cocktails

Sep 21, 2025 Osaka

INC & SONS: Vinyl, Umami, and the Art of Atmosphere in Osaka

In the basement of a nondescript building in Osaka’s Chūō ward, INC & SONS reveals itself like a secret. The room is low-lit and leather-warmed, more like a listening salon than a bar. At the center of it all is sound, carried through a system built from legends: Altec Lansing A7 speakers, an Altec 1570B tube power amp, the 1567A preamp, and a Garrard 401 turntable. The effect is unmistakable. Records breathe. Bass notes bloom. Every track feels deliberate.

That sense of curation doesn’t stop at the speakers. Drinks come across like they’ve been mixed with the same attention as the playlist. A Wagyu Old Fashioned delivers richness without heaviness, while a seaweed-infused cocktail pulls umami into the glass with a quiet confidence. Both drinks nod toward Japanese culture without leaning into clichés. They taste like reinterpretations instead of recreations.

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May 14, 2020 Singapore

The Curator and The Back Room Make Prestigious List, SG’s Jigger & Pony is Asia’s Best Bar in 2020

Pop open a bottle of your finest forced-carbonation, rotovap-distilled quality concoction! The 50 Best Bars in Asia have been named, with Singapore’s magnificent Jigger & Pony taking the top spot! With lockdowns, ECQs , and Circuit Breakers in effect across the region, its a bit of a challenge to head out and celebrate at many of the establishments who were awarded today, but — maybe more than ever — this is a moment in history when we need to acknowledge and tip our hats to the best work by the most remarkable industry professionals across the continent.

Yes, Jigger & Pony Singapore is now Asia’s Best Bar, and deservedly so. When you do get the chance to visit, you’ll find that the experience is complete: a friendly and smart staff, a balance of creativity and dependability, and an energy that feeds a great time. Spend some minutes browsing what is perhaps the most impressive menu design in Asia as well.

Last year’s top-knotcher, The Old Man in Hong Kong is still in the second spot, with their new The Old Man Singapore branch also entering the list at 22. Rounding off the podium is DailyDrinkMag.com favorite, Coa Hong Kong.

Locally to Manila, we’d like to shout out to The Curator and The Back Room coming up at 42 and 45, respectively. Meanwhile, DailyDrinkMag.com would also like to go on record that No Sleep Club and Oto really should have been in this year’s list. Just our opinion.

Congrats to all who made the 50 Best Bars list for Asia!

Feb 12, 2020 Singapore

Operation Dagger

There’s a legendary series of police raids. The Singapore police force wanted to stamp out the infamous gangs of Chinatown, so they changed up their tactics. A system of blitz attacks on underworld lairs led to the eradication of the old guard of Ann Siang Hill. And the name of that series of raids? “Operation Dagger.”

Now in that same section of Chinatown shop houses, you’ll find another underground lair, inspired by that same police blitz. Operation Dagger, is a hidden cocktail bar marked very much like a gang entrance. In the spirit of its namesake, their mission is to utilize completely different tactics from what has come to be somewhat standard in speakeasy cocktail bars around the world.

A shot of Operation Dagger's interior. In the foreground, three people can be seen sitting in front of the wooden bar, with another person sitting on the far right end. The bartender is busy making a drink behind the bar, facing a gray wall that's covered with several wooden shelves full of neatly-arranged bottles. The scene is illuminated by several lightbulbs hanging down the ceiling, which cannot be seen due to the sheer number of bulbs covering it.

A closeup shot of the gray wall behind Operation Dagger's bar. At least fifteen horizontal wooden shelves are installed on the wall, with neatly-arranged bottles, jars, and glass containers sitting on top of each one. Below these shelves are the metal counters where the bartender does his work. On the photo, he appears to be crushing ice. A portion of the bar can be seen in the foreground, as well as sets of strainers hanging down from the top of the photo.

There’s no prohibition era leather booths. There is no secret password. Most importantly, the menu shys away from all of that has come to be standard and expected over the last decade. Instead, fresh recipes are served here in the spirit of “attacking with fresh tactics.” They’ve even re-bottled every liquor and ingredient into a standardized amber medicine bottle in an effort to defuse any preconceived notion or bias you arrive with.

Follow @operationdagger on Instagram.

Feb 08, 2020 Manila

Tortuga

It tastes like a coconut and orange creamsicle.

