When it comes to classic spirits, rum may not come first in your mind, as compared to say fine scotch, nor is it a spirit associated with crazy wild parties. In that grey area between classy and crazy, rum is a spirit that sits in between.

You may associate rum with the beach and tiki bar cocktails—and you’d be right to think so. Few spirits can make a beach cocktail like rum can. Period. In fact, rum, which is made from sugar cane, is the key ingredient to many of the classic tiki cocktails.

A versatile spirit, rum is one of those things that can taste excellent in a cocktail given its complexity of flavour notes, but few would agree that having it neat or on the rocks would be ideal—until now.

Having won several prestigious awards and the hearts of many abroad, Don Q is set to make a smooth yet assertive entry—much like their rums—into the Asia Pacific region with their portfolio of premium rums that boast distinctive bouquets, tasting notes and balance. We tried it for ourselves and were utterly blown away by the sheer smoothness of it.

Our readers can use our code ‘LADYIRONCHEF’ to get 10% off Don Q’s rums on Club Parcel Santa with a minimum spending of S$100.

A spirit that comes with the promise of versatility, fragrant complexity, excellent taste and a clear subtlety that’s unmatched, Don Q is, hands down, our newest go to. And here’s why it should be yours too!

DON Q CRISTAL

For what it’s worth, the Don Q Cristal is an excellent white rum to have on your shelf. Clean-tasting, light-bodied and easy to drink—which is undoubtedly its intended style—, this product is quite literally the only white rum you’ll ever need whether you choose to simply have it with soda and ice, to concoct your rum-colas or even to jazz up a classic summertime mojito with.

A versatile product, the Don Q Cristal won us over with its ultra-smooth finish and its ability to taste good in literally any cocktail. It’s great for mixing in both frozen and non-frozen cocktails and forms the perfect base for anything—which is fantastic given its price.
And before the sceptics begin to say anything, we assure you that Don Q has several awards to show for it. Clinching the top prize of ‘Best Rum in a Mojito’ at the inaugural Ultimate Cocktail Challenge in New York, along with many other major prestigious awards, we suppose that it’s safe to say that the Cristal can be relied on.

DON Q GOLD

Perhaps one of the most remarkable facts about the Don Q Gold is that the world’s very first Pina Colada cocktail—invented in 1954—was made using the Don Q Gold as its base spirit.

Don Q Gold is a favourite of those searching for a classic rum taste. Its production process is pretty much similar the Cristal but with more flavour added to it give traditional rum cocktails its distinctive spiced edge. The Gold is blended using multiple varietals of rums aged between 1 and a half to 5 years. The result? A spirit that’s smooth, easy on the palate and damn good in a Piña Colada.

DON Q AÑEJO

Fashioned to suit the palates of even the most distinct connoisseur, the Don Q Añejo is an immensely versatile rum that can be used for premium cocktails or for sipping.

An obvious flavour step up from the Gold, the rum itself bears a noticeably darker sheen, suggesting that it’s more aged. The tasting notes upon our first sip was a surprisingly sweet and fruity while the finish had a subtle hint of vanilla coupled with a rather nice nuance of oak.

We recommend enjoying this on the rocks to allow the ice to really open the rum up a tad, or if you do decide to craft a cocktail with the stuff, perhaps a spin on the classic whiskey Old Fashioned but substituting the base with the Don Q Añejo instead. Classy, versatile and impressively smooth, we must say this is one of the better rums we’ve had given its price.

Affordably priced and a considerable notch higher than many commercial rums, Don Q has really outdone itself in providing proper, quality base spirits worthy of some far-out cocktail concoctions. The next time you decide to get creative behind the bar, give Don Q a try.

Cocktails have close to zero boundaries when it comes to the number of recipes that one can explore and concoct, but what differentiates an epic cocktail and one that’s subpar is truly the spirit that forms its foundation.

Piña Coladas and Mojitos are literally only the tips of the iceberg. There are hundreds, even thousands more rum-based cocktail creations that you can create in your own home, and if you’re ever hard-pressed over what rum to get to truly bring out the qualities of your desired drink—especially if you’re new to mixology as a whole—, we dare admit that Don Q is a good place to start.

GET YOURSELF A BOTTLE (OR TEN)

Craving a tropical cocktail to combat Singapore’s unforgiving heat? Get yourself a bottle (or ten) of Don Q’s premium rum now at select 1855 The Bottle Shop stores and Club Parcel Santa for online free delivery.

https://club.parcelsanta.com/collections/alcoholic-beverages

Our readers can use our code ‘LADYIRONCHEF’ to get 10% off Don Q’s rums on club Santa with a minimum spending of S$100.

This post was brought to you by Don Q.

The holiday mood has arisen as we approach the end of the year! This is the time when Singaporeans are counting down to the days when we can feast on good food every day and soak up the good cheers of ongoing festivities. Now, one major food festival all food enthusiasts must not miss is the AccorHotels Food & Wine Festival from 04 to 12 Nov 2017.

