1800-Liquor-Home-Delivery
Really? You’re not on board the online shopping train? Let us show you the way.
Here are our favourite picks for booze home delivery.
1. MabukMonkey
Perfect for a casual get-together with friends, MabukMonkey offers a range of your usual spirits, house wines, and mixers. They also guarantee home delivery within the hour from your order (provided you call during operation hours from 6 pm till 12 midnight, Tuesdays to Sundays) and promise that the beer will thus arrive ice-cold. How’s that for quick and easy. We love that their delivery menu also includes munchies.
Burn Down The House is the party-delivery-arm of Pacific Beverages and is absolutely the place to go to for beer lovers. Expect to get here your European favourites such as Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, Leffe etc. You’ll have to order by the case though. Check out their ‘Extras’ section where they have tied up with catering, dj/entertainment, restaurant, and spirits partners to bring you a party that will, say it with me, burn down the house.
Delivery from Denise takes 2 to 5 working days, so be sure to order in advance. A full range of wines (sparkling or otherwise) and champagnes from all over the world (New and Old) can be found here which is great if you’re holding a corporate event and really need to impress those clients. A delivery charge of $20 is waived for orders over $300.
Bear in mind that these deliveries are only available in Singapore.
It’s Drunk-Friendly
You know sometimes you’re thinking of holding a little cocktail soiree at your place, perhaps for your housewarming or to celebrate a job promotion, and you want to invite, let’s call him Melvin. Melvin is a great guy, plenty of fun, he’s the life of the party, knows everyone, and with Melvin around, you know the night will be pumping. Problem is, Melvin gets a little drunk at times. He becomes a little too rough, a little too friendly, a little too clumsy.
He knocks things over. You’re worried about your furniture, your cutlery, your designer lamp. We know your pain. We have friends too who just can’t keep their enthusiasm in check after a few whiskeys.
The Jerry Lamp. Made from recycled non-toxic silicone, rubbery and virtually indestructible, it’s perfect to have in your house for friends like Melvin.
Last we checked, this was available on www.dwr.com for US$145.
Bars::7atenine
It was a pleasantly warm weekday evening, and I found myself wandering (as I am wont to be) alongside the Singapore River in search of a meaningful pursuit for the night. While I admired brilliantly illuminated views of buildings under construction some distance away and contemplated the blistering pace of Singaporean urbanisation, I could not help but notice the presence of this comfy bar situated in front of Esplanade Mall. 7atenine’s name may conjure up images and reminders of poor puns and punchlines we have all probably been able to appreciate at some point in our lives, but I decided to give it a look-see anyway.
The first thing you would notice about 7atenine is the décor; with clean white lines and earthy brown upholstery, it combines understated simplicity with touches of class without the unnecessary pretension that at times appears to characterise similarly-styled establishments. It felt like home (or at least, how I wish home could be).
The quirky latticed construction of the stools and chairs add a playful uniqueness to the furniture, while making them hellishly comfortable. Strategically located fans allow patrons in any part of the bar respite from the unforgiving tropical humidity, and speakers mounted to the ceiling facilitated ambient chillout-type music which was audible, but not loud enough to get in the way of existential conversations with myself.
Having been recommended to try some of the mojitos by the eager-to-please service staff, I decided to partake of a four-course mojito dinner. Unfortunately, this was about to cost a little more than what I am accustomed to paying for the average meal. With drinks that cost between $20 and $30 on average, I would consider 7atenine a relatively pricy fix, to say the least.
I started the night off with a safe appetiser choice: a regular mojito. Each mojito served by 7atenine comes with a stick of brown sugar which you can swirl around for additional sugary goodness or consume directly, if it so pleases you. The mojito had a tasty balance of mint and rum, and lacked the bits of undissolved sugar that tend to sink to the bottom of poorly prepared mojitos (which I greatly appreciated). I was impressed.
The Batida Mojito, which is made with cachaça instead of rum, was rich and smooth while the Litchi Mojito had an invigorating freshness to its flavour. The star of the mojito show, however, was the Ginger Blush Mojito which tasted like real ginger without being overly pungent. I was really getting a sense that actual effort went into the loving preparation of these mojitos; I thought, “Self, is it rare to find such commitment?” I’d say so.
