SINGAPORE | The taste of New York has come to Cygnet Bar at QT Singapore, bringing literary works to life with Southeast Asian Flair.
Nestled in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, Cygnet Bar at QT Singapore has presented a new cocktail collection that takes guests on a distinctive journey inspired by famous writers from New York, weaved with Southeast Asian flavours.
Hidden behind velvet drapes, the intimate bar guides guests through a layered, engaging space. Potted palms, exotic green marbles, and custom furniture establish a vibrant, contemporary atmosphere, complemented by intimate booth seating. References to Singapore’s past and the hotel’s heritage architecture appear in the geometric stone floors, ribbed glass mirrors, and rattan accents. Palm-patterned tiles cladding the bar front anchor the space with a playful nod to the city’s natural landscape.
Peering out to the ever-buzzing Lau Pa Sat, the bar offers an alluring counterpoint to the city’s pace. Intimate in scale and pulsing with the soulful beats of R&B and 90s Hip Hop, it sets the tone for easy conversation and unhurried rituals. Behind the bar, head bartender Timothy Aw curates not just drinks, but a magnetic atmosphere, inviting guests to shed the weight of the workday and slip into something far more comforting: the sense of being exactly where they’re meant to be.
Cygnet’s offerings are rooted in literature, designed to evoke the same sense of escapism one finds in a great book. The 16-drink menu unfolds in two distinct chapters — the first, The Lion’s Library, features cocktails inspired by literary classics, while the second, The City That Never Sleeps, showcases American classic cocktails reinvented with Southeast Asian influences.
In The Lion’s Library, eight literary classics are preserved through spirited interpretations. Crowd favourite Here is New York (SGD 28) translates E.B. White’s timeless love letter to the city with bourbon, apple brandy, cinnamon and bitters, topped with a layer of luscious cream, likening the experience to sipping on a spiced New York apple pie in a glass. Dorsia (SGD 25) decodes Bret Easton Ellis’s “American Psycho” into a refined drinking experience as the glass receives a brushed cherry brine treatment in a nod to the novel’s darker undercurrents. The drink’s clarified milk punch showcases.
Singapore’s own Brass Lion Gin, layered with locally-sourced pomelo and distinctive curry leaf notes familiar to Singaporean palates. Memoirs of a Geisha (SGD 28) offers a complex sensory journey with its blend of Campari, Sichuan pepper-infused strawberry syrup, and white rum, while Just Kids (SCD 28) pays homage to Patti Smith with creamy Ramos Fizz, inspired by Singapore’s beloved peach-cream swirl candy.
Meanwhile, The City That Never Sleeps showcases eight reinvented classics that celebrate the pulse of Manhattan with pronounced Southeast Asian cultural inflexions. The Penicillin (SGD 26) replaces traditional ginger with galangal, a staple in Southeast Asian cooking, creating a more complex, aromatic profile alongside bourbon oak smoke. The Vesper (SGD 28) pays homage to James Bond with house-made pomelo bitters, featuring regional spices including cinnamon, cloves, and saffron for a distinctly local finish. Hemingway Daiquiri (SGD 26) gets a tropical twist with Planteray Sealander rum and coconut liqueur in a nod to the region’s abundant island flavours, while the Kingston Negroni (SGD 26) pays tribute to iconic East Village bar Death&Co. with Jamaican rum and Cynar artichoke liqueur, garnished with a chargrilled pineapple slice.
Non-alcoholic options receive equal attention, with zero-proof versions of signature cocktails including Breakfast at Tiffany’s (SGD 18) and The Devil Wears Prada (SGD 18). The premium alcohol-free selection also features Lyre’s-based creations like the Nogroni (SGD 20) and Non Collins (SCD 28), ensuring all guests are able to enjoy the full Cygnet experience.
The El Diablo (SGD 26) showcases Cygnet’s commitment to sustainability, offering a zero-waste interpretation of the American mid-century classic. Featuring a house-made red wine pineapple syrup infused with pink peppercorns, it delivers complex flavour while supporting the bar’s eco-conscious philosophy.
“At Cygnet, we believe great cocktails should tell stories that are just as compelling as the literary works that inspired them,” shared Timothy Aw, Head Bartender at Cygnet Bar. “We’ve approached each cocktail as a translator might approach a cherished text, determined to distil its spirit while creating an experience that is entirely new and exciting.”
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