Spirits distributor La Maison du Whisky is renovating its bar and retail space at Robertson Quay and the revamped space will feature more than 300 bottles, including ones created especially for the company by distilleries from all over the world.
The space, which will open officially early next month, was overhauled for a "six-digit figure", general manager Mathieu Musnier says.
The family-owned company was founded in 1956 in Paris, with a store that opened in 1968. A second store opened on Reunion Island in 2002, while the Singapore outlet opened in 2006.
In keeping with its tradition of bringing in rare and collectible whiskies, ones from new distilleries and brands never released in Singapore, Mr Musnier says 160 distilleries are making "unique bottlings" for its 10th anniversary in Singapore.
These include a 25-year-old Redbreast, a single pot still Irish whisky, as well as a cask-strength Old Pulteney, aged in sherry casks. The distillery, one of the most northerly in Scotland, usually matures its whiskies in bourbon casks and does not typically release cask-strength bottlings.
"These bottles have been shown at Whisky Live in Paris last month, but they will be shown first in Asia at Whisky Live Singapore and a selection of them will be in the bar immediately after the event," Mr Musnier adds. As they are rare, there will be only a limited number of bottles of each expression and even fewer will go on sale.
The revamp is also a response to the burgeoning cocktail scene here. Singapore has three bars this year in the World's 50 Best Bars list, drawn up by London-based Drinks International magazine.
Manhattan, located in Regent Singapore, clinched the No. 11 spot, 28 HongKong Street is placed at No. 14 and Operation Dagger is No. 21.
"There are many good cocktail bars around town, so it's important for us to keep elevating the experience and keep bringing something unique," he says.
This will be the third time that the bar has been revamped, with the last renovation in the third quarter of 2010.
"Back then, some of the best cocktails bars in Singapore - like 28 HongKong Street, The Cufflink Club and Jigger and Pony - weren't even open yet," he says.
"But we thought, what better way to celebrate than to get a full makeover and refresh the bar."
Anjali Raguraman