Thankfully, 7atenine offers other dining options for those not on a strict liquid diet; a wide variety of smaller dishes in the style of spanish tapas is available for lunch or dinner, and there is a daily lunch special between noon and 230pm for $37++ which allows the diner a selection of the chef’s creations for the day. Unfortunately, this Quaff writer was unable to sample these meal options; the cocktails deserved his full concentration.
And that I’d say, is my thumbs up for 7atenine.
Booze Your Engine
In a post Inconvenient Truth world, there is little doubt left in our minds that global warming is real. The world’s scientists have given us 10 years to live before we are sent spinning into a catastrophe of floods, heat waves, droughts, and extreme weather. It is no longer an issue that we can ignore, and is one that we all have to take seriously. Global warming and an increasingly deteriorating environment is something that no responsible citizen should ignore, no matter how far away the problem still seems to some. We can no longer stand idly by, hoping that someone else will take care of Earth’s problems for us. When oil prices peaking at US$147.30 per barrel in July 2008, the greater part of the planet felt the sting. Not only was there an immediate surge in petrol prices, everything was affected, including food prices at our local grocery stores.
To combat these problems, we start to take an interest in renewable energy, which is simply energy that can be generated from renewable natural resources such as wind and sunlight. Unbeknownst to many, ethanol, the same type of alcohol found in our favourite liquor bottles, is fast becoming one of the most-used renewable energy sources in certain parts of the world.
A novel idea, you say. Not quite. The use of ethanol fuel isn’t some far-fetched story out of Weird Science that would come to us only in the era of flying vehicles and intelligent robots. In fact, in 1896, Henry Ford’s first car (the Quadricycle), was created to run on pure ethanol. It would not be until a dozen years later however, in 1908, that Ford’s famous Model T, capable of running on ethanol, gasoline or both would be produced. As early as 1921, there were 500 cars running on ethanol fuel in the Northeastern state of Brazil of Pernambuco.
A common practice is to blend ethanol with gasoline, resulting in the alcohol fuel mixture of E85, used widely in Sweden and the United States. An article published by The Guardian in 2006 reports that the Scandinavian nation plans to be oil-free in 15 years through a combination of bio-fuels, wind, and water. While other countries are devising bio-fuels programmes at present, Sweden already has 20 years of ethanol experience in its green tank having tested its first ethanol-fuelled bus in 1986. In the United States, there are currently around 1900 ethanol-friendly stations; Wal-Mart will soon jump on the bandwagon with talks of selling E85 at its gas stations countrywide. Here on our friendly shores, I have seen only one car driving on CNG which belongs to the environmentally-conscious fiance of one of my girlfriends though I’m sure there are plenty more. The few CNG cars on local roads may be due to the fact that the tank takes up a considerable amount of space, and there are only 3 or 4 refuelling stations on the island.
In Brazil, the world’s largest ethanol producer, the use of renewable energy sources is certainly no novelty. Considered an industry leader and the first nation to possess a sustainable biofuels economy, Brazil has long been ahead of the game in terms of both the production and use of ethanol fuel. Using sugarcane as a primary means of production, the ethanol fuel programme in Brazil (a programme that dates back 30 years) is a model that the rest of the world should be interested in following. In Brazil, one will not find any light vehicles that run on pure gasoline.
Unfortunately, even in countries like Brazil, the use of ethanol fuel does not mean that there is little demand for the use of petroleum-based products. The country still consumes millions of barrels of oil per day, compared to a few hundred thousand barrels of ethanol.
To add to this, bio-fuels such as ethanol do not guarantee, by any means an improvement in the world’s environmental condition. There are still issues to be dealt with, like deforestation that can occur to prepare land for production of biofuel feedstock crops such as sugarcane. Countries are eager now to run trials of vehicles powered by bio-fuels; a quick and painless injection to fight global environmental deterioration. Leaders of the world look to Brazil who is at the frontline as the world’s most successful bio-fuels producer and leading exporter. Most of the world’s bio-fuels would have to come from Brazil; as the world’s fifth-largest country, the South American nation has the land to spare. To grow crops required for biofuel, a large part of the Amazon (60% of the Amazon lies in Brazil) is cleared, and scientists predict deforestation will eventually push the Amazon to an irreversible tipping point that will mark the death of the Amazon making the bizzare weather experienced now around the world a day in the park compared to what is to come.
