The annual list of The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be unveiled as part of a live awards ceremony in Singapore at the Pasir Panjang power station, on Tuesday, Oct. 17, marking the first time in the awards’ history the ceremony will be held in Asia.

Ahead of the official countdown, here’s the inaugural lineup for 50 Best Signature Sessions, a series of live events, which will take place in Singapore’s top bars from Oct. 14 to 18. Bar aficionados will be able to savor drinks from the world’s finest cocktailian talents, from Seoul to Stockholm. These spirit-themed events are open to the public and limited in seats, so guests are advised to book early. 

Where: Jigger & Pony, 165 Tg Pagar Road, Amara Hotel

When: Saturday, Oct. 14, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Who: Currently No.71 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 list, Tjoget in Stockholm is started by bartenders Andreas Bergman and Joel Söderbäck. The multi-space venue offers an exhilarating ambience, busy with thirsty locals and a visiting international cocktail crowd. A magnificent zinc bar completes its industrial design and hipster vibe, luring guests into its world of cocktails. Right now, the menu at Tjoget is inspired by fragrances and flavors from southern Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. 

What else: Whisk(e)y Night, featuring nine cocktails by Tjoget and Jigger & Pony, prepared with Perrier, Michter’s, Nikka Whisky, and Naked Malt.

Where: Manhattan, 1 Cuscaden Road, Level 2

When: Sunday, Oct. 15, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Who: Botanist Bar in downtown Vancouver recently won the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award at North America’s 50 Best Bars 2023. Science meets nature at this bar, where the team led by beverage director Grant Sceney and head bartender Jeff Savage draws inspiration from the natural bounty of the Pacific Northwest, sourcing and foraging local ingredients to mix into drinks that are equal parts showpiece and storytelling. As the seasons change, so does the cocktail menu, and the featured spirit-free options are just as inventive as the booze-fueled ones.
What else: Dark Spirits Brunch, featuring Perrier, Matusalem, Rémy Martin, and Torres Brandy.

Where: Atlas, 600 North Bridge Rd, Parkview Square

When: Sunday, Oct. 15, from 7 p.m. to midnight

Who: Little Red Door, which won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2022, has been an almost constant feature of The World’s 50 Best Bars for a decade. That longevity is not down to classicism, but reinvention. The bar’s farm-to-glass model places produce at the heart of the bar experience—and the decor, with the walls adorned with producers’ portraits. Its current drinksmiths, Alex Francis and Barney O’Kane, continue to shine the creative torch, digging deep into seasonal ingredients and their producers.
Ranked No.37 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2023, Southside Parlor is one of South Korea’s earliest craft cocktail bars, bringing Texan hospitality to the country’s capital of Seoul. Led by Texan Phil Abowd, the venue is reminiscent of an upscale American sports bar, featuring an arcade game console, darts, and big leather sofas, but serving up drinks far from what one would expect at such a haunt. The bar’s signature Chiquita Pepita gives the classic Tommy’s Margarita a local twist using Korean green chili and pepper powder paired with nods to Abowd’s Texan upbringing. 
What else: White Spirits Night, featuring nine cocktails by Little Red Door, Southside Parlor, and Atlas, featuring Perrier, Ketel One Vodka, Bareksten, and Roku Gin. 

Where: Nutmeg & Clove, 8 Purvis Street

When: Sunday, Oct. 15, 8 p.m. to midnight

Who: Cuban legend Julio Cabrera built Miami’s Café La Trova, No.21 on The World's 50 Best Bars 2022 list, as the definitive homage to his homeland. On display at the festive space in the Little Havana neighborhood is the island’s historic “cantinero” style of bartending. Clad in sharp dinner jackets, Trova’s cantineros perform acrobatics with their shakers and strainers, throwing drinks through the air and occasionally pausing to play rhythm for the band. Trova might be the best show in town, but the focus is always on flavor, serving up classic Cuban drinks like Floridita’s Hemingway Daiquiri, aka Papa Doble.
Scarfes Bar in London is named after the legendary British artist and caricaturist Gerald Scarfe. A perfect mix of a classic lounge bar and eccentric drinking den, Scarfe’s own collection of surreal paintings decorate the marble walls, transforming the bar into an art gallery. The current menu is based on musical genres. 
A regular in the World’s 50 Best Bar list and the Best Bar in Japan at Asia’s 50 Best in 2019, High Five in Tokyo combines Japanese bartending techniques plus modified classic recipes, in the basement of glitzy Ginza.
What else: Sip, Savor, and Swing, featuring cocktails prepared with Roku Gin, London Essence, Campari, and Mancino Vermouth.

Where: Writers Bar, Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Road

When: Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 6 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Who: Currently placed No.11 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022, Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City has the feel and look of a 1920s speakeasy, as seen through Hollywood eyes. The classics play a big part at the bar, in particular with a selection of cocktails based on vintage spirits. Tradition, however, is also a springboard for more creative endeavours for Dutchman Eric Van Beek, who took over the creative reins since the bar’s relocation to Colonia Juarez in the spring of 2021. The venue’s latest menu is a tribute to the Mexican bar community and its resilience and features recognizable drinks, with a twist.
What else: Agave Night, featuring cocktails prepared with Perrier, Altos Tequila, and Mezcal Los Siete Misterios.

Where: The MO Bar, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 5 Raffles Avenue

When: Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Who: The recently renovated Mandarin Oriental Singapore and its namesake MO Bar have just reopened to critical acclaim. The entire hotel and its food and beverage facilities have undergone a multi-million-dollar facelift and the new incarnation of the MO Bar, a previous winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award, will be hosting Riccardo Rossi of Freni e Frizioni for an Italian Night, working with some of the most prestigious Italian liqueur and spirits brands.
What else: Italian Night, featuring cocktails prepared with Disaronno, Tia Maria, Amaro Lucano, Campari, and Mancino Vermouth.