From the Blog

Most Singaporeans would remember Vodka as their very first taste of liquor, which doesn’t exactly spark the best memory with alcohol since most people wouldn’t be able to hold their liquor well on their first try. This is especially true since Absolut Vodka has an ABV of 50%, which is about 10 times as much as a can of beer.

Whether you had it mixed with a glass of Coke or with cranberry juice during your teenage years, you would have most likely graduated to other liquors such as whiskey or wine as you grew older and feel like you now have a more “sophisticated” palate. Or do you, really? After all, there must be a reason why the makers of Vodka, the Russians, are famously known for binge drinking Vodka.

Vodka VS Beer

Beer is usually the go-to alcoholic beverage when visiting a bar, but what is stopping you from ordering a boozy Vodka cocktail instead? If you didn’t know, Vodka actually has a lower calorie count than a beer due to the differences in the production process between the two alcohol. The fermentation process during beer production actually makes it a high-calorie drink, compared to the distillation of Vodka. This means that Vodka won’t give you a beer belly!

Other than Vodka being less likely to trigger weight gain than beer, it is also more versatile since it can be enjoyed on its own if you are looking to have a strong drink or mixed in a nice cocktail with juice or a fizzy soda – whichever you are in the mood for. 

Types of Vodka

While Vodkas are not categorised by how long it is aged in a barrel or where they are produced at, they can be categorised into three different types – plain, flavoured and fruit and herbal infused. 

Plain Vodka

Plain Vodkas contain only water and ethanol, which makes it an extremely strong drink due to the lack of other ingredients during the production process. You will be able to feel the kick of alcohol immediately despite it having almost no taste. Plain Vodkas are widely used for a wide array of cocktails globally since it is so versatile and does not come with any flavour, essentially making it a blank canvas.

Fruit and Herbal-Infused Vodka

Fruit and Herbal-Infused Vodkas have a longer production window due to the infusion process, but the result is a flavourful spirit filled with colours and aromas. This type of vodkas have a unique taste and can be enjoyed chilled on its own.

Flavoured Vodka

Flavoured Vodkas have been around for a long time. Popular Vodka brand amongst Singaporeans, Absolut, has a whole range of fruit-flavoured Vodkas that are particularly popular with younger consumers since it goes down easier and is not as harsh as plain Vodka.

The Easiest Vodka Cocktails

Having a last-minute dinner gathering at your place and want to impress your guests by serving them some Vodka cocktails but don’t know how? We’ve got you covered. 

Screwdriver

Orange juice and plain Vodka – that is literally all you need for this easy drink. 

Directions:

• Squeeze the juice from 1 large orange and set it aside
• Pour 50ml of Vodka into a glass of ice
• Stir well and garnish with a wedge of orange

Sea Breeze

Light and breezy, that’s what you are going to look like preparing this easy cocktail.

Directions:

• Pour 50ml of Vodka into a glass of ice
• Add 100ml of cranberry juice
• Add 50ml of grapefruit juice
• Stir gently until the glass feels cold
• Garnish with a slice of lime

Get Your Bottle of Vodka From JARBARLAR

Haven’t got your Vodka yet? Place your order for a bottle or two online now! Here at JARBARLAR, we offer free delivery within Singapore with a minimum spend of $50. Simply place your order before 4 pm and receive your alcohol the next day.

Shop our full collection of spirits, liquors and beers today.

Have you been pining for some ice-cold cocktails by the beach in Bali or Phuket? Don’t you just miss listening to the waves crashing on the shore, admiring the pink sunset with salt in your hair and warm sand beneath your feet – oh, if only we could get on a plane and jet off!

As the pandemic continues to affect the lives of many globally and travel restrictions don’t show any sign of easing, we find ourselves in need of a vacation by the beach more than ever. In a blink of an eye, it has been about a year since most Singaporeans travelled out of our tiny little island. Where did all the time go?

If you are having a serious case of cabin fever, why not try recreating overseas beach experiences in sunny Singapore? You might just feel a little better. Let’s start with the cocktails.

1. Singapore Sling

This one’s for the ones who order a Singapore Sling every time they travel just to see if bartenders abroad will put a different spin on our local cocktail. Originating from the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel, this gin-based drink which was created for ladies (hence the bright pink colour) is now served in most local joints and enjoyed by many Singaporeans. 

You’ll need: 

• 1 ½ ounces gin
• ½ ounce cherry Brandy or cherry Heering
• ¼ ounce Cointreau
• ¼ ounce Bénédictine
• 4 ounces fresh pineapple juice (preferably fresh pineapple juice)
• ½ ounce lime juice (preferably fresh lime juice)
• ⅓ ounce grenadine
• 1 dash of Angostura bitters
• Slice of pineapple or maraschino cherry

Once you have the ingredients ready, combine them with ice and shake them up in a shaker until the drink is chilled, then strain into a chilled tall glass. Garnish with a slice of pineapple or cherry if you like and take a sip! Purchase your stash of gin for the Singapore Sling from our online store today. 

For a list of gin available on JARBARLAR, see here.

