From the Blog

Vodka – probably the most famous transparent spirit that has won the hearts of many for being one of the most versatile alcohols that can be mixed into almost any cocktail. If you intend to make good use of your bar setup at home during this period of heightened alert in Singapore, why not order a few bottles of vodka online and take this time to explore and drink the many renditions of vodka cocktails?

1. Bloody Mary

The Bloody Mary is a classic cocktail, best known for its ability to help relieve hangovers (yes, with vodka) after a night of partying. The original recipe is said to have contained these seven ingredients: vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, celery salt, Tabasco and lemon juice. But as with most classic cocktails, the modern-day version of a Bloody Mary has now been altered many times over.

If you are in need of a hangover remedy and can muster up the energy to prepare a cocktail, give the classic Bloody Mary a shot.

Ingredients:

• Celery salt
• 1 lemon wedge
• 1 lime wedge
• 50ml vodka
• 120ml tomato juice
• 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
• 2 dashes Tabasco sauce
• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 1 pinch smoked paprika
• Parsley sprig, green olives, lime wedge and celery stalk for garnish

Directions:

Pour some celery salt onto a small plate, then rub the juicy side of the lemon and lime along the lip of a pint glass. Roll the outer edge of the glass in celery salt until fully coated before filling the glass with ice. Squeeze the lemon and lime into a shaker and drop them in. Add vodka, tomato juice, horseradish, Tabasco, Worcestershire, black pepper, paprika, and a pinch of salary salt with ice, then shake gently. Strain liquids into the pint glass and garnish.

2. Vodka Martini

Craving for something crisp, clean and classy? Give the Vodka Martini a shot! This unbelievably simple cocktail is a stiff one, perfect for post-dinner drinks on Saturday nights with some good music playing in the background.

Ingredients:

• 60 ml vodka
• 15 ml dry vermouth
• 2 dashes bitters (optional)
• Lemon twist or olives for garnish

Directions:

Simply gather all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well for 30 seconds or more, then strain liquids into a martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or olives.

3. Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan tastes good and looks good. Brightly coloured in pink, this cocktail tastes fruity from the cranberry and lime juices in the mix. A simple pleasure you must have on a hot afternoon.

Ingredients:

• 75ml vodka
• 30ml Cointreau
• 15ml cranberry juice
• Orange peel for garnish

Directions:

Pour all liquids into a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake the ingredients well and strain them into a nice cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange peel before serving.

Get Your Vodka From JARBARLAR

When it comes to drinking vodka, the simplest way would be to mix it with fuss-free mixers such as cranberry juice, orange juice (screwdriver cocktail) or even a can of coke. With vodka’s strong tasting characteristics, you will definitely be able to enjoy its alcoholic kick despite the sweet mixers.

Craving for a dose of vodka? Simply place your orders online with JARBARLAR instead of making the trip down to the supermarket. Spend above $50 and be eligible for free next day delivery within Singapore.

 Get your liquor fix online now.

After a long year with a number of Covid-19 restrictions implemented in Singapore, it looks like we are once again clamping down on the rising number of cases and facing more restrictions being mandated by the government. Now that dining in at food and beverage outlets is not allowed, where does that leave couples who wish to celebrate a special occasion during this month of heightened measures. 

Spice Up Your Stay-Home Dinner

Dining at home usually involves hours of preparation, from grocery shopping to meal preparation, table setting and cooking, which can be backbreaking work. Spare yourself the trouble and order your meal in advance online. What you can do, though, is to create a romantic ambience and table setting for the special occasion.

1. Break Out The “Special” Dinnerware

Yes, we are talking about the particular set of cutlery and glassware you would only use for a special occasion or guest. Surprise your significant other by breaking them out to show them that they are unique enough. Take-out doesn’t have to be served in takeaway boxes or enjoyed with plastic cutlery. Take your time to plate the dishes you ordered beautifully and tastefully on your dinnerware. 

2. Set The Table

Transport yourselves to a romantic restaurant by covering your old dining table with a nice table cloth and set the table with a few candles and rose petals to set the mood.

3. Prepare Some Cocktails with Fancy Garnishes

If you don’t have the luxury of time to cook up a four-course meal along with dessert and appetisers, you can afford the time to prepare some post-dinner cocktails to go along with your dinner. After all, cocktails only take a few minutes to prepare.

For a romantic dinner, you can go for sexy drinks like the Hanky Panky cocktail – a sophisticated glass of gin martini with a dash of Fernet Branca. Or if you prefer something lighter to go along with your meal, you can go for the bésame cocktail, which means “kiss me” in Spanish. This cocktail is tequila-based, flavoured with the essence of the Damiana flower and perfectly fused with lime, raspberries and passion fruit juice.

Cocktails might look fancy by themselves, but they are not at all difficult to make. Furthermore, you can always use garnishes to your advantage to class up your tipple. If you are not making a layered cocktail, you might need to add some colours to your drink to dress it up. Herbs and fruits are top choices in this case since they add a pop of colour to almost any cocktail.

You can even go the extra mile by lighting up the end of rosemary with a match, then blow it out to add a warm, smoky flavour to elevate the experience of good ol’ usual gin and tonic.

Otherwise, you can even make your garnish the star of the drink by giving it a unique design. To make citrus peel the star of the cocktail, simply use a peeler to peel the orange in a circular motion or roll the orange on the peeler in a circular motion. You will end up with a long strip of orange peel which you can then slice off both edges to have nice, clean ends. Wrap the orange peel around the interior of your cocktail glass before filling it with ice and alcohol, and voila – a simple cocktail made classy.

Get Your Booze From JARBARLAR

With many things and to-dos on your mind before the special dinner, you wouldn’t want to worry about getting your hard liquor for the cocktails from the supermarket before you start dinner preparation. Fulfil your alcohol list with JARBARLAR by placing your order the day before, and we will get them delivered to you for free within Singapore the next day!

If you are in a rush, we also offer two-hour express alcohol delivery at an additional charge as well. Furthermore, you can stand to enjoy more savings on top of wholesale prices by creating an account to rake up loyalty points. Shop your cocktail needs on JARBARLAR’s online catalogue today.

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.

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 by Proper Twelve Whiskey

A taste of a new Bloody Mary by Proper Twelve 700ml enjoy!

Ingredients

• 10/20 ml Proper Twelve Irish Whiskey 
• 30ml parts Tomato Juice
• 10ml Lemon Juice
• 4 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 bar spoon Pickle Juice
• 1/2 bar spoon Horseradish
• Squeeze of Lime Juice
• 1 pinch Celery Salt or Table Salt
• 1 pinch Ground Black Pepper

Steps to Make It

• Add all ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a celery stalk, lemon wedge, and olives and you will be ready to serve

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