Origin Bar at Shangri-La Singapore unveils a new and extensive collection of rums that can rival the best; Origin’s rum collection of over 340 bottles spans 40 countries and includes rare, limited-edition rums.

Shangri-La Singapore’s Origin Bar was first launched early 2018 as a cocktail bar that explored Singapore’s illustrious history as a trading port; its drinks menu was a literal liquid taste of tipples made using ingredients native to this region, but also harnessed influences on Singapore over the years – such as the impact of war and the onset of independence – to shape its cocktail offerings. Earlier this year it celebrated its first anniversary, and to celebrate the milestone it rejigged its cocktail menu but still retained its focus on Singapore’s history.

In its latest announcement, Origin Bar will be casting its net further afield. A lot further, in fact. The hotel bar has declared that it has amassed one of the greatest collections of rum that can be found in Southeast Asia; Origin’s new rum collection numbers some 340 different bottles from all over the world, and also a handful of rums that it has created in-house.

Origin Bar’s announcement comes just a couple of months after The Bar at 15 Stamford in Capitol Kempinski unveiled their rum collection of some 160 bottles. And like the 15 Stamford, Origin Bar looks to claim a (somewhat tenuous) link to Singapore’s earliest exposure to rum; Shangri-La’s own history, it asserts, is closely intertwined with the sugar trade – after all, its billionaire founder Robert Kuok first made his fortune trading in sugar.

But back to Origin’s rum collection. The bar now possesses of an eclectic range of rums from sugarcane-growing and rum-producing countries stretching from West Indies all the way to Southeast Asia, and almost everywhere in between. The collection numbers some 340 commercial brands; while many of them are run-of-the-mill, it also has a fine rum selection that includes the likes of the El Dorado 50 Years from Guyana, or the Caroni Navy Rum Replica, specially bottled by Velier to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the closed Trinidadian distillery.

There’s also its most prized bottle that is the Black Tot Last Consignment – one of the last original British Royal Naval rums produced to memorialise Black Tot Day – which you can taste at a handsome $1,100++ per pour.

Origin's rum collection

Origin Bar also offers some 13 “Origin rums” that it produces in-house; these are essentially spirits that it has redistilled from commercial rums and then treated, such as a short aging period in young coconuts or even specially made chocolate vessels, or infused with spices. Its Silver Spiced Rum Line, for example, comprises of four different types of rum infused with a special blend of spices for one to two days, while the Black Spiced Rum Line mixes dark rum, spices and sugarcane molasses to give the spirit different flavours and hues.

Then there’s its Coconut Aged Rum Line of three different types of rum aged in Thai young coconuts for over a week, while the Chocolate Aged Rum Line is rum aged in four different types of chocolate shells with varying intensities for a different take on rum.

While you can drink them neat, cocktail lovers would be glad to know that Origin Bar does use some of these specially aged rums in a few cocktails newly introduced to its drinks menu. For example, the Coconut Daiquiri is made from young coconut aged Chalong Bay Rum, coconut water syrup and fresh lime juice; while the rum Negroni that is the Ronin combines chocolate aged Bacardi Ocho rum, Tsukino-I Umeshu and Campari. Alternatively the Very Old Fashioned is a twist on the classic using chocolate aged Plantation Xaymaca rum is mixed with smoked chocolate syrup and bitters for a darkly delicious tipple.

While it may still take convincing for some to go all the way to Shangri-La Singapore to visit the bar, if you’re big on rum we think Origin’s rum collection is definitely worth making the trek.


Origin Bar

Address Lobby Level, Tower Wing, 22 Orange Grove Rd, Singapore 258350 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 5pm to 1am Sundays to Wednesdays, 5pm to 2am Fridays and Saturdays
Tel (65) 6213 4595
Web http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/dining/bars-lounges/origin-bar/origin-bar/
Facebook Origin65

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