A first for Singapore – Joint bottling by The Writing Club, Quaich Bar, The Swan Song, New Ubin Seafood
If you are browsing these pages and are familiar with the local Whisky scene, you would know Khoon Hui, whisky godfather and proprietor of Quaich Bar, the very first Whisky bar in Singapore. Khoon Hui had an idea for a joint bottling between some new Singapore whisky bars, and after some discussion and what must be several rounds, this 28 yo Linkwood was selected. On the back label you will find their names: The Writing Club (Soo San, at Palais Renaissnace, Quaich Bar, The Swan Song (Arun and Kelvin, at Prinsep Street), and of course New Ubin Seafood (not a bar per se, but hey they outdrink us all).
At this point, a disclaimer – I am a backer of The Swan Song; Yes you will find me there now and then helping out; No I avoid advertisements on this blog; Yes the reviews on this blog are written with the utmost objectivity with no economic interests in mind.
This is a significant step as it represents a first collaboration between local whisky bars. Simply put, this has not been done before, and it’s my genuine hope that it becomes a thing despite them occupying various niches. It speaks to a like-mindedness and collegiate goodwill, the warmth of whisky connoisseurs, and a brotherhood of bartenders. Ask at these bars and you will find they are perfectly happy to point you onwards to other great bars, then will you know they are firstly connoisseurs and bar owners second. Only a few bars in Singapore are run from the heart in this way, and when things are done from the heart, expect great service and open arms.
We had a small dinner at New Ubin Seafood to celebrate (I hear smoky pork curry is an off-menu special), and Matthew took us through the evening and the flight of Cadenhead whisky he had chosen – great selection Matthew, I see you have made it out of Glenfiddich without suffering too badly. I won’t talk about the Littlemill, Clynelish, or Bowmore as I have reviewed them highly here and there, suffice to say they were superb representations of their distillery styles and vintages.
The Linkwood however I have not, but I plan to do so in the near future. Matthew and Arun have already done so, and I completely agree with their views, just know that it is absolutely dripping in sherry being drawn from a first fill butt, and I think with some air it really takes off despite the massive sherry and wood influence. And so it is congratulations and thanks that I offer to Khoon Hui, Quiach, Writing Club, Swan Song and New Ubin. PS we should do this more often…
Whiskyrific RSS
- Craigellachie 31 yo Batch Batch 04-6137 52.2% vs Cragganmore 29 yo 1973 / 2003 Special Release 52.5%
- Convalmore 36 yo 1977 / 2013 Special Release 58% vs Convalmore 36 yo 1977 / 2013 Cadenhead 58.2%
- Littlemill 24 yo 1989 / 2013 The Whisky Agency and Acla 52.9% vs Lochside 27yo Single Grain James MacArthur’s Old Master 60.5%
- Springbank 10 yo 46% vs Springbank 26 yo 1992 / 2019 Whisky Kingdom #153b 47.7% vs Springbank 22 yo 1993 / 2015 The Bottlers #227 51.9%
- Imperial 1979 / 1991 Gordon & Macphail 40% vs Imperial 1991 / 2008 Gordon & Macphail 43%
- Pulteney 1971 The Piper’s Preferred by Scotchconnection 55.3% vs Old Pulteney 26 yo 1990 / 2017 Cadenhead 175th Anniversary 52.6%
- Clynelish 26 yo 1990 / 2016 Cadenhead 45.3% vs Highland Park 28 yo 1989 / 2018 Cadenhead 48.8%
- Linkwood 29 yo 1989 / 2019 SMWS 39.180 51% vs Linkwood 11 yo 2007 / 2019 SMWS 39.176 58%
- Strathisla 1967 / 2004 Duncan Taylor 45.9% vs Strathisla 1965 James MacArthur 51.7%
- Lagavulin 12 yo Carpano Import 43% vs Lagavulin 15 yo ceramic decanter 45%