2. Classic Mai Tai 

Nothing screams exotic summer escape more than the Tiki culture, which features exotically decorated bars and restaurants catering to individuals  longing for travel to tropical regions of the world. This rum-based cocktail is the face of the Tiki culture, an OG, in some sense. Its name also means “the best, out of the world” in Tahitian so let’s find out how true that is. 

You’ll need: 

• 1 1/2 ounces white rum
• 3/4 ounce orange Curaçao
• 3/4 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/2 ounce Orgeat syrup
• 1/2 ounce dark rum
• 1 lime wheel
• 1 mint sprig

Add the white rum, curaçao, lime juice and orgeat into a shaker with crushed ice and shake lightly for about 3 seconds. Pour into a chilled rock glass and gently float the dark rum over as a topper. Garnish with a slice of lime and a mint sprig and voila – you’ve got yourself a boozy Tiki cocktail! 

Get all the rum and alcohol you need at wholesale prices from our website today.

3. Tequila Sunrise

With just three simple ingredients, the Tequila Sunrise has managed to win the hearts and taste buds of many across the world with its brilliant colours and also due to the fact that Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones took a liking to it during their world tour back in 1972. Besides being a feast for the eyes, this cocktail is also fairly easy to prepare as it doesn’t even require you to mix it or shake it.

You’ll need:

• 2 ounces Blanco tequila
• 4 ounces orange juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/4 ounce Grenadine

Pour the tequila and orange juice into a chilled highball glass, then add the grenadine last. The last step is tricky, as you will need to do it slowly to ensure that the colours of the orange juice and the grenadine don’t mix. A little hack you can use is to pour the grenadine over the back of a spoon and allow it to trickle slowly to the bottom of the glass to achieve the sunrise colours.

Order your bottle of tequila for your Tequila Sunrise now!

Enjoy Wholesale Prices When You Order Alcohol From JARBARLAR

Whether it is a poolside summer soiree that you are throwing for your friends or a sunny Sunday afternoon lounging alone at your balcony, you can be prepared to have a taste of a mini-vacation with these fun summery cocktails. Make your orders early on our website and get your alcohol fix delivered to your doorstep in Singapore for free (with minimum spending of $50). Check out our full catalogue for our selection of wines, spirits and beers.

Feel like taking your cocktail game up a notch during your upcoming dinner soiree next weekend? Why not try recreating James Bond’s all-time favourite Vesper Martini that he suavely orders at the bar.

First things first, while James Bond is a book/movie character widely known and admired by many across the world, he is fictional, and so is his favourite alcoholic drink. The Vesper Martini was first mentioned in the 1953 book “Casino Royale” and caught the hearts of many ever since. Many other cocktails and drinks were mentioned in other books from the series, but none stood out like the Vesper Martini. Due to the Vesper Martini being a fictional cocktail, its ratios and the content of the drink is entirely up to your interpretation.

The Ingredients

James Bond provided strict and specific instructions as to how to make a Vesper Martini – “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?”

Kina Lillet is a liqueur made with white wine, which gives the Vesper Martini its distinctive bitter edge.

Unfortunately, the elusive Kina Lillet is no longer in production and does not exist anymore. But the good news is you can always substitute it with Cocchi Americano, which finishes crisp and bitter – close enough to the original Kina Lillet.

To make a Vesper Martini closest to the original one, you will need:

• 3 ounces gin
• 1-ounce vodka
• 1/2 ounce Cocchi Aperitivo Americano
• A wide strip of lemon zest for garnish

As you can tell from the proportions, James Bond liked his cocktails stiff. You might want to dial back on the gin or tweak the recipe if you don’t usually go for strong cocktails.

Shaken, Not Stirred

Once you have the necessary liquors and ingredients ready, go ahead and combine the different liquors in a cocktail shaker. Add some ice and shake the liquor combination for about 10 seconds for a bubbly and cloudy texture. Sift the liquid into a martini glass (not cocktail glass) and top it off with a strip of lemon zest for garnishing.

Voila! You now have a solid glass of Vesper Martini ready for your enjoyment. Sit back, relax and enjoy feeling like a top-secret, licensed-to-kill British intelligence agent.

Get Your Vesper Martini Necessities From JARBARLAR

Thinking of buying the liquors in advance but can’t seem to squeeze out any time before the dinner gathering at your place? Why not get your gin and vodka delivered to you by ordering online? Visit our website today and find a wide array of gin like Hendricks, Gordon’s and Tanqueray available for purchase. As for the vodka, you can opt to go for Absolut, Belvedere, or Grey Goose.

Place your order online and enjoy free delivery within Singapore with a minimum spending of $50. Do note that next-day delivery will only be available if your order is placed before 4pm the previous day and there are no alcohol deliveries on Sunday. Alternatively, express delivery within 2 hours is also available with a charge of $19.90.

Browse through our online catalogue today.

Even as we enter a post-pandemic period of recovery, it’s safe to say that Chinese New Year this year will look a little different than what we’re used to. Prioritising safety and health doesn’t necessitate curtailing your celebrations. With a little bit of creativity, you can kickstart Chinese New Year celebrations this 2021 with cocktail making at home. 

