Made using a variety of botanicals and spices, gin exudes herbaceous qualities that make it tricky to play around with.

Yet, simplicity is key when it comes to this underrated spirit and something as simple as a gin and tonic is one of those simple concoctions that bears timeless appeal. When it comes to gin—a drink that warrants no unnecessary flair or fancy ingredients—it is always the delicate treatments that work best.

To truly experience the very best that gin has to offer, we strongly suggest leaving it to the masters who have dedicated their lives to perfecting their craft. Here is our list of the best gin bars in Singapore.

#1 THE SPIFFY DAPPER

Housing an impressive array of esoteric gins that only true connoisseurs will recognise, The Spiffy Dapper is a place not to miss. Featuring a theme that is part rustic and part playful, it is the ideal spot to grab a tipple during happy hour at any time of the week or drown out all your worries on the weekends.

Just let the bartenders know what particular flavour profile you are going for and allow them to whip you up something delicious.

73 Amoy St, Second Floor
Singapore 069892
Tel: +65 8655 0829
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 1am
Fri: 5pm – 2am
Sat: 6pm – 2am
Sun: 6pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Chinatown

#2 OXWELL & CO

Oxwell & Co. is probably the only bar in Singapore that serves cocktails on tap. Their house speciality, the Gin & Chronic is a twist on the classic G&T. As much as we agree that nothing beats a properly hand-crafted drink, we admire Oxwell’s willingness to be different.

5 Ann Siang Rd
Singapore 069688
Tel: +65 6438 3984
Mon: 4pm – 12am
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer / Chinatown

Photo Credit: Cin Cin

#3 CIN CIN

Located in the heart of the Tanjong Pagar district, Cin Cin is the perfect spot to raise a toast to the good life. Gin enthusiasts also have worth getting excited over, with the bar’s curation of over a hundred different varieties of gin, along with a fair amount of vermouths, bitters, and tonics.

100 Peck Seah St
Singapore 079333
Tel: +65 6385 2604
Sun to Thu: 5pm – 12am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

Photo Credit: El Tardeo

#4 EL TARDEO

Located just a stone’s throw from its sister restaurant Binomio, El Tardeo specialises in stellar Spanish tapas and some of the tastiest gin cocktails around. The Elder Collins—a concoction of Gordon’s cucumber gin, a splash of Elderflower liqueur, peach purée, lemon and soda—really stands up to the robust flavours of some of their more savoury dishes like their oxtail sandwich.

Fans of G&T can also opt to try their version, which comes garnished with a stalk of rosemary, juniper berries and a lemon peel.

20 Craig Rd, #01-01 Craig Place,
Singapore 089692
Tel: +65 6221 6288
Sun: Closed
Mon to Thu: 4pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 4pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Photo Credit: ATLAS

#5 ATLAS

Noted as Singapore’s very own Gotham City with its magnificent exterior, Parkview Square is truly a sight to behold, but what really impressed us was ATLAS, the bar at the lobby that features a wide range of gin-focussed cocktails and a literal tower of gin.

ATLAS houses hundreds of gin brands and varieties, making it the ultimate place for gin enthusiasts and curious tipplers alike to hang out at. We highly recommend the ATLAS Martini that is as elegant as it is absolutely delicious.

600 North Bridge Road,
Parkview Square
Singapore 188778
Tel: +65 6396 4466
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Thu: 10am – 1am
Fri & Sat: 3pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Bugis

#6 THE RABBIT HOLE

With more than 15 brands of specially curated gin to choose from, on a menu that is conveniently categorised into five separate flavour profiles ranging from traditional and dry to floral and elegant, you don’t need to be an expert to have an excellent time at The Rabbit Hole.

The bar itself is situated at the former British army barracks, in a garden that doubles up as a herb garden in which many of the bar’s botanical delights come from. The good folks at The Rabbit Hole are not one to cut corners—even their tonic is made in-house. Expect your drinks to come beautifully garnished with a variety of vibrant herbs and fruits.

39C Harding Road
Singapore 249541
Tel: +65 6473 9965
Sun to Thu: 6pm – 11.30pm
Fri & Sat: 6pm – 12.30am
Nearest Station: Farrer Road

#7 THE SECRET MERMAID

The Secret Mermaid is a tasting room and cocktail bar focused on American craft spirits located in the heart of Raffles Place. The Secret Mermaid features a large selection of gin, whiskey, vodka, rum, and houses a large collection of craft spirits.

