The Singapore Sling, created over a century ago and featured at the Long Bar in Singapore’s famed Raffle’s Hotel, is an iconic cocktail known worldwide. Historically, the drink was made with European gin, as Singapore didn’t produce any of its own—until Jamie Koh established Brass Lion Distillery in 2018.

Jamie Koh, an entrepreneur in Singapore’s food and beverage scene, noticed this gap. Motivated to correct this glaring absence, she aimed to create gins reflecting Singapore’s tropical climate and showcasing ingredients representative of the island.

To master the fine art of distilling, Koh enrolled in an American distilling school and undertook apprenticeships at distilleries across the U.S., U.K., and Germany. During her time in Germany, Koh connected with the distillers of Monkey 47 to learn how they created a consistent and delicious gin served in the finest bars worldwide.

Koh’s approach to creating a distinctly Singaporean gin involved sourcing unique local ingredients like chrysanthemum, pomelo, and mangosteen and hauling them back to Germany for experimentation. The result was Brass Lion Distillery’s first spirit, the Singapore Dry Gin, a blend of 22 botanicals with floral and local spice characteristics, with a refreshing zest ideal for evening cocktails in equatorial Singapore.

After finalizing the recipe in 2015, Koh faced the most difficult challenge: obtaining the licenses and permits to launch Singapore’s first standalone small-batch micro-distillery. The process took two and a half years, a timeframe she hadn’t anticipated. After much back and forth with the government, she finally received a license.

Since its launch in 2018, Brass Lion Distillery has expanded its lineup with flavors like the Butterfly Pea Gin, which blends the original Singapore Dry Gin with lavender and butterfly pea flower, an ingredient popular in local cooking. The distillery also creates the Pahit Pink Gin, a spirit based on the classic Gin Pahit (meaning “bitters” in Malay), a concoction once favored by the British Royal Navy as a seasickness remedy in colonial Malaya.

Brass Lion also features a delicious ex-bourbon-barrel-aged gin and a navy-strength gin bottled at 58% ABV.

In addition, the distillery has a barrel of single malt whisky maturing in the back, awaiting the day when it can be bottled and savored.

A Singapore Gin Destination

The Brass Lion Distillery at Alexandra Terrace offers more than just a distillery. Alongside the copper still and the bottling facility, the space features a cocktail bar and a gin school. Koh created a brand ‘home’ where people can take tours, experience gin-making, sit at the bar, and sample spirits. If you find yourself in Singapore for a few days for business or pleasure (or if you live in Singapore and don’t know it exists), Brass Lion is worth the trip to see the facility and enjoy a tasting of their gin collection –  you can sign up for a tour on its website. And if you have a free Sunday and are curious about how distilleries make gin, you can sign up for Gin School.

Brass Lion gins are available at fine spirits shops across the island or the distillery. Prices range from $75 USD for the Original Gin to $105 USD for the Barrel Aged Gin.

Tasting Notes

Osmanthus Oolong Gin: A mellow tea flavor after adding water or tonic. Perfect for a tropical Sunday pool party.

Barrel Aged Gin: Perhaps the brand’s most delicious gin of all. Aged in ex-bourbon casks with vanilla and caramel notes. Try it in a gimlet or over rocks with a lime twist.

Navy Gin: A seriously strong gin that forms the ultimate base for a great gin and tonic.

Pahit Pink Gin: A deliciously rich gin with spice botanicals best enjoyed with a splash of ginger ale or on the rocks.

Pearl Jasmine Gin: Reminiscent of a bottle of jasmine green tea but with a gin bite. Like the Oolong Gin, the Jasmine flavors emerge when you mix it with a splash of tonic.

PHOTO ALBUM (All photos by the author, Kris LeBoutillier)