Celebrating its ninth consecutive year, the Singapore Cocktail Festival opens with the biggest Festival Village yet at the iconic Bayfront Event Space. This will be followed by a fortnight-long calendar that brings together the world’s best cocktail masters and spirits makers. A summary of festival highlights includes a sprawling 7,400-square-meter Festival Village, happening from May 5 to 7, a city takeover featuring limited-time #SGCF2023 signature cocktails across 45 of Singapore’s best bars, bar takeovers by #SGCF2023 headliner bars from Australia, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand, cocktail brunches, bar crawls, and other exciting cocktail experiences. This year, the festival is returning to a full lineup after two and a half years, with the last Festival Village happening in 2019. In the years of the pandemic, the Festival evolved to include online and hybrid editions, with new experiences such as SGCF@Home, SGCF on Wheels, and the SGCF City Takeover. “The Singapore Cocktail Festival was born out of a vision to put our city on the world cocktail map. It operates with the industry at its heart. In the last two years, our focus has very much been on helping the industry get through the challenges of the pandemic. Now that things are fully open, we are excited to bring consumers back into the fold, and celebrate the world of cocktails once again,” says Wai Mayleng, co-founder of the Singapore Cocktail Festival.
The festival also unveils its new theme, “Shaking Up New Possibilities,” in line with its forward-thinking goal for the future. “We believe that the spotlight will be on us in Asia, as the capital of inspiration for cocktail innovation going forward,” says Ivy Woo, also a Singapore Cocktail Festival co-founder. “The theme aims to inspire our community here to set the path forward not just for Asia, but for the cocktail industry at large. We are ready to lead, and the Singapore Cocktail Festival is here to provide that stage for the next decade of cocktail evolution.”
> \#\#\#\# ‘We believe that the spotlight will be on us in Asia\, as the capital of inspiration for cocktail innovation going forward\.’ > > The Festival Village returns with a brand new home at Bayfront Events Space. Located next to Marina Bay Sands, it promises exciting cocktail experiences amid a 180-degree backdrop of Singapore’s city skyline. With close to 100 different cocktails to sip on, all priced at $15 only, the Festival Village will feature brand pop-ups by Bacardi, Codigo 1530, Hendrick’s Gin, Malfy, Monkey 47, Monkey Shoulder, Naked Malt, Roku Gin, Stranger & Sons, and more. Festival goers can also meet the world’s best bartenders up close and personal, with Singapore’s best bars who are expected to make appearances alongside the festival’s headliner bars, like Indulge Experimental Bistro (Taipei, No. 6 at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022), Maybe Sammy (Sydney, No. 29 at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022), Penicillin (Hong Kong, No. 22 at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022), ReCraft (Manila, named one of the best cocktail bars in Manila by Coconuts), Sidecar (New Delhi, No. 14 at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022), and The Bar at The House on Sathorn (Bangkok, named one of the best new bars of 2022 by Lifestyle Asia).
The Artisanal Spirits showcase makes a comeback in 2023, giving festival goers the opportunity to discover craft spirits from different corners of the world. Over 30 craft spirit brands are expected and these include Singapore’s Tanglin Gin, Asian-Caribbean Rum, and House of Cane. At Food Street, look out for flavors from Spain to Mexico and India, with pop-ups by Employees Only, Esquina, Feather Blade, Mezcla, Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh, Rappu, Stay Gold Flamingo, Kebabs Factory, and more. “Homegrown events such as the Singapore Cocktail Festival reinforce Singapore’s standing as an award-winning cocktail destination, profile our local talents, and encourage international collaborations and knowledge exchange within the global bar community,” says Guo Teyi, director, Retail and Dining, Singapore Tourism Board. “Our bartenders continue to embody the spirit of innovation with their creations, and we look forward to sampling what they will offer at the festival.” Early bird passes are priced from $40 onward, and available for a limited time, only until March 31. Day passes from one day to three days are available for purchase, inclusive of a City Takeover wristband as well as a welcome drink at the Festival Village. Artisanal Spirit Tasting Cards are sold separately. [singaporecocktailfestival.com](http://www.singaporecocktailfestival.com).