Some of their more notable gin-based masterpieces include the Rose Oolong Negroni which features Greenhook gin infused with rose oolong tea, Campari, an Italian vermouth and lavender bitters for that subtle floral note, as well as their twist on the classic G&T that features chilli and lime for an added kick.

10 Collyer Quay
B1-08, Ocean Financial Centre,
Singapore 049315
Sat & Sun: Closed
Mon to Fri: 5pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

For more recommendations, read our guide on 25 Best Rooftop Bars in Singapore with the best views of the city.

One of the best cocktail spirits around is gin; a clear alcoholic spirit distilled from grain or malt, flavoured thereafter by infusing a variety of botanicals (this process is known as compounding), including juniper. Its diverse flavour profile makes this un-aged spirit perfect for cocktails. We speak to some of the industry experts to give you a crash course on gin (and save you from the embarrassment of mistaking vodka for the former).

Home to one of Singapore’s largest collection of gin, The Spiffy Dapper boasts a stunning collection of 75 types of gin, including a number of house-infused gins and rare gins like The Duke (which has since ceased production) and Uncle Vals (only bottle available in Asia). Here, owner-bartender Abhishek Cherian George (known for crazy boundary-pushing concoctions) shares his knowledge on the topic.

First things first. What exactly is gin?

Gin is effectively vodka flavoured with botanicals. Vodka has no taste and no smell, while gin will smell and taste of the botanicals is used to flavour the gins.

Most gins are clear and look identical in nature. How do you tell one gin apart from another?

Most gins have different botanicals—even the traditional London drys. Once you start tasting different gins, you will be able to differentiate them based on the botanicals you smell and taste. Some differences are nuanced while others are more evident.

How do you judge the quality of gin?

We base it on the mouthfeel, quality of base spirit and the type of botanicals used. When it comes to picking personal favourites, adventure and imagination is key. An example would be New Deal Gin 33. Only juniper berries is used in this gin, but the complexity of its taste shows otherwise—the balance the distiller has gotten out of this gin is phenomenal.

Co-owner and founder of Liberty Spirits Asia (distributer of American craft spirits) and tasting room The Secret Mermaid Howard Lo, is a staunch believer of artisanal gin. We check in with him to find out the difference between British and American gin.

Gin originated form Britain. Why the preference of American gin over British gin?

With American gins, the distilleries are open to deviating from the popular London Dry style of gin. This gives you more variety with different botanicals leading the taste. Currently, there are many distilleries making gin in what is called an “American Dry” style, although there is no true style or characteristic of American gin aside from innovativeness. One of my favourite American gins is Greenhook Ginsmith’s Greenhook American Dry Gin that uses a unique distillation process (mercury vacuum still)—a complex gin that includes botanicals such as orris root, Thai galangal and elderberries. It has a heavier mouthfeel and provides a sensation that you’re working your way through more botanicals.

What are the qualities you look out for when selecting a gin?

In general, looking for the balance of juniper with other botanicals, before focusing on which flavours said botanicals bring out.

What is the best way to “taste” a gin to fully savour its flavour profile?

To taste the gin, add a drop or two of water to help bring out the scent and nose the gin to take in the aromas. As you sip it, let the gin slowly roll around each part of your tongue.

A finalist in the G’Vine Gin Connoisseur Program Global Finals in 2012, head bartender at Manhattan Bar, Ricky Paiva, has a discerning palate for artisanal spirits. He backs up Lo’s take on American spirits.

What gin would you highly recommend?

St. George Terrior Gin. It’s very eccentric. Master distiller Lance Winters wanted to make a gin from his home, so he chopped down a tree and put it in his still. This gin has an evergreen nose that’s a bit dry from fennel, but is smooth and incredibly aromatic. The Rusty Gin is another custom-sourced bottle. Made in a local distillery outside San Francisco, Rusty Gin is aged in wine barrels for 4 months, resulting in an earthy, maple caramelised flavour the colour of rust—hence its name.

About the writer: 
Mandy Lynn is a former I-S Magazine writer and current columnist at Nookmag; her dining and nightlife features are published in Appetite Asia, Food & Travel, and Singapore Tatler Dining. For bite-sized food recommendations, follow her on Instagram and Facebook, or join her Gourmet Adventures to keep up with the latest openings in the dining scene.