A masculine drinks vault in Singapore’s heritage district, D. Bespoke is a beguiling addition to the Lion City’s cocktail circuit.
Secret passwords? How so very 2014. Sure, Singapore’s latest drinks vault D. Bespoke exudes an aura of discretion, but you won’t need to whisper any phrases to enter. Inhabiting a vintage shophouse in Bukit Pasoh, a mere tipsy stagger from LUXE fave New Majestic Hotel, the bar might be overlooked – if you aren’t looking with your gimlet eye, that is. Luckily you are, so simply press the buzzer to discover the seriously swanky drinking den within.
Dark wood, leather furny and a handsome 14-seat teak bar filling the length of the room create a masculine and intimate atmos heightened by discerning service. Cocktails are served in exquisite, custom-made Kimura glassware; while design features like the woven copper and bronze lamp shades – created especially for the bar – resemble works of art.
The meticulous attention to detail is remarkable, yet it’s nothing less than expected from dapper Japanese maestro Daiki Kanetaka (of Beijing’s Glen Bar and Glen Classic fame). A protégé of celebrated bartender Hidetsugu Ueno, Kanetaka has 16 years experience in the super-strict Ginza bar system, and spent lengthy stints perfecting his art in Jerez and at the Ardbeg and Glenfiddich distilleries in Scotland. Suffice to say the man knows his liquor.
The ‘D’ in D. Bespoke borrows from Kanetaka’s first name, and his masterful touch is evident throughout – he insists on mixing each customer’s first drink. Libations are handcrafted to individual preference, taking into account length, aroma, body and strength as well as the taste, while specialties of the house are fortified spirits like almanac, calvados and sherry.
D. Bespoke leaves the gimmickry to others and offers a rarified and decidedly grown-up drinking experience. Reservations recommended.
D. Bespoke, 2 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore, +65 8141 5741, dbespoke.sg