Then there are also many who have expressed concern that the use of food products for fuel may be having a detrimental effect on food prices and supply around the world. The increased dependency on ethanol in the United States may have sent corn prices flying, affecting developing countries in Central and South America where corn is a major part of the diet.
With all that said, this is merely my two cents worth as I am certainly not qualified to debate the pros and cons of the intricacies of ethanol production, and to show you that great cocktails, hangovers, and debauchery are not the only things alcohol can bring to this world!
Artwork by Stefan McIntosh [maclatino@hotmail.com].
Redefining Tequila
It is not difficult to mistake Corzo for a perfume rather than what it actually is with its clean lines and clear solid glass vessel. A tequila.
Corzo is Bacardi’s first premium tequila, launched in the fall of 2004, and is set to redefine our preconceptions of tequila in taste and in packaging.
According to the makers of Corzo, the revolutionary bottle design is a testament to Mexican architecture with its thick-walled and elegant exterior. My knowledge of Mexican architecture is of course limited only to Los Cabos resorts, so anyone who can see the link here is welcome to contribute. I only know how to appreciate fine art and design in the spirits industry, and boy is this Corzo bottle fine.
The man spearheading the bottle’s design is Fabien Baron, noted French designer famed for his perfume bottle packaging work and design portfolio in the luxury fashion world. Baron was commissioned to take full reins of the creative process of the identity of Corzo, for both primary packaging and all other secondary marketing materials.
Though I will not call myself a tequila enthusiast, I can understand how time-consuming and difficult the process of bottling a tequila is, much more for a premium tequila; even harvesting the agave plant alone takes years! It is always a joy to see that as much care has been taken in designing a home worthy of the product it houses as is taken to cultivate the product itself. The fashionable bottle is clearly a testament to how seriously Bacardi has taken on this task to create a tequila that is different, of superb quality, and honestly just plain cool.
We like.
If you’d like to read more about the packaging of Corzo, go here.
Myths of Detox
1. Horse brains were a favourite for the ancient Chinese.
2. The Haitians believed that sticking 13 pins in the cork of the last bottle you chugged would give you a clear mind.
3. If you can stomach it, try the Mongolian method of a pickled sheep’s eyeball in tomato juice.
4. In the wild wild West, rough cowboys swore by rabbit droppings tea.
5. The Mexican cure is a yummy soup of cow’s stomach. If it was really fresh, you might even know what the bovine being had for its last meal.
6. The old Romans loved their deep-fried canary. Keep feathers for garnish.
7. Pilny the elder favoured a concoction of eel suffocated in wine.
8. The Moroccan method calls for an inhalation of the smoke from burning fossils to vanquish the demons and restore a state of grace.
9. The Indians were thought to have sipped their own urine the morning after.
10. The Russians just carry on drinking.
Fantastic Ad Campaign from 42 Below
We are perhaps a little late in showcasing this, but greatness has no expiry date.
In 2006, 42 Below hired Saatchi and Saatchi, New York to come up with this beautifully executed series of print ads that also promoted responsible drinking.
There are a whole range of stereotypes in these ads, so please approach with a pinch of salt. To look at the other print ads in the series, go here.
What is your favourite alcohol advertising campaign?
1000 Acres Vodka
What?? What is this?? How can something look this good???
On another note, does anyone have any idea how this vodka tastes? It seems very earthy from the design.
Spotted on TheDieline, a fantastic website on package design.
DIY::House Party
It is really getting hotter every day now. And we think, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. While the heat is here, we might as well make the most of it.
With a house party, set to a summer theme, inspired by St. Tropez.
An atmosphere imitating its daydream beaches, pink wine, and handsomely dressed crowd; we are talking buff-bodied men in their linen slacks, women in bikinis and sequinned kaftans with their glamourous shades, plenty of bubbly, and the lush outdoors. We dare you to resist.
