Co-owned by Mr Chua Khoon Hui, Quaich Bar is said to be Asia’s largest whisky bar. -- ST PHOTO: LIM WUI LIANG
Whisky lovers can now head to a new 8,000 sq ft whisky bar and retail store at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) for their fix.
Said to be Asia's largest whisky bar, the two-storey standalone Quaich Bar is located along the waterfront, next to seafood restaurant Singapore Seafood Republic.
It boasts a selection of more than 1,000 whiskies, of which about 95 per cent are Scotch. The remaining whiskies are made and bottled in countries such as India and South Africa.
This is the second Quaich outlet - the first is located at Grand Copthorne Waterfront hotel and stocks just 300 whiskies. Quaich was one of the first dedicated whisky bars here when it first opened in Cairnhill Road in 2006. It then relocated to the hotel a year later.
The new bar, which had a soft launch in the middle of last month and will open officially on Oct 20, adds to the handful of specialist whisky bars here that include The Auld Alliance at Chijmes and La Maison du Whisky in Robertson Quay.
RWS had approached Quaich Bar's co-owner Chua Khoon Hui earlier this year to suss out his interest in opening a branch at RWS.
Mr Chua, 37, says: "We had been looking for opportunities and a suitable space over the last couple of years."
The whisky distributor and bar owner went ahead with the project at RWS even though the space was larger than what he had initially envisioned for a second outlet. It cost about $2 million to set up, and is backed by himself and other silent partners.
The 110-seater ground level offers bargoers a more convivial vibe with live bossa nova music. Whiskies by the glass are priced from $11, while whiskies by the bottle start at about $100 each.
The exclusive members-only Golden Cask Lounge on the upper floor features two private rooms as well as a cigar room, all furnished with custom-made leather Chesterfield-inspired sofas and armchairs.
This area is by invitation only, but non-members can pay an entrance fee of $50 to access it for one night.
The bar here features more high-end whiskies such as ones by The Macallan including a 1938 vintage whisky bottled in the early 1980s with a handwritten label ($23,800); as well as the 38-year- old Glenglassaugh Black Ox ($3,510), and the 35-year-old Glenglassaugh White Rabbit ($2,340) - both of which were bottled especially for Quaich Bar last year.
Snacks are also available, such as jamon Iberico bellota or Spanish ham ($28), grilled Australian tenderloin with truffle oil ($18), yakitori chicken ($8) and spicy chicken wings ($12).
Those keen to learn more about whisky can opt for tasting sets such as The World Of Whisky trail map that features five whiskies from different regions ($45).
Tutored tastings can also be arranged for groups of four or more, and are priced at $50 a head and upwards.
Other activities here include the Master Blender Experience, where participants can blend their own whisky from a selection of 12 whiskies through nosing only, much like how a blender at a distillery would do so. It is priced at $60 for a 120ml bottle.
You can also try your hand at bottling whisky from custom-made 50-litre barrels, handmade by Speyside Cooperage in Scotland.
These ex-Bourbon and sherry oak barrels were made especially for Quaich Bar at RWS. Bottled whisky will be emptied into these barrels and left to mature.
A 200ml bottle of this new whisky is priced from $100 and upwards.
Mr Chua says: "The idea is to provide customers with new experiences that those outside the whisky industry would not usually get."
Quaich Bar is located at #01-293 Resorts World Sentosa Waterfront.
This story was first published on Oct 08, 2012 on StraitsTimes.com. To read more: http://sph.straitstimes.com/archive/monday/premium/life/story/quaich-raises-the-bar-whisky-20121008