This summer, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE in collaboration with eight of Singapore’s top bars and local urban photographer Yik Keat are challenging the way we consume art, or architecture in specific, to celebrate National Day.
Unbeknownst to most, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has had a long standing advocacy for melding the art of bartending with creativity, and its commitment to support emerging artists is truly admirable. Spearheaded in October 2022 with visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE’s ‘Saw This, Made This’ campaign encourages people to see the world as a gallery and eventually share their own musings.
In this leg of the campaign, they rope in urban photographer Yik Keat who took the photos of the iconic landmarks around Singapore that would inspire the 8 cocktails created by prominent bartenders from the lion city. “I’ve loved the unique concept of replicating iconic landmarks with drinks so that it transcends visually not only through pictures, but through something that we can consume too,” says Yik Keat. From the legendary Raffles Hotel (with its 135 years of history seeing countless celebrities and dignitaries through its doors) to the thorny domes of the Esplanade, Singapore’s skyline and heartlands are teeming with history defining markers.
Now, at 8 bars sprinkled across the city, you can pay homage to them in liquid form. We speak to 3 bartenders who reflect on the symbiosis of their designated architectural muse and the cocktail.
Writers Bar reflecting Raffles Hotel Singapore by Konstantine Arzumanov
Cocktail: Grande Dame
Inspired by the century-old gazetted National monument of Singapore, the landmark Raffles Hotel provided inspiration for Konstantine’s creation of Grande Dame, a Southeast Asian twist to the classic Piña Colada. “Personally, I am in awe of the striking facade of Raffles Hotel,” claims Konstantine, “so I decided to take visual inspiration from it – from its red tiled roof, white walls and columns, and lush surrounding.”
Featuring the citrus acidity of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE premier cru in their take on the Piña Colada, this tropical blend is rounded off with touches of lime, calamansi and pineapple. “Even after almost five years at Writers Bar,” says Konstantine, “I still am fascinated by the seamless integration of age-old architecture and green spaces on this property.”
Elephant Room reflecting ArtScience Museum by Jimmy Kok
Cocktail: Flowing Still
Ravelling in the opportunity to showcase his talent, Jimmy took to the waters of the Marina Bay in search of inspiration. There he observed the conjugating sanctuary of art and technology, the ArtScience museum with its lotus flower reminiscent bloom. He watched as the lights bounce off the dazzling structure and marvelled at how the water contributed to the landmark’s allure.
“The rainwater collector design in the heart of the building is the key detail that shows the symbiosis of modern architecture with nature,” laments Jimmy. “The bright blue colour of my drink represents the rainwater elements,” he says, adding that he incorporated spirulina cordial as an ingredient seeing that its a type of algae that is naturally found where freshwater is redolent of sunshine. To top it off, Jimmy created a chocolate art garnish to mirror the structure’s distinct lotus shape.
Analogue Initiative reflecting Gardens by the Day by Nicholas Leong
Cocktail: Supertree
“The iconic super tree is the perfect blend of nature and technology in one space,” says Nicholas, “hence the idea was to capture the aspect of the futuristic tower with a carbonated style drink.” The result: Supertree, a floral and fresh 100% plant-based cocktail tinted a magical magenta colour with the help of local blue pea flower.
Sharing a common ethos on sustainability and sourcing, Analogue Initiative is extremely proud to be part of this campaign. “I also made an edible glass garnish to mimic the shape of the canopy,” Nicholas says, in hopes that the beverage not only taste great, but pays homage to the unique beauty of the intricate vertical gardens.