In Singapore, delectable food and excellent wine is not simply just a national pastime but considered an inalienable right and AccorHotels knows that best. This festival will spread across nine days in 40 restaurants and bars of hotels under the group. Organised by the largest and most prestigious hotel operator in Singapore, you can be assured that the festival will be nothing short of grand.

This inaugural gourmet food & wine festival will play host to over 100 chefs across AccorHotels’ massive network of Michelin-starred chefs from multiple award-winning restaurants and chefs such as Michelin-star Chef Kirk Westaway of JAAN, Raffles Singapore’s Amos Ting and Chef Louis Tay of Swissôtel Merchant Court who won the Culinary Olympics 2016.

Starring ‘Super Sunday Brunch’ held at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, the coolest pool parties and masterclasses, treat yourselves to exciting culinary creations and interesting alcoholic beverages by more than 100 highly dedicated chefs from AccorHotels.

Here’s what you can expect from this 9-day Food & Wine Extravaganza. 

WHAT TO EXPECT AT ACCORHOTELS FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 2017

The AccorHotels Singapore Food & Wine Festival 2017 is perhaps one of the grandest food festivals Singapore has ever seen and it speaks of the innate passion that we Singaporeans have for food. For nine full days, expect pool party across several different hotels, masterclasses from cocktail shaking to world-class baking, various set lunch and dinner menus, foodie influencer meet-ups and the Biggest Brunch—one that we are totally stoked about.

Guests will be amazed by culinary geniuses who are able to celebrate Singapore’s multi-ethnic influences through delectable food and drinks in beautiful settings. This scale of the event is impressive to say the least, and as Michael Issenberg, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of AccorHotels, Asia Pacific says, “It speaks to the passion Singaporeans have for food.”

THE BIGGEST BRUNCH IN SINGAPORE

Held on 12 Nov 2017 at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, all AccorHotel’s restaurants and bars will showcase their signature dishes and beverages alongside entertainment and fun for everyone in the family. Imagine being surrounded by the finest foods from some of the best restaurants and bars in the city—all at one destination.

One of the star dishes that stole our hearts was Hen’s Egg, Celeriac, Caviar whipped up by Michelin-star Chef Kirk Westaway from JAAN at Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore.

It was a dream dish by Chef Kirk who cleverly tied in nature’s finest produce coupled with precise culinary techniques. The key here is to use simple methods that best enhance the natural flavours of each unique ingredient.

Alternatively, diners can also look forward to Lobster Bisque & Octopus Avocado by Chef Jean-Charles Dubois from the newly-opened Sofitel Singapore City Centre; and the Saute Slipper Lobster with Black Bean Sauce, Mango Salsa & Sesame, a recipe created by Chef Louis Tay of Swissôtel Merchant Court.

If you are there for the drinks, we highly recommend Anti:dote’s mixologist Bannie Kang’s Hwa Chae and the original Singapore Sling prepared by Amos Ting from Raffles Hotel. Both make stunning cocktails at extremely fast speed. And, we can always do with an extra glass of good cocktail, right?

HAVE A SPLASHIN’ GOOD TIME AT POOL PARTIES

A festival is just incomplete without pool parties so gather all your friends and have a wild time together! Since this is a food festival, partygoers will be treated to freshly made dishes and local BBQ items. What’s more, there will also be a fully-stocked bar serving stylish cocktails, bubbly champagne and a range of local and imported beer on tap!

Your night will be made memorable with DJs spinning the latest hit songs and live performances from solo musicians and bands, depending on which hotel you choose to go to.

There are five hotels in total for you to pick from—Fairmont Singapore, Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore, ibis Styles Singapore On MacPherson, Mercure Singapore Bugis and SO Sofitel Singapore.

SIGN UP FOR THE MASTERCLASSES

Pick up some culinary skills along the way when you join in the masterclasses. From cocktail shaking and world-class baking to making latte art and chocolate demonstration workshops, surely there is something that will interest you.

Parents would also be pleased to know that they can sign their young ones up for kids cooking classes, ice cream making lessons and even a pasta necklace crafting session. These are perfect bonding activities for families, ain’t it?

SPECIAL SET MENUS CURATED BY RESTAURANTS OF PARTICIPATING HOTELS

Just for this festival alone, there will be special 3-course set menus at participating restaurants under AccorHotels. Prices range from S$15++ to S$47++ for lunch and S$27++ to S$67++ (including a glass of red or white wine) for dinner.

In particular, you have to try the Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Morel Crust at Royale Restaurant, Mercure Singapore Bugis. Executive Chef Nicholas Sia uses the freshest seafood that are all locally farmed from Ah Hua Kelong.

