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Time Out
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Bartender Spotlight: Bannie Kang from Side Door wants you to ST*U and drink her cocktails
Tucked behind a nondescript door along Neil Road, Side Door is the kind of place that doesn't shout for attention – but once you're in, it doesn't let go. Founded by a talented bartender-and-chef duo, this cosy cocktail den (No. 53 on Asia's 50 Best Bars' 51-100 list) is where personal storytelling and technical finesse collide. It's not your typical bar. And Bannie Kang isn't your typical bartender. Our first sip of anything Bannie made was in 2018 during her Anti:Dote days – a time when cocktail-making was more about spectacle. Back then, she was slinging everything from drinks served in fabric-sack lookalike cups hiding baby carrots, to whimsical sharing cocktails spinning on miniature ferris wheels. Bannie's cocktails aren't anything like that now. These days, the 36-year-old has settled into a signature style that's unmistakably her own – clarified, minimalistic, yet layered and complex. She's also racked up an impressive list of accolades, including World Class Bartender of the Year in 2019 and the Bartender's Bartender Award in 2021. And most recently, she's also gained a worthy disciple (and contender) – her husband, Tryson Quek, who was just named World Class Singapore 2025 champion. Seven years later, we had the chance to chat with Bannie to find out about her favourite creations at Side Door, the bar's unofficial anthem (it's a cheeky one) and her thoughts on the latest cocktail trends. Scroll on to see what she's got to say – and don't forget to check out more of Singapore's best bars in the Time Out Singapore 2025 Bar Guide, out now and available for free here. If Side Door had a theme song, what would it be? ST*U by Sophie Powers, from the latest season of American Idol. We chose this song because sometimes we really just don't care. We don't want to bother about others' opinions, we just want to focus on what we do. What is a must-try cocktail at Side Door? Seaside. It's inspired by a classic cocktail – the paloma – but flavour-wise, it's very different. We add fresh watermelon, Amaro, some citrus, and then fat-wash it with curry leaves, coconut oil, and tequila. It's a little savoury, very refreshing, and one of our top sellers. If it's someone's first time at Side Door, we always recommend they try Seaside. What is an underrated cocktail on your menu? There are two. One of them is Shallow Mellow, inspired by a drink I used to love when I was living in Taiwan, called 烏梅汁 (wu mei zhi). It's great for digestion. Our version still has hibiscus and Taiwanese smoked plum, but we also use tequila, peach syrup, and we carbonate the drink. It's very refreshing, but not everybody loves the smokiness of ume. The other is Same Same Salad, a martini-style cocktail with cucumber, basil and olive oil. It's a bright, refreshing style of the martini, but people are scared to order it because they think it's going to be strong. Which cocktail trend do you want to see more of? I want to see more simple, classic, back-to-basics cocktails. Nowadays, lots of people are using fancy equipment and complicated techniques. Back then, when I just started bartending, we didn't have all of that. Just as the fashion industry goes in rounds, and something popular 10 years ago can come back into trend, the bar scene is like that too. That's the reason Bar Leone in Hong Kong is doing very well, because they do really simple cocktails. What's another bar in the neighbourhood you'd recommend? I've always recommended Night Hawk because of the team, the vibes, and the drinks – there's a really great harmony among everything. I love the energy of the bar. Discover more of Singapore's best bars in the Time Out Singapore 2025 Bar Guide, out now and available for free here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Singapore (@timeoutsg)
Time Out
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A Sydney bartender has just been crowned Australia's Best Bartender for 2025
