Nutmeg & Clove celebrates its 7th anniversary with “Here In Spirit”, a collection of seven guest shifts this May featuring signature cocktails from illustrious bartenders from around the world.
Award-winning cocktail bar Nutmeg & Clove usually celebrates its milestone anniversaries in style, such as with a big party (like its third anniversary celebration), or as in the case of its fifth birthday bash, guest shifts where the bar saw its previous bartenders and bar managers take over the sticks for some raucous good fun.
But these are not normal times, and travel restrictions have put paid Nutmeg & Clove’s plans to fly in a number of overseas-based bartenders for guest shifts behind their bar. Yet the cocktail bar has a workaround for its upcoming 7th anniversary party; it’s put together “Here In Spirit”, a series of seven guest shifts for the month of May featuring cocktails by well-known award-winning bartenders from around the world. While these bartenders cannot physically come to Singapore, the bar has paired each of them with a Singapore-based bartender or brand ambassador to mix up some of their signature cocktails to celebrate Nutmeg’s 7th-year milestone. Each guest shift will also see a different local restaurant that Nutmeg has partnered up with to provide their signature grub during those days.
The guest shifts for Nutmeg & Clove’s “Here In Spirit” anniversary celebrations are as follows:
| Date | Cocktails created by | Cocktails prepared by | Food |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May 2021, Monday | Ueno Hidetsugu (Bar High Five, Tokyo) | Anthony Zhong (Shin Gi Tai) | Makis and Sashimi by Flying Squirrel |
| 5 May 2021, Wednesday | Jay Khan (COA, Hong Kong) | Brendon Khoo (Altos Tequila Brand Ambassador) | Tacos & Quesadillas by Papi’s Tacos |
| 11 May 2021, Tuesday | Tess Posthumous (Flying Dutchmen, Amsterdam) | Charmaine Thio (Hendrick’s Brand Ambassador) | Space Cookies by Cookie Guilt |
| 13 May 2021, Thursday | Matt Whiley (Scout London & Re Sydney) | Sam Ng (Monkey Shoulder Brand Ambassador) | Pizzas by Chooby Pizzas |
| 18 May 2021, Tuesday | Erik Lorincz (Kwant, London) | Colin Chia (Nutmeg & Clove) | Mediterranean Vegetarian Cuisine by Fil-a-Pita |
| 20 May 2021, Thursday | Anna Sebastian (Artesian, London) | Shelly Tai (Nutmeg & Clove) | British Platters by LAD AND DAD |
| 27 May 2021, Thursday | Jeff Bell (PDT, New York City) | Matt Parry (Chivas Brothers Brand Ambassador) | Burgers by Between Buns |
“2019 was such a tough year for everyone including us. We had to close for about 10 months, longer than many other cocktail bars in Singapore and then worst of all we had to move to a new location as our Ann Siang location could no longer operate as a F&B outlet,” shared Nutmeg & Clove’s founding owner Colin Chia.
“Together with the team, (we) decided to go with a fun concept of ‘impersonating’ overseas bartenders and while introducing a collaboration with local restaurants to offer a full experience and celebrate our seventh year in style in our new location with lots of fun, delicious cocktails and food,” Chia added.
“It’s an honour to take part in Nutmeg & Clove’s 7th birthday,” shared Jay Khan, owner-bartender of Hong Kong’s award-winning Mexican-inspired craft cocktail bar COA, which landed the No.3 spot in the 2020 edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars. “It’s a huge feat to succeed for seven long years! I wish them all the best in the coming years and can’t wait to visit once the Hong Kong/Singapore travel bubble resumes,” Khan added. One of COA’s showcased cocktails that day is one of its best-sellers, the Ancho Highball. It is a drink inspired by the Taiwanese street snack of sliced guava with sour plum powder – as well as an equivalent one in Mexico that eschews sour plum for chilli instead – and features salted plum-infused tequila, ancho chile, and house-made guava soda.
Brendon Khoo, brand ambassador of Altos Tequila, will be slinging Khan’s cocktails on the 5th May guest shift. “It’s been great seeing Nutmeg & Clove grow from strength to strength, in their first 2 locations in Ann Siang Hill, now to their new home in Purvis Street,” said Brendon Khoo. “They have one of the best Altos-based Palomas in town.”
“I’m looking forward to see what the next 7 years hold for them!” Khoo added.
All Nutmeg & Clove 7th anniversary guest shift sessions will have two seatings – 6pm and 8.15pm. Reservations are highly recommended. Nutmeg & Clove’s regular cocktails won’t be available during these “Here In Spirit” guest shifts.
Nutmeg & Clove
Address 8 Purvis Street, Singapore 188587 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 4pm to 10.30pm Mondays to Fridays; 12pm to 10.30pm Saturdays and Sundays
Web www.nutmegclove.com
Facebook nutmegandclove
Instagram @nutmegandclove
[…] This year’s anniversary celebrations also comes after a couple of pandemic years that has seen Singapore’s dining and nightlife scene heavily restricted. Nutmeg & Clove’s 7th anniversary celebrations were effectively virtual guest shifts, with cocktails from well-known award-winning bartenders from around the world featured. […]