The Coco Crush contains Amarula, Bianco, and coconut rum, plus a little fresh lime, syrup, and a fresh orange slice for balance. With three kinds of alcohol, this signature cocktail packs quite a punch. To be frank, it’s almost too much punch. There’s a certain incongruence between having a very juicy and sweet beverage that hits you with all the alcohol of something much boozier, like a vesper or negroni. But if this is something you enjoy, it’s worth checking out, especially with a very affordable price tag.

Coco Crush is one of a handful of signature cocktails that you can find in Tortuga, a beach-themed bar on the second floor of the Lokal Hostel building in the Makati Poblacion area. The bar itself is nice and relaxed, a good place to hang out with friends because of its beach-art vibe in the interiors, the play of light, and the fact that you can carry on a good conversation in the space. Plus, if you are with friends who just want to kick back with beer, they have that, too.

A closeup shot of a glass of Coco Crush, one of Tortuga's signature cocktails. Only the rim and a portion of the top serves as the foreground, while what seems to be a portion of a large glass aquarium serves as the background.

Follow @tortugaph on Instagram.

Feb 02, 2020 Philippines

Limbo

When you ask the bartender for something he’s proud of and he gives you a negroni, that’s a good sign.

A glass of negroni sits on top of a wooden table in the middle of a room fully-saturated by red light. The walls of the room are adorned with three paintings. Welcome to Limbo.

They describe themselves as a “Midnight Gallery and Bar,” and this is Limbo. On the night we visited, they had a display of fine art photography on display and some excellent DJ music (courtesy of @missbadkiss) to drive the vibe. Though the negroni definitely hit the spot, it’s also perfectly fine to enjoy the music, the art, and the company with something as simple as a bottle of local beer. It’s a bar that people seem to live in. And the staff act a little like you’re all just visitors in their living room. Case in point: a bartender was continuously playing rounds of cards with a guest at the bar. If that’s your speed, this bar is a must.

Find Limbo on General Luna in Makati Poblacion and follow @limbo.ph on Instagram.

Jan 26, 2020 Singapore

Jigger & Pony

Appropriately named “Apple Elderflower,” this alcohol-free cocktail contains lemon, peppermint, egg white, apple, and an elderflower cordial. You read that right: it has no alcohol.

There’s a wave of this class of beverage that’s moving across the world and Jigger & Pony in Singapore’s financial district has an entire page of their menu dedicated to just that if for whatever reason, you’re not having alcohol on an evening that you find yourself there. It’s a fun drink that is refreshing and sweet, dancing on your tongue with short sparks of sour or mint peeking out from a lovely head of foam.

The bartender of Jigger & Pony makes a drink. Behind him are several rows of bottles neatly arranged on shelves behind the bar.

Follow @jiggerandponysg on Instagram.

Jan 18, 2020 Manila Philippines

Blind Pig

It’s been eight years since the first speak-easy cocktail bar concept opened up in Manila. Hidden in Legazpi Village is a bar called Blind Pig. Unlike many speak-easy bars, this one actually does have a sign, but it’s written in Braille. Go up to the door and knock.

The bar is dimly lit, and in the dark, you may miss some of the finer details of the space. Walls and ceilings are paneled with metal paneling. Lamps have hidden notecards inside of them. All of which tell a story that’ such longer than. Just eight years. You feel like the founders built a location that was “what they always wanted.” And perhaps that’s why. Little has changed here over time. It was already what they wanted it to be: a secluded and quiet spot in an office district where to sit for hours sipping straightforward, fine cocktails with friends. Sounds good to us.

Ordering off of the menu, we had “The Vision.” Gin, Cointreau, black sesame syrup, celery bitters, egg white, and a little bit of citric acid from a freshly squeezed lemon. From the menu description, it would appear that the recipe actually called for calamansi. But as the bartender explained, they always serve their ingredients fresh at Blind Pig. That means that a freshly squeezed lemon is a better option than batch-squeezed calamansi that was prepped before the start of the evening’s service.
The drink itself was delightfully complex. Balanced and creamy, with acidly hits peeping out from under the black sesame flavors and aromatics. It was also surprisingly strong. A drink that can give you an almost immediate buzz, especially if you’re visiting the bar before having dinner.

