that it could be, so I'm not without appreciation) that much more rich, deep and fun.

The man behind Singapore Liquid Gold Club (SLGC).

And for that I have to give credit to a pretty nifty laundry list of folks, but today I'll focus on just one - the Singapore Liquid Gold Club. Founded in 2015 as a Facebook group by James P., it quickly became the townsquare for anyone on the island who was big into spirits, with whiskies being a particular focus. Bottle share nights were hosted, as were numerous spirits events, and you could even use it as a marketplace to facilitate exchanging and the buying and selling of bottles (although that's no longer allowed on Facebook) - with the SLGC, as it's usually known, the spirits scene in Singapore suddenly became that much more vibrant - and of course, many friendships were made. Although I only joined some years later just shy of the pandemic, I've still been fortunate enough to have met numerous members who I now call friends. Big cheers to the SLGC and I hope its spirit never ceases!

And of course like any proper spirits group, it's unsurprising that in its heyday several private bottlings were made for and by the group - and today we're incredibly fortunate to try what I believe is amongst the first ever (or perhaps it is the first ever!) bottling made for SLGC, a bonafide piece of Singapore spirits scene history! And I'm not just hyping how rare it is to spot it in the wild these days (it's 2025) - just 36 bottles of these exist! But of course thanks to SLGC's very own James, I got to try it. 

"EYE-GIS-HIOWLM-ER"

The Helm Of Awe

In the Fafnismal, one of the poems in the Poetic Edda. The havoc-wrecking dragon Fafnir attributes much of his apparent invincibility to his use of the Helm of Awe:

"The Helm Of Awe

I Wore Before The Sons Of Men

In Defense Of My Treasure;

Amongst All, I Alone Was Strong.

I Thought To Myself,

For I Found No Power A Match For My Own."

Is what it says on the back label, obviously going for a whole Viking theme here, because it is after all Highland Park, I mean Orkney (well, technically the island holds two-ish distilleries).

This was distilled in 2003, it's 15 years old, and given a first-fill Olorosso (?) finish, bottled at 54.7% ABV.

Let's go!

Whisky Review: Orkney 2003, 15 Years Old, Bottled Exclusively For Singapore Liquid Gold Club (SLGC)

Tasting Notes

Colour: Deep Gold

Aroma: It opens with lush notes of honey that forms the base for some orchard fruit tones of apricots and oranges. More on orange blossoms, really taking quite a bright and orange-y outline to its aromas. It continues to develop, giving black tea, lavender, violet florals, dried rose buds, cardamom - a whole potpourri really. At the base are some darker and more concentrated scents of stewed plums and raisins. There's quite a lot going on here, coming through layer upon layer.

Taste: Medium-bodied here, yet really rich. More of that honey and sticky fruits of stewed plums and prunes, as well as some of that perfumed potpourri, especially focused on roses and cardamom. It really is quite spiced even on the body, yet always coated in a layer of honey that's topped by those classic Sherry fruits. It's got a very nice depth to it and the Sherry integration here is really seamless and well done - the cask flavours are kept bold but not overwhelming, still very much allowing the Orkney spirit to come through. It's also got a really supple and rich body that holds together throughout.

Finish: Some rancio begins to come through on the finish, dried sour plums, leather, figs. It's a long finish with a deep, deep warmth. More on violet florals, black tea, potpourri and barley sugars continues to show itself.

My Thoughts 

A really lovely expression of Highland Park! It shows a really nice balance and integration between the cask and the spirit where both sides really come through boldly with their flavours in a totally harmonious way, delivering great complexity, and yet without ever any sense that either side is overwhelming or having to jostle for space. They come together seamlessly and that's all reflected with such expressiveness! On top of that, it's got great richness to it, and at various points, really nice floral and spiced aspects that are vibrant and radiant. The whisky has great concentration and richness, and strikes a really self assured stance, relaxed and unhurried. 

Great whisky, great local community! To many more years SLGC!