With 2024 coming to an end, let's take a look back at 24 of the best drinks we've had over the past year.
This being the last Tipsy-Turvy for the year, let’s do a recap of some of the best drinks I’ve had over the past year. Since I’ve had A LOT of different drinks this year, I’ve divided the list into two - 12 cocktails and 12 spirits. Cheers, and here's to more great drinks next year!
Launched in July, Three X Co’s Indi V Duality menu by new head bartender Amanda Wan had some really good drinks, but this sake-based low ABV tipple is my favourite and my go-to first (and last) drink each and every time.
Ayu Ayumi (Three X Co)
For three years, I had been pestering Coley head bartender Loco to bring back his Milo Negroni from one of his Negroni Week creations, and this year, he finally did.
Miloni (Coley)
Terumi's founder Shirmy Chan has somehow managed to tame the wild beast of baijiu into a solid base for cocktails, and this Kweichou Moutai-based negroni is arguably the best one in the bar’s menu now.
All Coming Back Now (Bar Terumi)
Penang bar Chez Chez moved to a new location earlier this year, and in its first menu there is this savoury take on the dirty martini using sauerkraut brine instead of olive brine.
Saurkrautini (Chez Chez)
Trigona’s Colour Me Curious menu had a many cracking drinks, but this one, which includes full curry puffs blended and infused in the drink, gets my vote for being the most unique of all. Go try it now before
Cacao & Curry (Bar Trigona)
Not exactly a cocktail, but a beer poured unto a layer of ice in a glass, forming ‘three layers’ of ice, beer and foam. Available only at Mizukami’s Midday Diner sessions on Saturdays.
Three Layer Beer (Bar Mizukami)
A great drink made with Tanqueray 10 Gin, beautifully balanced drink cucumber, lime juice, and asam boi flavours. Definitely my choice of a go-to drink at Louie's Bar, located at Plaza Batai, KL
Drop The Beat (Louie’s Bar)
Signature serve at a new bar called The Humboldt in Damansara Heights, made with Chairman’s Reserve White rum with cacao, parmesan, vanilla, lactose and whey for drink that will make you go "What cheesy chocolatey sorcery is this?".
Chocolate Santafereño (The Humboldt)
The Ramly Burger-inspired Double Special was an interestingly savoury highball-styled drink, and comes with a mini bakkwa burger as a garnish.
Double Special (Cabinet 8 KL)
Funky, tropical and citrusy drink, refreshing and complex at the same time, with just enough spice to make it even more interesting.
Ba-Na-Na-Na (Hyde @ 53)
Part of Reka's Salt Fat Acid Heat Spotlight Menu, with Michter’s Bourbon, Campari, Mancino Vermouth Blend, duck fat, black truffle oil, A Boulevardier twist, the rich duck fat is a decent foil for the spirits.
Come To The Duck Side (Reka:Bar)
I recently did my first ever guest bartending shift with Wan at Three X Co, and among the four pop culture-inspireddrinks was this Star Wars one, which was served in a wooden bowl to imitate the soup that Baby Yoda drinks in the TV show, The Mandolorian.
The Mangolorian (Tipsy-Turvy guest shift at Three X Co). — Photo: Tien Chew
Released in conjunction with The Macallan's 200th year anniversary, this single malt that draws from 14 different cask types and made for a fascinating revisit of the brand’s signature style, giving me a feeling of something old yet new, of past, present and future.
The Macallan Time:Space Mastery
Martell released a Single Cru range of cognacs that made for a fascinating deconstruction of the brand’s signature blends. While there was a Fins Bois and Borderies expression, for me, it was the Petite Champagne that stood out for me.
Martell Single Cru Petite Champagne
At 307.2 phenol parts per million (PPM), this is the Octomore release with the second highest ppm ever, but yet, the smoke is not overwhelming, but perfectly balanced in this single malt whisky.
Octomore 15.3
A limited edition cognac released to celebrate Remy Martin's 300th anniversary, this was a marvel of a Cognac that encompasses the past present and future of the brand and spirit.
Remy Martin 300 Anniversary Coupe
This single cask GlenAllachie was bottled exclusively for AsiaEuro’s 25th year anniversary. Aged 16 years in an Oloroso puncheon and bottled at 60.1%, it was a stunning single malt full of sherry richness.
The GlenAllachie 2006 Single Cask
A 31-year-old single malt scotch whisky matured primarily in ex-bourbon casks, but with an extra extended maturation of 9 years in French Bordeaux wine casks. The result was surprisingly not as wine-forward as I expected – more of a mellow and rounded than the wine cask finish.
Glenfiddich Grand Chateau 31
The dram that caught my attention the most in Diageo's Special Releases 2023 (which only came to Malaysia this year), Roseisle made its official debut as a single malt in this collection, and caught my attention with a lovely chocolatey profile.
Roseisle 12-Year-Old
Another whisky that went really well with food, specifically the whisky pairing at Chocha Foodstore. Chocolatey, salty, and lots of sherry fruitiness. Nope, no soy sauce, in case you were wondering.
Glenglassaugh Portsoy
Archie Rose is an Australian spirits distiller does some pretty unique and interesting things, and the Native Botanical Vodka is especially delicious, with its blend of different botanical distillates (although it seems more like a gin without the juniper).
Archie Rose Native Botanical Vodka
Yes, another vodka, but what a vodka it is. Made with 100% Diamond Rye, this is arguably one of the best vodkas I've had in a long time, and is a spirit that deserves respect (and commands a price tag that reflects that as well).
Belvedere 10
From Suntory's Tsukuriwake Collection 2024, this single malt is crafted with 100% Golden Promise barley, this rich, creamy and buttery dram went really, really with when paired with food.
The Yamazaki Golden Promise
The beast of Dufftown is back! A robust, almost savoury whisky that is quite distinctly Mortlach, and reminds me of the first NAS expressions that were released before the curreent aged statement ones.
Mortlach X Phillipe Starck 'Become'
Michael Cheang found it quite hard to distill down all the great drinks he had in 2024 to just 24. Follow him on Instagram (@mytipsyturvy) and Facebook (fb.com/mytipsyturvy).