All in all, Blind Pig fits into that “oldie-but-goodie” category. Which is perfect. It’s for old-souls. It’s non-sensational. But really? It’s pretty darn sensational.a

Jan 17, 2020 Singapore

28 Hong Kong Street

28 Hong Kong Street in Singapore opens at 6 p.m. sharp, so it’s a good spot to find a drink immediately after work. During our previous visit, we asked the bartender for a challenging drink and the they pointed towards this drink called the Medicine Man, which has Michter’s Rye, Jamaican rum, Averna, Fernet, and Angostura bitters.

It’s a very boozy but refreshing little drink which capped off our day nicely. Beyond their incredibly high standard of quality drinks, it’s a joy seeing how much the bartenders care for the bar and how well their team works together. They always look like they’re having a good time and are in love with their job, which translates well to their service approach. Even when you’re with a group of people, all of your drinks arrive at the same time and none sit at the bar for long. This way everyone can finish at the same time. 28 Hong Kong definitely has one of the most in-tune and solid teams in Asia.

12am, 2am, 4am. The world’s finest cocktails bars close at different times, but the scenes are always a little familiar. Bartenders clearing their station. A test for a new cocktail recipe or two. Coasters drying on a single table. Laughter at the end of a good night. For the crew of Singapore’s 28 Hong Kong Street, the night isn’t quite yet. After clean up, they take a walk across a couple city blocks, to end the evening with a couple more beers among colleagues and friends.

Jan 03, 2020 Singapore

Live Twice.

The Japanese “izakaya” concept is usually a bar, traditionally the type of establishment that serves a variety of small dishes and snacks to pair with alcohol. Live Twice is a brand new bar in Singapore that takes this concept to the next level. Perhaps the only way that this strays from the traditional izakaya is that those are usually inexpensive. Live Twice, on the other hand, is up-market, focusing on a clear and sophisticated aesthetic — descriptors that can also be applied to their cocktails.

While none of the drinks we had here were in themselves ground-breaking, the beverages we had were all top-knotch. Vespers, G&Ts, and the like were spiced up by the occasional oolong or cascara ingredient, without bringing into question the original identity of the cocktail. It takes a refined touch to master this kind of approach, and I think that Live Twice has done it.

Come to live twice with good company. It’s a beautiful spot to share some drinks and conversation with friends or that special someone in your life.

Dec 28, 2019 Singapore

Employees Only SG: It’s Electric

There is a high standard shown in terms of execution and hospitality. The menu is surprisingly straightforward. Drinks here are mostly classics but done in a uniquely Employees Only fashion. We noticed a very heavy emphasis on fresh ingredients throughout the menu, which was divided into two sections.

Off of one side, titled “EO Classics,” we ordered the Ginger Smash. Muddled fresh ginger root and fresh pineapple shaken with Havana Club 3 year rum. A little bit of maraschino liqueur and lime to round that out, and you have a tasty take on the old dark and stormy that is worthy of the tropics and of a country that has long been the shipping trading post of the straits. It’s definitely an Employee’s Only classic drink that fits right in for Singapore.

The reverse page of the menu, list what they refer to as “Tropical Classics.” From here we ordered the EO Paloma: cimarron blanco tequila, house made grapefruit cordial, fresh lime juice, and a pinch of something called black lava salt. The latter sits right on top of some perfectly cut ice and is a layer that you both smell and taste as sea salty and slightly smoky. It is a taste of the seas that adds spice to this much beloved cocktail.

One thing that is not often discussed when talking about great bars is the seating plan. We must say that Employees Only stands out in this regard. Upfront there’s an exciting and entertaining cocktail bar where people who have come to party do kind of cram around. But that’s a good thing people are having fun and engaging with strangers. Further towards the back of the space, you find boots seating. People in larger groups, or small parties friends enjoy hanging out in this section. You still get all the electricity from the space, plus the fun live dj music, but you’re also not too crammed together and have enough space to chat.

Our hats must be tipped to both Steve Schneider and Bryan Bonifacio, bartenders who we first met in Manila during Manila Cocktail Fest. We had already seen them in two Manila bars, and both times they lifted the crowd, somehow in complete control of a location’s vibe and mood. If there’s an electricity in a bar, these two are the dynamos.

Finally getting to see them at Employees Only SG, we found that the experience was doubled by the home court advantage. At the end of the day you come to a bar like this for two reasons. First is to have high quality, expertly crafted beverages. The second reason is because you want to have a great time. Employees Only Singapore serves up both without compromise. In a word, this bar is “electric.”