Woohoo: James Irvine, the group creative cocktail lead at Merivale, has just been named Australia's World Class Bartender of the Year, winning the title at the high-energy national finals held overnight at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth on Monday, June 30. The Sydney legend competed in a series of dynamic challenges alongside seven of the country's best shakers and makers – Aidan Perkins (Milquetoast, Brisbane), Darren Burton (Kiin, Adelaide), Darren Leaney (Caretaker's Cottage, Melbourne), Lachlan Gunner (Trap, Adelaide), Samuel Cocks (Saint Peter, Sydney), Shirley Yeung (Foxtrot Unicorn, Perth) and Tom McHugh (Caretaker's Cottage, Melbourne) – to win gold at the Diageo World Class competition, now in its 16th year. Sydney is on a bloody roll, with Jake Down from Newtown's Pleasure Club winning in 2024, and Eduardo Conde from Paddington's colourful El Primo Sanchez taking out the title in 2023. Irvine says of the win: "This was my eighth time entering the competition, and it feels incredible to finally take out the title. I've drawn on the invaluable mentorship provided by Diageo Bar Academy year after year and have thoroughly enjoyed the creative experience, for almost a decade. 'Bartending is a creative art form, and World Class is the Oscars of bartending competitions – so to be recognised at this level is an absolute honour.' The three challenges were designed to test the bartenders' skill, creativity and speed behind the bar, with Time Out Sydney lucky enough to be in the room for the third and final task: a thrillingly fast-paced challenge where they had to craft nine cocktails (including three different types) in just six minutes. Kate McGraw, Diageo Head of Trade Advocacy, says: 'All eight finalists delivered outstanding performances, but only one could be named Australian Bartender of the Year. James Irvine impressed us with his creativity and innovation, as well as his storytelling and charisma. We are proud to have him represent Australia at the Global Finals in Canada later this year.' On that note, Irvine will soon compete in the 2025 Diageo World Class Global Final, held in Toronto, Canada, from September 27 to October 2, where he will face off against representatives from more than 55 other countries. Biggest congrats to James Irvine and all the other talented finalists. And bring on September!
Time Out
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Last call: Drinks to try at the World Class Cocktail Festival before it ends this month
Time Out Singapore in partnership with Diageo After five months of intense competition, June marks the final month of the World Class Bartender of the Year competition in Singapore. Some of the city's best bartenders have been pushing their limits – all vying for the number one spot and a chance to represent Singapore at the prestigious World Class Global Finals happening in Toronto in September this year. Last month, the Top 20 were tasked to make cocktails starring both Tanqueray, the world's number one premium gin and bartender's favourite, and The Singleton, the award-winning single malt Scotch whisky celebrated for its profound flavour. For Tanqueray, they had to create a drink inspired by industry legends while The Singleton cocktail had to bring the theme 'Sense the Moment' to life with a music-fuelled and multi-sensory party experience. After pulling out all the stops, only the top 11 bartenders remain. And you have a chance to taste their phenomenal creations at the World Class Cocktail Festival this month before the grand finals in June. Meet the Top 11 bartenders and try their signature cocktails Indian Lion – Jeeivan, The Elephant Room With tandoori cooking – the hallmark of Punjabi cuisine – in mind, Jeeivan set out to create a bold cocktail with The Singleton 12 that's still fruity, nutty and delicious. He blends tandoori spices with honey and infuses vermouth with fenugreek to create a drink that's both herbaceous yet savoury in flavour with a brined onion garnish to really make things sing. Tropical City – Tyson Quek, Side Door Who doesn't love a good Paloma? Tryson's got the remedy for you with a take on the classic that's just the right balance of sweet, sour, bitter and salty with a fizzy finish. Starting with Don Julio Reposado, he layers in pineapple juice, lime peel and basil, then carbonates the whole mix for a vibrant lift. A final sprinkle of mitako powder adds a savoury umami kick that'll leave you wanting more. The First Love – Sam Pang, Night Hawk This one's for romantics. Or at least anyone who remembers that giddy, fizzy spark of something new. Sam channels the rush of falling in love into a bright, citrusy spritz with Tanqueray No TEN, grapefruit, lemon, and playful bursts of passion fruit caviar. A bubbly tribute to that moment when something – or someone – first sets your heart ablaze. Mistakes & Magic – Marco Maiorano, KOMA A happy accident turned into cocktail gold. While experimenting late one night with his colleague Mirko Furci, Marco mistakenly mixed a pandan cordial with a tomato one and discovered a combination was so good he had to put it in a drink. Now it lives on in this Martini-meets-Bamboo hybrid with Tanqueray No TEN, sherry, and that unexpected cordial duo. It's proof that sometimes screwing