From riffs on uniquely Singaporean flavours like pandan and chendol to drinks named for iconic figures in Singapore history, these pretty tipples are the best way to give our nation a big, heartfelt birthday toast.
The Singapura Nacional ($23++) was crowned the winning cocktail at the SG50 Toast To The Nation contest last year – and it’s still available now. It’s a combination of ingredients from two iconic cocktails, the Hotel Nacional Special and Singapore Sling. Crafted with Small’s Gin, pineapple and lemon juices, apricot brandy and grapefruit bitters, it’s a light, refreshing tipple that the bar says “perfectly complements Singapore’s tropical climate”. For added pizzazz: An orchid flower – aka our national flower – as garnishing. Level 2, Regent Hotel Singapore
On the celebrity chef-run mod Thai restaurant’s National Day menu: Lion City Beets ($12), a heady concoction of Monkey Shoulder gin, lemon juice, peach bitters, a dash of beer and – get this – beetroot jam. #02-02 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
The restaurant with a scenic rooftop lounge has come up with a slew of Singapore-themed cocktails this month. They include Raffles Landing ($28), a rum-based drink with banana syrup, mango puree and lime juice that serves as a refreshing ode to Sir Stamford Raffles; Miss Joaquim ($20), comprising mangosteen vodka, maraschino, lime leaves bitters and lemon zest for a tarty take on our national flower; You’re The Pineapple Of My Eye ($18), an alcoholic tribute to the tropical fruit that’s made of bourbon whiskey, curry leaves, pineapple bitters and angostura bitters; and Singa-Pour ($25), which contains pineapple gin, Cointreau, lychee liquor, Benedictine D.O.M. and grenadine. Level 5-6 National Gallery Singapore
The Japanese cocktail bar has created three special concoctions for the month of August. For Pandan’s Sake is a mix of coconut rum, sake-kokatou reduction, pandan paste, pineapple juice and coconut cream. Tofully Annin is an alcoholic version of a Japanese sweet almond dessert tofu annin, and is a vodka-based cocktail with amaretto, apricot brandy, milk and citrus. Cha Cha Cha is inspired by masala tea and infuses rum with Ceylon tea, roasted Hojicha, lemongrass and crysanthemum. 27 Club Street
Named Singa Cabana, the cocktail is inspired by the Rossini (a prosecco with pureed strawberries), but with a twist: The bar has added notes of cachaca rum to it, and topped it off with strawberries and a dusting of sugar. #62-01 One Raffles Place
The Rochester Park restaurant and bar has created Iced Chendol Rum ($16), a play on the traditional dessert once sold by street hawkers in Singapore. Shaved ice is flavoured with spiced rum and malibu rum alongside coconut milk and palm sugar, topped with nata de coco for a sweet, crunchy finish. 3 Rochester Park
Like this? Check out these stylish restaurants to celebrate Singapore’s birthday at, and awesome spa promotions to enjoy this August.