Here’s how you can create a St. Tropez in your very own garden.
First up, get some help; you’d want to relax when the party is going on and not be worrying about topping up empty glasses or replenishing the snack dishes. For a few dollars and free booze, we’re sure friends, cousins, even neighbours will lend a helping hand. The help can take the burden off of your shoulders collecting used glasses, preparing finger food, getting more ice from the supermarket, and taking care of any unforeseen incidents like clearing out the violent drunks that you do not want to waste time on while being the perfect host.
When it comes to decorating, you can easily and fairly affordably create that exclusive resort feel. Get a few sets of white sheets, even some dusty or bright pink ones to add colour. Dress up your party area, be it the poolside, terrace, your bare garden or living room in white and pink. For seating, there is nothing better than a couple of day beds or cushioned deck chairs; if you lack either of these, pull your beds out from your budoirs and casually drape on the white sheets to set that languid summer tone. Sticking a few big umbrellas in the ground is really going to impress your guests. Speaking of guests, make sure you have a dress code - resort chic. A tip for you here, the right dress codes and decorations can make or break your party; the event actually looks intentional instead of an accidental gathering of people.
Third, the drinks. Of course you should always have the usual beers, wines, and sodas. However, a delicately planned party surely requires delicately planned cocktails.
A Spin on Sangria
Ingredients:
Vodka of your choice, Cava or Prosecco, small cubes of fresh watermelon, mixed berries (frozen ones as they are plump with juice) to be infused in Monin violet syrup, Monin blackberry syrup, and some white rose petals for garnish.
Glassware:
Old-fashioned or tumbler
Method:
45ml vodka, 1 scoop fresh watermelon cubes, 1 scoop infused mixed berries, and 15ml Monin blackberry syrup.
Mix the fruit in a glass, add in the vodka and blackberry syrup, fill with ice cubes, give it all a swirl, then top up with Cava and garnish with white rose petals.
St. Tropez Classic
Ingredients:
Rose wine, orange-flavoured soda, slices of orange or any citrus fruit for garnish
Glassware:
Wine glass
Method:
Simply fill the wine glass with ice cubes, pour in the rose wine until two-thirds full, top up with orange soda, stir the mixture, and garnish with a slice of fruit.
Moving on to the miscellaneous, a good estimate of the amount of ice you need is to count on 1 or 2 kilos of ice per person, so there would be enough ice to keep the wines and beers cold as well. Although proper glasses look more fancy, it would be wise to have a large backup of plastic glasses.
Lastly, put some effort into choosing a suitable music playlist for your party. A good music vibe can really get your party pumping. We’d suggest some light beach tunes, then strapping on the dance beats later in the night.
So just press play, start pouring, and smile; you are dancing in the cool summer night.
This article is contributed by the boys from Flow Cocktail with images provided by Vectorscum.
Bars::An Ode to Zsofi
Behind every successful man lies a woman. Sometimes, he even names a bar after her.
Word is that the one of the 2 young masterminds behind Zsofi Tapas Bar was enamoured by a charming young lady that he met in Granada while backpacking around Spain.
Her name was Zsofi.
The graffitti-painted walls, chalkboards for people to scribble on, casually-thrown cushions in the corners, and a breezy rooftop terrace gives this bohemian tapas bar on Dunlop Street a delightful free-spirited vibe and is an ode to the languid Spanish culture of tapas bars.
We all know that it can sometimes be stifling in tiny Singapore because there seems to be only so many watering holes you can chill out at. Zsofi is a rare find not only do they offer complimentary tapas with every drink you order, but for that period of time that you are there, you can be blissfully unaware that you are in tiny concrete Singapore; yes they have absolutely managed to capture the relaxed feel of an authentic tapas bar where time seems to slow down.
Quaff strongly recommends you take some time out to visit Zsofi; even if just to sit on the open-air terrace.
Zsofi is located at 68 Dunlop Street.
P.S. One thing that really caught our eye was the painting on the wall of a girl with headphones. We would love a photo of that for keepsakes.