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Cranking up
the swank
I had the pleasure of attending a whisky tasting which
was held on the opening day of the bar. Given the location (The Quadrant at Cecil Street), the bar was already
fairly packed, which set off a vibrant atmosphere. The
extensive drinks menu is not to be missed with a fine list
of red, white and rose wine. This is also a whisky lover’s
paradise, featuring exclusive whisky brands such as Glendronach, Evolution Ed and Yamazaki. The highlight of
the menu is the cocktail concoctions created by Kamil
Folton, the bar and beverage manager. There are several
very imaginative and unique concoctions such as the
Cecil Sour (15-year old single malt shaken with vanilla,
mandarin peel and egg white, served with salted dark
chocolate) and Moral Hazard (Old Fashioned crafted with
apricot-infused 15-year old bourbon, honey water and
orange zest). These cocktails are pretty as they are tasty
and shouldn’t be missed!
The Silver Lining
The Black Swan Bar exudes a Gatsby-esque aura, which makes sense because it is fashioned after the 1930s era. The dim-lit vintage lighting accentuates the deep colours, marble inlay and luxurious wood panelling
exquisitely. The latest F&B outlet to the Lo & Behold Group - The Black
Swan is designed by Takenouchi Webb, a Singapore-based architectural
and interior design firm led by husband and wife team Marc Webb and
Naoko Takenouchi.
The bar at The Black Swan
One may assume that the name of The Black Swan is simply something
catchy, a creative name for a bar or restaurant that is easily distinguished,
just like The White Rabbit. But there is a meaning behind the namesake,
The Black Swan – sitting on that very same spot was an old bank. The
Black Swan refers to a financial term which describes an unexpected
event almost impossible to predict. In fact, mirroring the same theme, a
lot of the names on the menu are inspired by financial terms.
Are you a weekend warrior? Do you prefer to be
a spectator instead of playing on the field? Well,
here’s a new way to inject a dose of sports into your
life without much physical strain.
Ask the waiter or Kamil himself and they will be able to recommend
some bar snacks for you to cleverly pair with your selected drink. My
suggestion is to try out the Oyster Bar – the Katama Bay, with a stong
briny flavour with a salty, creamy roundness, was particularly good. The
Crostini category features some delectable picks, my personal favourite
is the Baked Bone Marrow, which goes particularly well with a glass of
wine.
This bar offers a rare quintessential chill out experience. Having only
experienced one other similar to this in Singapore, it is definitely otherworldly and not easy to come across. The layout, vintage and classic
feel, plush leathers, well trained service and most of all – the ‘Gatsby’
vibe creates an ambeance only known to these venues. It atmosphere
is certainly one-of-a-kind. Although being a luxurious venue, The Black
Swan is surprisingly casual, where customers are welcomed warmly and
encouraged to have a good time. All are welcome at the Black Swan,
even if you happen to be in shorts and flip-flops. With the very reasonable prices and location, you will find quite a crowd here, which I believe
betters its ambience and takes the formal edge off things.
The Black Swan | 19 Cecil Street | Singapore 049704 | M 8181 3305 |
[email protected] | www.theblackswan.com.sg
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