WIN PRIZES WHILE ENJOYING SPECIAL PROMOTIONS

The AccorHotels Singapore Food & Wine Festival is proudly sponsored by Mastercard and British Airways.

Throughout the course of the nine days, attendees can also collect stamps using a special “Foodie Passport” and lucky winners will stand a chance to win a trip to Sydney or Paris courtesy of British Airways—one of the event’s sponsors—as well as hotel stays at the various hotels under the AccorHotels group.

All participating restaurants and bars are listed in the passport and dining at any one of them will award you 1 stamp*(terms and conditions apply).

Le Club AccorHotels’ members will receive a 2nd stamp upon verification, and the 3rd stamp will be awarded when you pay via MasterCard.  Diners must have at least 3 stamps before 12 November in order to qualify for the F&B voucher.

If all these talks about good food have gotten you on the edge of your seat, then what are you waiting for? Book your tickets now at accorhotelsfoodfestival.com.

Tickets for the pool party on 04 November start at S$22 and tickets for the festival lunch and dinner set menu from 04 to 12 November start at S$15.

This post is brought to you by AccorHotels Asia Pacific.

Gone are the conservative days where Singaporeans are reluctant to splurge on a cocktail. In fact, cocktails are all the rage now with the ever-increasing number of cocktail bars and popup events etc. Unsurprisingly, Singapore’s Singapore Cocktail Week last year was a huge success and the exciting event will be returning next month from 12 to 19 March 2016.

Mark down your calendar as you will not want to miss this boozy celebration. Singapore Cocktail Week would be taking place across the sunny island in several places such as cocktail bars, gourmet restaurants and even Holland Village Food Court. The ticketed event is expanding twofold and it includes cocktail pairing events, masterclass workshops and more.

With so much ongoing during the festival, it can be a challenge to decide which program to sign up for. Here are the highlights from Singapore Cocktail Week 2016 so you can work on a plan for you and your drinking buddies.

Singapore’s cocktail scene is growing at a tremendous rate and there is truly no better time than the upcoming Singapore Cocktail Week to sample our nation’s best concoctions.

There will be approximately over 200 cocktail events and more than 60 venues partaking in this week-long festival. Obviously, due to time constraints you definitely cannot make it for all.

INTRODUCTORY CLASS TO COCKTAIL MAKING

It does not matter if you are an avid cocktail drinker or only just beginning to appreciate cocktails. So long as you are interested in learning how to prepare these alcoholic drinks, this fun-filled interactive event is for you. Bar Manager David Koh will be sharing his experience, knowledge and skills on being a bartender so you can set up your own cocktail bar at home.

Read: ladyironchef’s Cocktail Making Workshop at Changi City Point

Where: Bar Stories
Date: Saturday, 19 March 2016
Time: 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Price: S$60 nett

COCKTAIL TASTING IN COMPLETE DARKNESS

Cocktail tasting has gone to a whole new level at NOX – Dine in the Dark Restaurant. Savour four divine signature alcoholic beverages while being in a state of blindness. Rely on your sense of taste and try to identify the liquors and ingredients used in your cocktail. The answers will be revealed upon at the end of the meal. Definitely a great way to bond with a loved one!

Where: NOX – Dine in the Dark Restaurant
Date: Sunday, 13 March 2016 – Thursday, 17 March 2016
Time: First seating – 6pm, Last Seating – 9pm
Price: S$60 nett

LEARN TO MAKE THE WORLD’S BEST COCKTAILS

Melbourne’s Black Pearl was voted as the world’s 10th best bar and the successful lounge’s bar manager, Nathan Beasley, will be teaching you how to make three of their legendary cocktails’ in a 1.5-hour workshop – an opportunity that all cocktail connoisseurs have been dreaming of.

Where: Smoke & Mirrors
Date: Wednesday, 16 March 2016
Time: 3.30pm – 5pm
Price: S$48

COCKTAIL AND SNACK PAIRING + MASTERCLASS

Indulge in seven cocktail and snack pairings whilst going through a hands-on activity on distillation, fermentation, shaking, stirring and whatnot. The masterclass is ideal for avid cocktail drinkers and industry bartenders who wish to further hone their artisanal craft.

Where: Operation Dagger
Date: To be confirmed
Time: 2pm – 5pm
Price: S$150 nett

DIM SUM AND COCKTAILS PAIRING BRUNCH

Whoever said that drinking is only reserved for nighttime activities is wrong. He/she clearly has yet to chance upon Mitzo’s awesome weekend brunch featuring contemporary Cantonese fare and Asian inspired cocktails. These creative alcoholic concoctions have been handcrafted with Chinese herbal ingredients and complement the free-flow dim sums perfectly well.

Where: Mitzo
Date: 12, 13 and 19 March 2016
Time: 11.30am to 2.30pm
Price: S$118++

For more recommendations, here is a guide to 8 interesting cocktails with a local twist in Singapore that you should try!