Anthology by Compendium Spirits tells its made-in-Singapore story

Anthology, opened by Compendium Spirits in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, is the homegrown distillery brand’s new flagship bar and tasting room.

Compendium Spirits has a new home. The homegrown distillery, known for making a range of irreverently fun Asian-inspired spirits and liqueurs, has taken over a Circular Road shophouse in Singapore’s busy Boat Quay dining and entertainment district and converting its three stories into a veritable brand showcase.

Anthology.

Anthology comprises of a swanky cocktail gastrobar on its first floor, an intimate tasting room and exclusive lounge for members of its Chartered barrel ownership programme on the second floor, and, on the third floor, a temperature controlled barrel-ageing cellar housing members’ casks quietly maturing away. The second floor is where members can draw on their own barrels for the in-house mixologists to create customised cocktails with.

It’s ‘three floors of pours’, as a fellow media friend had wittily commented.

Unless you’re a member, you’re unlikely to be able to access the two upper floors. But for the most part, the majority of the action happens on the first floor gastrobar anyway. Here’s where drinks enthusiasts can check out and taste Compendium Spirits’ range of products in their original forms, but also employed in various quirky cocktails.

The uninitiated can try a range of Vertical Tasting Flights that explains a Compendium product. The rice flight, for example. It showcases the evolution for its very popular Hom Mali Rice Whiskey, and comprises tasting samples of a rice-based wine (the wash that goes into the distillation process), a new-make spirit, as well as aged whiskeys in two different maturation states.

Other flights include those for its honey, coconut, and sugarcane-based spirits.

Then there’s a range of playful cocktails, too.

“The signature cocktails at Anthology are all twists on classics, with each one made using a different Compendium Spirits product, as a way to spotlight how each and everyone of them can be used in a classic,” explains Dannon Har, Brand & Beverage Director for Compendium Spirits.

“There is also an emphasis on Asian flavours and notes we are familiar with in this part of the world, to also highlight the sense of place of our brand house bar,” he adds.

The Teh-groni, for example, eschews the usual gin for their Teh-O Liqueur as its spirits base in a classic Negroni. Then there’s the Rojaktini, which employs their best-selling Rojak Gin for a floral Southeast Asian twist on the classic Martini. For something fun, the emerald green Chendol Gimlet is a sweet dessert take on the traditional Gimlet using its Chendol Gin. For those who love them spirit-forward? The Smoky Daiquiri is absolute yum.

There’s food too. Like its cocktails, the grub at Anthology draws on familiar Southeast Asian ingredients and flavours for inspiration. We loved the Braised Duck Rillettes, which reimagines traditional Teochew braised duck as the French bistro favourite, as well as Beef Char Siu, which offers up beef short ribs slathered in char sui sauce. Try also the Rojak Greens, which is a take on the classic local salad with a fun Anthology twist of having infused the Compendium Spirits Rojak Gin in it.

Anthology

Address 10 Circular Rd, Singapore 049366 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 4pm to 12am Mondays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays
Tel (65) 8451 5389
Web www.anthologysg.com
Facebook anthology.singapore
Instagram @anthology.singapore