5 incredible Asian gins to try according to award-winning bartenders

Shelly Tai – General Manager of Nutmeg & Clove

"Asia has got a ton of history producing indigenous alcoholic beverages and I've got a firm belief that flavour is the best way to understand a culture. Growing up in Hong Kong, Perfume Trees Gin is one particular gin that has a special place in my heart as it has all the nostalgic flavours of my childhood. Though it doesn’t reflect a classic gin profile, it is still elegantly balanced and delights with the inimitable fragrance of champaca blossom and sandalwood. And there’s also a mellow sweet Longjin green tea finish that lingers.

BEST ENJOYED AS a classic Dry Martini, or with a humble splash of soda. But if you prefer something more floral, the gin's citrusy notes make for a solid prohibition-era-inspired Bees Knees."

Martin Villareal – Head Bartender of Republic

"I think now more than ever, Asian gins that are inspired by local botanicals and flavours stand out. Brass Lion Distillery is one of my favourites. The different locally-inspired flavours such as the floral butterfly pea gin or the spiced pahit pink gin give us more range to experiment with. And at Republic, we experiment quite a bit. I was inspired by the timeless classic of the Gimlet and hence the Mythical Beast was created to honour Singapore with our historically-themed cocktail menu inspired by the 1960s.

BEST ENJOYED AS a play to the strength of the Brass Lion gin’s botanicals. We then layer on dry sherry, toasted barley, cascara, and cinnamon to arrive at a popular twist of a classic."

Yana Keller – Head Bartender of ATLAS

"There's definitely been a rise in gins produced in Asia in recent years and that helps to uncover a plethora of Asian botanicals not commonly found in the West. One that I am particularly fond of is Hapusa Gin. In distiller speak, it is quite common to hear about the use of juniper berries sourced from either Macedonia or Italy. But for Hapusa, they chose to highlight the rich terroir of the Himalayas anchoring the gin flavour profile onto the Himalayan juniper berry. While ATLAS is widely known for our Euro-centric flavours, I occasionally introduce gins from Asia that I think are unique to the bar in an effort to showcase its depth and flavour complexity.

BEST ENJOYED AS a classic Negroni. The gin's pine and floral notes balance out the bittersweet elements of Campari and sweet vermouth. This helps draw out a ton of citrus-forward flavours."

Russell Ong – Group Beverage Manager of Burger & Lobster

"One of my absolute favourites is definitely the Stolen Roses Gin by Singapore Distillery. It instantly reminds me of the nostalgic Bandung rose drink that most of us grew up with and still love today. With bright red hues and floral notes, the versatile spirit is extremely sexy.

BEST ENJOYED AS a twist to the classic Clover Club cocktail. Designed to elevate the hearty feasts at Burger & Lobster Raffles Hotel, the Little Red Dot combines flavour profiles of coconut, raspberry and citrus. The result is a berry-forward tipple showcasing the best of Singapore’s innovative spirit. Between us, I like it best when paired with our iconic cheese tart."

Chris Peart – General Manager of 28 Hongkong Street

"We’re pretty excited about the Peddlers Gin. It is a truly unique bottle that showcases the raw beauty and diversity of China. In it are beautiful natural botanicals foraged from locations such as Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu. Think Sichuan peppers, Angelica, and Buddha’s Hand. At 28 Hongkong Street, we matched the spice-forward gin with traditional Asian spices such as ginger, lemongrass and kaffir lime. The result is the Golden Goose, a playful yet elevated highball featuring Mate-Mate Tea that drinks refreshingly citrusy with a slightly herbal finish.

BEST ENJOYED AS delicious classics such as the Last Word or the Gin–Gin Mule. We love that it goes great when mixed with other big flavours."