up isn't so bad after all. Walker's Royale – Kelvin Saquilayan, Republic Bar A cocktail with split personalities – like wearing a suit with sneakers. Kelvin merges the elegance of a French 75 with the casual cool of a highball, using Johnnie Walker Black Label, raspberry mignonette, and a generous pour of Champagne. It's refined but relaxed, fancy but familiar. Gotham Sour – Ooi Foo Giap and Lam Ho Yung, Last Word Just like New York City's darker and fictional alter ego, Gotham, the Gotham Sour is a brooding twist on the classic. This cocktail channels the moodiness of the city after dark, much like the streets Batman prowls. At its core is sarsaparilla, a nostalgic nod to 19th-century American soda shops, layered with the smoky complexity of Johnnie Walker Black and the smooth sweetness of amaretto. Mariachi Margarita – Zana Mohlmann, Manhattan If you've ever been to a music festival in the Netherlands then you know that the Dutch throw a great party. But even if you haven't, Zana's bringing a taste of that energy to Singapore with her Mariachi Margarita, a spicy and bold combo made with Don Julio Reposado, fresh cilantro, chilli and lime for that refreshing kick that'll have you dancing all night long. JW in JW – Qing Ting, Madame Fan Heritage meets hospitality in perfect harmony with this drink that pays homage to Johnnie Walker and John Willard Marriott, the founder of JW Marriott Hotel. Qing Ting plucks pandan leaves from the JW Garden, which she torches and mixes with rice, the staple Asian ingredient that also represents her bar, Madame Fan. Mature on Optimism – Orman Bag-ao, CUT by Wolfgang Puck Part of Orman's Bull Run cocktail menu, which as its name implies, reflects the emotional ups and downs of the stock market, Mature on Optimism represents that hopeful high when everything's going right. Made with Tanqueray No TEN, lime juice, basil syrup and put through milk clarification, it's a garden-fresh twist on the classic Basil Smash. Pho-nastic Ensemble – Kim Dongje, The Backdrop Inspired by, you guessed it, pho. Kim reimagines the beloved Vietnamese soup noodle dish as a savoury, sippable cocktail starring Don Julio Reposado and a medley of familiar Southeast Asian ingredients like kaffir lime, lemongrass, Thai basil and chilli. There's even a vegetable consommé base. It's a warm, comforting hug delivered in a cocktail glass. More to try at the World Class Cocktail Festival It's also your final chance to try out exclusive cocktail menus from the other participating bars of the World Class Cocktail Festival. Check out the promotional menus featuring premium spirits from World Class served with a creative twist. We've picked out the star drink you have to order from each bar when you swing by. Vote for your favourite World Class experience here for a chance to win a $200 voucher to spend at your participating bar of choice. The Right Wing – Joel Accad, Silly Goose A riff on the Right Hand rum negroni, but for those who aren't as big a fan of the usual bitterness. Joel blends Ron Zacapa XO, sweet vermouth and a banana oleo. It's bold, tropical and just bitter enough to keep things interesting. And if you haven't been to Silly Goose, you'll find that they only have 14 drinks on the menu. During the World Class Cocktail Festival, it has four specials on the menu to celebrate so you should find something you like when you head down. Till The Sun Goes Up – Cherry Lee, Origin Bar Like Jennie? Nah, we want a cocktail that's like Cherry – specifically Cherry Lee from Origin Bar, who's combined cherry liquor, bergamot, citrus and a touch of cherry glaze for her take on an Aviation with Tanqueray No TEN. She created a drink that reflects her personality – playful, classic and full of hopeful optimism, like watching the sunrise from the beach after a long night of heart-to-heart conversation. The Geisha – James Dela Rosa, WAKUDA James gives the Paloma a spicy Japanese twist with Don Julio 1942, homemade grapefruit soda infused with shishito peppers, and a grapefruit foam sprinkled with homemade wasabi salt. He credits this drink as the reason he's made it to the Top 42 of this year's World Class competition so you have to try it for yourself to see why he's come this far. Gents and the City – Anton Gornev, The Mirabilis Bar @ Mt. Faber Peak Just like how Carrie Bradshaw starts her essays with a rhetorical question, Anton built his cocktail menu around the simple yet profound query, 'What if?'. Gents and the City is his take on what the drink of choice would be if Sex and the City were about stylish men in New York. Carrie's favourite Cosmopolitan is given a Manhattan twist, featuring The Singleton 12 Years, a vermouth blend and a Cosmo foam.
