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.

A classic cocktail is defined as a cocktail that originated before the end of Prohibition in the United States in 1934. As with most cocktails, the origins are hazy, and many (recipes) have since evolved over the years with each bartenders’ rendition. One thing remains: the most important factor of a classic cocktail is quality.

Have you ever thought about what goes into that drink in your hand? What defines a classic cocktail? How do you differentiate a classic cocktail from cocktails?

This beginners guide to classic cocktails explains some of the most classic cocktails from six main spirits—brandy, gin, rum, tequila, vodka and whiskey.

Brandy

One of the most classic brandy cocktails is the Sidecar. Making its way into some of the most posh watering holes of London and Paris in the 1920s, this enticing mix of brandy, orange liqueur and a dabble of lemon juice is simply structured but complex enough to liberate jaded palates. Other variations include adding aged rum or green Chartreuse to the recipe.

Gin

“Shaken, not stirred.” James Bond has made martinis famous with his catchphrase when ordering a Vesper martini. The most classic gin cocktail is a martini—made with gin and vermouth, garnished with an olive or a twist of lemon. First concocted back in the early 1910s, the ease of manufacturing gin led to the rise of the martini as a predominant cocktail in the mid 20th century.

Rum

A common classic rum cocktail, the mojito requires five ingredients: white rum, sugar (or simple syrup), lime juice, soda water and mint. The combination results in a refreshing, citrusy sweetness that complements the sharp acidity of rum. Countless variations of the mojito make it difficult to accurately trace back its roots, but the early 19th century sees similarities in one of the world’s oldest cocktails El Draque—using wine in place of rum.

Tequila

One of world’s most popular cocktails, a margarita (tequila, triple sec and lime juice) is so simple to make, it’s practically impossible to screw up. All ingredients are added into a shaker and filled with ice before being shaken and strained into a cocktail glass rimmed with salt. While the moniker was first made known in the late 1940s by socialite Margarita Sames, its concoction has been dated prior.

Feverishly sprouting up around the island are cocktails bars dotting the nightlife scene. But what’s hot and what’s not? Here’s our pick of 5 hot new bars in Singapore that up the ante.

Vodka

Having been consumed for over 600 years in Eastern and Northern Europe, the history of classic vodka cocktails (or rather, the lack of one) stretches back a century or more to the early 20th century. An unstoppable classic vodka cocktail, Balalaika has a relatively strong taste of alcohol that may seem harsh at first, but gradually blossoms into a refreshing and tart drink. All it takes is vodka, triple sec and lemon juice—three simple ingredients for this lethal concoction.

Whisky

The early 1800s called upon the (very first) cocktail as “hair of the dog”—consisting of water, sugar and bitters. The term “old fashioned” was used loosely in the late 19th century to describe the old fashioned way of making a cocktail—choice of spirit, sugar and a dash of bitters. One of the early common spirits, bourbon (a type of American whiskey) was widely used in cocktails. Put two and two together, and the Old Fashioned was born. There’s a reason it’s called an ‘Old Fashioned’.

About the writer
Mandy Lynn is a former I-S Magazine nightlife writer and current editor of Nookmag; her dining and nightlife features have been published in Appetite Asia and Catalog Magazine. For on-the-go food recommendations, follow her on Instagram and Facebook, or join her on a Gourmet Adventure.