Asia’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, returns to the city-state of Singapore on Thursday 14th May. This year’s event programme is the biggest ever, celebrating the finest in the continent’s cocktail culture with a string of glittering events. Here’s a guide to what will be being shaken, stirred and strained and how you can be involved
1. The industry will join forces for #50BestTalks: Sustainability Summit 2020
The 50 Best thought-leadership forum #50BestTalks comes to The Capitol Kempinski Hotel on 13th May to discuss the hard-hitting issues affecting the bar scene today. The Sustainability Summit 2020 – Produce, Plastic, People will bring together eight heavyweights of the Asian bar industry for three interactive sessions that will act as a deep dive into sustainability and look at how bartenders can set the agenda for positive change in the years ahead. Keep an eye out for the article on 2nd March on 50 Best Stories where we will introduce you to the speakers and the day’s topics. We will be selecting four readers to invite along – if you want to be part of the conversation, email W50BBars@wrbm.com.
Ann Pongprom takes the mic at last year's edition of #50BestTalks: Female Spirit
2. It’s the first-ever Bartenders’ Feast
To celebrate this year’s winners (on the night before they find out where exactly in the list they have placed) the continent’s top talent are invited to the inaugural Bartenders’ Feast at 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung. Over five courses of culinary excellence curated by Leung, of Bo Innovation fame, at his outpost in The Capitol Kempinski Hotel, bartenders will have a chance to catch up and share stories away from the eyes of the media the night before the big event.
3. The big countdown to reveal Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020
Held again at the historic Capitol Theatre, Asia’s 50 Best Bars will be announced in a ceremony hosted by TV star Anita Kapoor. Kicking off with a drinks reception featuring more than 50 bespoke cocktails from 50 Best’s event partners, the countdown will be livestreamed on Asia’s 50 Best Bars Facebook page from 8pm Singapore Standard Time. Set a reminder today to watch the awards as they happen (and be the first to get a booking at The Best Bar in Asia 2020, sponsored by Perrier).
This year will also see some new special awards, with debuts from the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award, voted on by this year’s 50 Best bartenders; the London Essence Best New Opening Award, which will reward a new bar that has performed best in the 2020 ranking; and the Industry Icon Award – an individual honoured for his or her lifetime’s work in the industry, as voted for by the Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy.
We are also rolling out the red carpet to two lucky readers who will be invited along to the Asia’s 50 Best Bars ceremony. If you would like to join us, email W50BBars@wrbm.com explaining why you should be on the guestlist.
The Class of 2019: last year's winning bartenders
4. Our largest-ever After Party at one of Asia’s top venues
Once the festivities have drawn to a close and the bartenders have congregated for the iconic group photo with their freshly minted red scarves, a fleet of buses will whisk all to one of Singapore’s top venues, Cé La Vie. The nightclub on the top floor of Marina Bay Sands will be transformed into an after party space with views over the city and another 30 bespoke cocktails to party long into the night.
5. 50 minutes x 50 Best will bring the world’s top bartenders to Singapore Cocktail Festival
50 Best has invited four bartenders from four continents to come to Singapore to talk about their continent’s cocktail scene. Martin Hudak of Maybe Sammy, Sydney, The Best Bar in Australasia 2019; Márcio Silva from Guilhotina, São Paulo; Benjamin Cavagna from 1930, Milan; and Lynn Lin from Electric Bing Sutt, Beirut, which is The Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa 2019, will take to the stage for a 50 Best Masterclass on the evenings of 15th and 16th May. Each will give some liquid history about how cocktails have evolved in their continent and craft a cocktail for the audience that best explains this philosophy.
We have two tickets to give away to each of the four 50 Best Masterclasses. Email W50BBars@wrbm.com for a chance to come.
Beckaly Franks of The Pontiac, Hong Kong, giving a 50 Minutes x 50 Best Masterclass last year
Now watch the highlights from Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 for a taste of what to expect:
