Tucked away on the second floor of a restored 1930s shophouse, Gibson has always been a little off the radar, and that’s part of its charm. To find the bar, you’ll first have to spot the seafood restaurant Humpback along Bukit Pasoh Road, enter through a door on the side, walk past another cocktail bar (Live Twice) and climb up a flight of stairs. Upon entering, you’ll first notice a gorgeous green marble table, lit by the gentle glow radiating from stained-glass windows.
If you’ve been to Gibson any time in the last 10 years, you might remember the bar team’s unlikely get-up: tailored suits and bow ties paired with – you guessed it – bermudas. To mark its 10th year, the suit-and-shorts combo has been swapped for relaxed green overshirt jackets and comfy slacks. But attire aside, it’s the dusty pink 10th anniversary menu, called Timeless, that truly signals a new era for the bar.
Yes, the namesake Gibson cocktail ($28) remains – how could it not? The bar’s rendition of the classic dry martini is served at a chilling -15 degrees celsius, featuring Roku gin, house-made ginjo sake-vermouth and a pickled pearl onion garnish, accompanied by condiments of pickled pomelo, sliced pickled onion and smoked quail egg.
But that’s not what we’re here for. Instead, it’s the team’s shiny new creation, the MF Martini ($28), that comes highly recommended in this latest refresh. MF, short for “made for fries”, tells you everything you need to know about how this drink should be enjoyed. The stiff pour is made with a 2:1 ratio of London Dry Gin and Cinzano Dry Vermouth, then carbonated overnight to create fine microbubbles that give it its crisp finish.
Hints of salinity and savoury notes in the martini make you reach for the fries – which, by the way, are murderously good – and the saltiness of the fries, in turn, makes you return for another sip. No wonder New Yorkers call this classic pairing the “Adult Happy Meal”. And did we mention? Each serving of fries ($10) comes in a generous 300-gram cone that’s perfect for sharing.
Gibson’s new menu also breathes fresh life into classic cocktails using underrated Southeast Asian ingredients. Take the Maharaja’s Mule ($28) for example, a bold blend of old ginger, Citra hops-infused tequila and Fernet Hunter, served in a chilled copper mug. The ginger notes definitely come through strong, but not in the least bit offensive. The cocktail is topped off with a creamy ginger ale foam, and at this point, it’s hard not to draw comparisons to a butterbeer straight out of the wizarding world.
Even if you like your cocktails dry, don’t be quick to pass up the Amaretto Sour Affair ($28). The drink has long been accused of being sickeningly sweet, but Gibson shakes up an incredibly balanced and layered version using butter-washed bourbon, cherry, roasted peanuts and an unexpected Southeast Asian ingredient – pulut hitam, or black glutinous rice.
The food menu has also gotten an upgrade. You’ll spot favourites from Jigger & Pony’s other concepts making an appearance, such as the highly raved wagyu katsu and tamago katsu sandos ($44 and $24) from Gibson’s sister bar, Live Twice, just downstairs. That’s not all – the addictive bikini sandwiches ($24) from Jigger & Pony at Amara Hotel have also been ported over. And of course, freshly shucked oysters from Humpback remain on the menu (from $6 each), still as divine when paired with the original Gibson.
Find out more about Gibson here.
Gibson is located on the second floor of 20 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089834.
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