The Bar Awards Singapore 2018 Nominations Open

After a busy 2018 which saw the Bar Awards travel to Thailand and Hong Kong, it is time for the spotlight to return to Singapore.

The best part? You still get to participate this year. Hooray!

As with last year’s process, the public gets to put their favourite bars up for the vote in an open round of nominations. A selected panel of industry experts and personalities will then winnow down the entire list of contenders to a Top 10 and then a Top 4. The final winners will then be announced on August 19.

The Categories

Now, what’s changed this year is the categories. Fourteen areas of excellence to choose from, and some new ones at that.

The Bar Awards Luminaries, presented by AngosturaA new award, dedicated to the growth and development of the Singapore bar community. This award may honour an individual, a number of individuals, a group and/or an initiative.
The Rising Star, presented by PerrierFor young talents 25 years old or younger who are, well, rising stars.
Best Restaurant Bar, presented by Restaurant, Pub and Bar AsiaAn award that, quite unlike the others, looks for an establishment that is primarily a dining venue, but has an outstanding beverage program to go with its food.
Best Beer Bar, presented by PeroniAs it says on the can, this category is meant for a bar with an exciting and well-curated beer offering, and knowledgeable and meticulous service to boot.
Best Wine BarVery similar to the beer category, except, of course, for wine.
Best Beverage Event presented by Melbourne MoonshineA new category, honouring Singapore’s best beverage focused event within the last 12 months. The Bar Awards events or activations are excluded, of course, though we’re sure they’ll be glad that you were thinking of them.
Best Education and Community Ambassador, presented by Altos TequilaChances are, you might have met people who are promoting beverages, and not by selling you a pint a penny. Those brand ambassadors have been working hard educating the community on their brands, and it’s time someone recognised their efforts.
Best Specialist Concept, presented by Pierre FerrandA category that’s something of a catch-all for bars that offer a unique, specialised and focused concept and a well-curated experience. If that sounds a little vague, that’s because it basically includes any bar with a cool concept that you really like. If there’s a Jurassic Park themed bar, for example, it would come under this category.
Best Hospitality Ambassador, presented by Fever-TreeDedicated to individuals who are the very paragons of good service in and outside of work. This can include, but go beyond bar backs, runner, waiters, bartenders, sommeliers, managers, owners and any members of the culinary team.
Best Hospitality Team, presented by Hendrick’s GinPretty similar to the Hospitality Ambassador, but recognising an entire service team.
Most Creative Cocktail Program, presented by CointreauThe bar with the most innovative, unique, and creative cocktail program comes under this category. Anything that sends the mind alight with possibilities.
Best New Bar, presented by CampariAs it says on the can, the best new bar since June 25 2017 will be eligible to win this award. With so many great bars opening in the last year, this will definitely be a challenging.
Bartender of the Year, presented by Monkey ShoulderAnd, like the Best Actor or Best Actress, there will be one bartender whose skills, knowledge, and ability to peer deep into your soul while mixing drinks surpasses the rest. A difficult category to nominate for, to be sure, given all the great options.
Bar of the Year, presented by Mekhong, the Spirit of ThailandThis award recognises the best bar in Singapore, and that is an honour to be ruthlessly scrutinised indeed. The bar should be assessed not just on drinks, but on everything that makes a bar, a bar. Might we suggest thinking about the overall experience, service and everything that makes you get out the door and into bar?