A little bit about Chinese New Year

Also called the Lunar New Year, it typically begins with the new moon occurring between the end of January and end of February – lasting approximately 15 days. Cleaning and decorating the house, having reunion dinners on the eve, and giving red envelopes (Ang Pao) are ways people took to the celebrations.

You can make your own festive cocktails at home this year – experimenting with your family is half of the fun! We’ve compiled some of the most festive themed drinks here, with different alcohol types to wet your whistle. 

1. Jade Cocktail  

In Chinese culture, jade was regarded as one of the most precious stones, symbolising purity and moral integrity. As the name suggests, this cocktail borrows significance heavily from what jade represents in culture and tradition. Achieve the bright green flavour by using the Midori Melon and blue Curacao together. Add champagne, lime juice and a dash of Angostura bitters for a refreshing alcoholic drink to start off the night.

You’ll need:

• ½ ounce Midori
• ½ ounce blue Curacao
• dash of Angostura bitters
• ½ ounce lime juice
• champagne 

2. Golden Treasure Sangria

Featuring grape juice, orange liqueur, honey and sparkling white wine, the Golden Treasure Sangria is a fruity fresh concoction that’ll appease the sweet tooth any of your guests may have. Perfect for an after-dinner drink, you could mix in a variety of fruits – nectarine, cherries, and raspberries – and top it off with mint.

You’ll need:

• 3 cups white grape juice, chilled
• ½ cup orange liqueur
• 1750ml white wine, chilled
• ¼ cup superfine sugar
• 3 tbsps honey
• 1 medium nectarine, pitted and chopped
• 1 navel orange, thinly sliced
• ¾ cup frozen cherries
• ¾ cup fresh red raspberries
• ½ cup fresh mint leaves

Combine grape juice, orange liqueur, sugar, and honey – stirring until it all dissolves. Stir in nectarine, orange, cherries, raspberries, basil, and mint. Chill the mixture and stir occasionally. Add sparkling wine to the fruit mixture before serving. 

For orange liqueur, you could go with Cointreau. For white wines, see JARBARLAR’s list of wines and champagnes here.

3. Mandarin Orange Mojito  

Exchanging mandarin oranges is part and parcel of Chinese New Year traditions. Incorporating mandarin juice into your cocktail can be an innovative way to recreate the classic mojito. 

You’ll need: 

• 1 cup mandarin juice
• 3 tbsps fresh lemon juice
• 4 tbsps sugar
• mint leaves
• 1 cup sparkling water
• ½ cup rum

Mix mandarin juice, fresh lemon juice, sugar, sparkling water and rum in a jar. Add mint leaves as a finishing touch.

4. Orange Oasis

Following the trend of good wealth and prosperity, the Orange Oasis is refreshing and fitting for the event. You’ll need: 

• ½ ounce cherry brandy
• 4 ounces orange juice
• ginger ale

Pack a punch by mixing cherry brandy and gin with orange juice. We recommend the Marie Brizard Cherry Brandy for this – infused with red fruit notes and the perfect choice for cocktails.

5. Palomino  

The Palomino is a distinct drink. You could either go for the Creme de Cassis, which has the flavour of black currants, or use Kahlua, coffee liqueur. With that rich nutty base, then comes the whiskey. As the name suggests, the drink is reflective of devotion and stability – symbolising freedom and beauty.

You’ll need: 

• 1 tsp Green Chartreuse
• 1 ounce Creme de Cassis
• 1 tsp Kahlua
• 1 ½ ounces whiskey

Shake everything together with ice and strain into a glass. 

Shop online at our liquor store

At JARBARLAR, you can find any and every kind of alcohol you may need to make that perfect cocktail at home. You don’t have to skimp on celebrations – with just a few tricks, you’ll be surprising your closest family and friends with some festive cocktails homemade. We offer delivery services in Singapore – make your shopping experience a hassle-free one.

Photo credit from: Glenfiddich

Our best minds got together to discover the perfect compliment to this already extraordinary expression. And this is what they discovered.

Leave the frozen grape to thaw gently in the whisky. When you’ve finished, eat the grape to enjoy a satisfying sweet crunch of the crisp fruit, steeped in the flavours of Winter Storm.

Ingredients

• Preferred amount of Winter storm
• Frozen grape
• Frozen Glass

Steps to Make It

• Freeze your glass, Freeze your grape, Add in preferred amount of winter storm. Stir them.

A taste of the roaring twenties, the Martell Sidecar balances sweetness, citrus high notes and the warm elegance of Martell cognac infused in it

Ingredients

• 20ML Martell cognac (Martell Red Barrel or even Martell Cordon Bleu)
• 10ml Lemon juice
• 10ml Cointreau
• 1 orange slice
• Ice

Steps to Make It

• Put a few ice cubes into the shaker and add the Martell cognac, lemon juice and triple sec. Shake the ingredients together and pour into a cocktail strainer glass. Squeeze the orange peel over the cocktail and its ready to serve and impress your guess