I was invited to try out the handcrafted cocktails at The Westin Hotels & Resorts newly launched Crafted at Westin, as part of their Well-Being Movement.
Adam Tun-Aung and I were perched at the 32nd floor of The Westin Singapore's sky high Lobby Lounge with views over the South China Sea to try out these cocktails (see video above). The artisanal cocktail program only uses fresh, local ingredients and don't have any artificial sweeteners, syrups, or preservatives. The drinks are unique to The Westin properties, with two that you can only find in Singapore.
Two of my favorites, incidentally, are the ones that are unique to the Singapore Westin.
Green Day Hendricks Gin • Lemon Juice • Basil Leaves • Green Grapes • Cucumber Slice and Faulty Sours Monkey Shoulder • Basil • Strawberries • Guava • Lemon were two of my favorite cocktails on the menu.
There's also La Branca, a cocktail containing Cointreau • Red Zinfandel • Fernet Branca • Fig Jam • Fresh Lime.
Fun-fact about the industry: Now that the craft cocktail scene has become prominent in the global spectrum, with bartending competitions and a second renaissance of cocktails, bartenders are making a name for themselves. It's become a tradition amongst these bartenders, that upon visiting a fellow bartender's venue, they are greeted by a shot of Fernet Branca. But why fernet? While fernet is far from the lowest shelf, it is usually the spirit that sells the least. So, a bartender in theory will usually be in abundance of this supply. It's sometimes code these days, when you request for fernet with the bartender as a signal that you are in the bartending industry. Read More: Origins of the Cocktail
I will confess that I'm not a heavy cocktail drinker. Let me explain this in the words of Disney Ratatouille's Anton Ego, "I don't like food. I love it. If I don't love it, I don't swallow." While the cocktail trend has gotten popular again, there are still many venues that use ingredients that aren't fresh or local (therefore, not crisp/sweet/flavorful etc), thus leading to an overcompensation with extra preservatives or syrups to mask the taste. It's like dumping subpar quality sushi into soy sauce to compensate for the blandness of the fish. Often, this leads me to ask for a simple drink - usually scotch on the rocks, or anything with as little ingredients as possible.
It was a pleasure to discover that this isn't the case at Lobby Lounge. Crafted at Westin's 3-pillars are fresh, natural, and premium. Judging by the ingredients and how the cocktails are concocted, they practice what they preach.
Find out more about Crafted at Westin here.
photography by Adam Tun-Aung @tunaunga
The Westin Singapore
12 Marina View, Asia Square Tower 2, Singapore 018961
As Singapore’s first integrated hotel located within an office building, The Westin Singapore occupies levels 32 to 46 of Asia Square Tower 2 commercial development in Marina Bay, the heart of Singapore’s bustling financial district. Embracing the Westin brand’s promise For a Better You, The Westin Singapore offers 305 guestrooms and suites, 4 distinct dining venues, an outdoor infinity pool with a stunning view over Singapore’s south coast, the Heavenly Spa by WestinTM and 1,350 square meters of versatile event spaces, all designed with guests’ well-being in mind.