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Welcome to Da Bao Diaries, a column dedicated to what Time Out Singapore's editors are eating and drinking at home till we can visit our city's restaurants and bars freely once more. Da bao is a Singaporean colloquialism derived from Mandarin that refers to having a meal to go instead of dining in at an establishment.
We can finally dine out in Phase 2, but drinking’s still not quite the same when eateries aren’t allowed to serve alcohol after 10.30pm. If you’re looking to imbibe without a deadline, then take-out cocktails are still the way to go. Drink at your own pace at home with these bring-home libations – from locally inspired drinks to sparkling, shimmering mixtures.
Zouk
While the nightclub remains closed during Phase 2, you can still re-live the clubbing days with its specially crafted booze. Beyond its signature sour plum shooters, Zouk’s mixologists have created three new, nostalgic tipples inspired by local flavours ($60 for 500ml). It’s hard to go wrong with Milo Gao, where chocolate and malt come mixed with scotch for a creamy, smooth finish. There’s also the Teh Peng – made with red tea, milk, and vodka – that comes packed with brown sugar pearls for you to re-create a boozy bubble milk tea at home. But our favourite’s the vodka-based Asam Guava, a refreshing sweet-salty-sour blend with guava and sour plum powder.
Minimum order None
Delivery fee Varies according to your location
Order here order.zoukclub.com/#/
Gudsht
Bar-for-hire Elite Bar Solutions usually shakes things up at parties and events. But as you can imagine, with social distancing measures in place, the company wasn’t getting much business came to an abrupt halt. Its bartenders had to adapt, and they started GudSht to bring their bottled concoctions into people’s homes instead. The eclectic menu includes Unicorn Barf (from $28), a fabulous gin-based creation that's sure to spark joy with Campari, yuzu-rose infusion, honey, and sparkling silver. Its latest addition is a locally inspired line-up made in partnership with The Refinery, and features unique drinks like the Cheng Tng Gao (from $20), where traditional dessert comes mixed with Courvoisier cognac and Amaretto liqueur.
Minimum order None
Delivery fee $5, free for orders above $100
Order here gudsht.org
Somersby
Ciders are a great, saccharine alternative for those looking for a light, alcoholic beverage. And while most should be acquainted with Somersby’s apple cider range, the brand has recently launched its latest, limited-edition flavour: watermelon cider. This juicy concoction comes packed with fruity flavour, and is refreshing to drink. Each four-pack ($16.90) is available exclusively at 7-Eleven for the month of June, and will be available island-wide at major supermarkets come July.