It’s Happy Hour for Asia’s Vibrant Cocktail Scene

Spirits are high for Asia’s growing cocktail scene. Throughout the region, homegrown mixology talents are showcasing their creativity and cultural heritage, driving the cocktail industry forward at an exciting rate. The Asian economy is reaping the benefits, as consumer spending on beer, spirits, and wine continues to grow rapidly, as has Asia’s global reputation as a leading cocktail destination.

Singapore: The Epicenter of Mixology

Singapore is undoubtedly among the markets leading the craft cocktail revolution with a bar scene that manifests the cultural diversity that thrives there. Its reputation as the “cocktail capital of Asia” is reflected in the number of legacy industry events it is hosting this year, such as Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, The World’s 50 Best Bars awards and Bar Convent Berlin.

For the past two decades, Telok Ayer Street and the district of Tanjong Pagar have been Singapore’s centres of cocktail innovation. Both locals and tourists flock to these areas to try the innovative cocktails served by award-winning bars like The Tippling Club, a 15-year-old establishment and go-to cocktail bar for modern gastronomy, and nearby 28 Hong Kong Street, a speakeasy credited for putting Singapore’s cocktail scene on the map.

5 Cities Shaping Asia's New Cocktail Landscape

As travellers continue to crave new experiences and locals’ alcohol preferences evolve, other nations across Asia are emerging as exciting destinations for cocktail exploration.

Let’s explore five countries currently stepping into the spotlight in the world of craft cocktails:

1. India

   India has seen a recent surge in more adventurous and sophisticated drinkers. Younger generations of Indians are travelling further, being exposed to the international cocktail scene, and bringing their preferences back home. To keep up with the changing tastes, Indian mixologists are fusing traditional ingredients, like tea and spices, with modern mixology methods. Meanwhile, high-quality craft spirits (particularly gin) are overtaking traditional dark spirits, like rum.

2. Cambodia

   While Cambodia may not be widely recognised for its booming cocktail scene, Sora Sky Bar at Rosewood Phnom Penh – a long-standing Accela client - is captivating cocktail enthusiasts throughout the region. Sora Sky Bar, the highest bar in the city, boasts stunning views, whilst their cocktails uniquely fuse traditional Cambodian ingredients with a Japanese twist.

3. Vietnam

   Vietnam is becoming an increasingly popular player in Asia’s cocktail landscape. A younger, wealthier Vietnamese demographic is influencing the burgeoning spirits scene. Local gins and rums are measuring up to the more traditional Vietnamese rice wine and whiskey, and young Vietnamese bartenders are implementing modern mixology methods while staying faithful to local, traditional ingredients.

4. Taiwan

   Blending tradition with modernity, Taiwan’s cocktails showcase the country’s rich cultural history. Tea, an essential part of Taiwan’s history, has become a versatile cocktail ingredient. Like wine, tea comprises a range of tastes and flavours, depending on its level of oxidation and harvest methods. Taiwanese mixologists are increasingly utilising this historical ingredient.

5. The Philippines

   The Philippines’ rich cocktail industry is flourishing. So much so that for two weeks in August 2023, the Singapore Tourism Board took some of the best Singaporean bars to Manila as pop-up experiences. The Philippines has been credited for supplying talented Filipino mixologists and bartenders to many Asian tourist destinations and bringing the art of flair bartending to Singapore.

Accela Communications: Raising the Bar in Asia

With cocktail tourism on the rise, Asia is firmly on the map as a destination for cocktail enthusiasts globally. The region’s F&B industry is benefiting tremendously and, as a result, attracting more locals and tourists to its innovative drinking holes.

Accela Communications has extensive experience working with significant players in Singapore's F&B scene and commits to being a leading storyteller, shaping the narrative of Singapore’s cocktail revolution.

If you’re interested in elevating your food and beverage retail or hospitality brand across Singapore and, more broadly, Asia, contact us at hello@accela.asia.