Highball’s fab four (from left): Tatiana, Anna, Kino and Claire
Singapore’s first and only bar with all-women bartenders (girl power!) is an intimate gem in Kampong Bahru. Highballs (spirit plus non-alcoholic mixer) are their speciality (natch), but exuberant founder and head bartender Kino Soh says the tight-knit four- member team has no problem whipping up other bespoke cocktails on request.
Not all of us are alcohol aficionados, and drink names can be as confusing as the beef between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, but her menu is designed to be friendly. “We put consumers before the craft. The menu is such that everyone can easily understand the drinks and pronounce the names. I have been to bars that made me feel uncomfortable and intimidated, so I am trying to achieve the opposite of that,” says Kino, a foodie on her days off.
Try the Jim Beam Citrus Highballs (lower in ABV) that showcase special round ice cubes. Kino’s signature is a fruity concoction called Xoxo with French gin, white peach, yuzu and tonic, smoked with lavender.
Fridays are hot; weekday happy hours are 4-7pm.
Go for: A celebration of sisterhood
Location: 79 Kampong Bahru Road
https://www.herworld.com/life/foodanddrink/singapore-female-bartenders-kino-soh-highball/
Get served by women bartenders
Drink with me: Marie Nakazawa, 25, The Other Roof
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Fancy a spot of tea with a twist? That’s what Marie Nakazawa has concocted with her flirty Whole Lotta Love cocktail. It’s raw tea, lavender syrup, lemon juice, peach liqueur and aromatised wine on top of a vodka base, served in a dainty teacup.
Drink with me: Jayden Ong, 25, Diageo World Class Lounge
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As Diageo is one of the world’s largest producers of spirits, it makes sense to situate its state-of- the-art bar smack bang inside its own office, where Jayden is head bartender. She is also brand ambassador for Johnnie Walker (one of Diageo’s brands).
Drink with me: Sasha Wijidesa , 23 , Operation Dagger
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You’ll feel a bit like Alice falling down the rabbit hole at Operation Dagger’s nondescript entrance, as it does nothing to prepare you for the beautiful cloud of lightbulbs inside, floating overhead. And you’ll enter with preconceived notions about wine but leave a convert, thanks to Sasha, a pharmaceutical science graduate – and the brain behind the oxidised wine menu – who gets visibly excited when the convo turns to fermentation or yeast.
Drink with me: Kino Soh, 31, Highball
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Singapore’s first and only bar with all- women bartenders is an intimate gem in Kampong Bahru. Highballs (spirit plus non-alcoholic mixer) are their speciality (natch), but exuberant founder and head bartender Kino Soh says the tight-knit four- member team has no problem whipping up other bespoke cocktails on request.
Drink with me: Pan Ying Lee, 23, Nutmeg & Clove
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The bartenders here focus on Singapore flavours and ingredients, and the drinks are divided into four categories: herbs, fruits, spices and flora. Pan’s signature drink, Leo’s Flip, inspired by the festive pineapple tart, was awarded the title of Singapore’s Next Top Cocktail in 2017 at the Singapore Cocktail Festival.
Drink with me: Kelly D'Cruz, 26, The Secret Mermaid
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Bubbly bartender Kelly D’Cruz is smoking something good. And by that we mean her signature Negroni cocktail, called Balancing Act. It has Koval gin infused with chrysanthemum, Campari, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, and it’s smoked with applewood and topped off with a bittersweet citrusy Campari foam. It certainly leaves an impression, as does Kelly with her dreadlocks, laid- back attitude and intricate tattoos.
Drink with me: Christyne Lee, 30, Tess Bar & Kitchen
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True to her love of travel, Christyne’s signature drink The French Kiss was inspired by her first trip to Europe, when she visited Paris after winning a regional bartending competition. Floral, fruity and flirty, it combines all things French, with G’Vine Floraison gin, Giffard Creme de Cassis, Giffard Rose Syrup, fresh grapefruit juice and sauvignon blanc.
Drink with me: June Baek, 28, Court Martial Bar
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While in Seoul preparing for a working holiday abroad – a stint at a cosy lounge bar–June had a revelation as she had drinks with her pals. “I was having fun conversations and passing around delicious cocktails. It felt perfect and I fell in love [with the bar concept]. I decided to put my working holiday on hold and instead started a full-time job at that bar!” says June.
ALSO READ: SHAKE IT UP WITH SINGAPORE’S FEMALE BARTENDERS: SASHA WIJIDESSA, OPERATION DAGGER
This article first appeared in the December issue.