MO BAR at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore has unveiled its sixth cocktail menu, and it’s a deep, evocative exploration of Singapore’s identity. Titled Echoes of Singapore, this new collection doesn’t just serve drinks. It tells stories. Through 15 cocktails across five chapters, the menu pays homage to the nation’s past, embraces its present, and dares to imagine its future.
Framed around themes of heritage, modernity, innovation, community, and house signatures, Volume Six is a showcase of storytelling through flavour, texture, aroma, and visuals—right down to the menu’s presentation.
Past Echoes
The opening chapter dives into Singapore’s layered history, distilling memories into each pour. Banana Dollar is a playful, nostalgic nod to the wartime currency, complete with an edible rice-paper note resting atop banana-guava foam. Meanwhile, Miss Samsui honours the Samsui women—Chinese female labourers who helped build early Singapore. This cocktail, steeped in Lapsang tea and red wine-soaked cherries, carries the weight of resilience, softened by delicate shochu. Gao Lak, named after the Teochew term for roasted chestnuts, evokes the disappearing hawker trade with a bold mix of mezcal and black bean vinegar, served in wok-inspired glassware. A non-alcoholic version is available for those seeking the same spirit without the spirit.
Modern Interpretations
This chapter captures Singapore’s current cultural pulse. Haji Lane is vibrant and herbaceous, echoing the bohemian street’s youthful energy with rum, mint liqueur, sugarcane, and a splash of Tiger Beer. Sarapan takes the familiar comfort of a kaya toast breakfast and spins it into a cocktail, combining bourbon-oaked Campari, kopi-infused vermouth, and kaya-distilled gin, topped with a kaya cookie. On the other end of the spectrum, RE:TOX offers a cheeky, green-juice-inspired tequila cocktail that channels Singapore’s wellness boom—with cucumber, celery, apple, and lime adding freshness to the mix.
Innovative Future
Looking ahead, MO BAR embraces experimentation. Hop ‘n’ Rol redefines the concept of beer with a cold-distilled lager base, layered with passionfruit cordial and Seara vodka, and served with a masala chai-dusted prawn cracker. Plant-ish presents a visual illusion—it arrives in a claypot, topped with Oreo “soil,” but drinks like a creamy dessert made from Hennessy VSOP and white miso vanilla. The Reclaimed Sling 2.0, a reinvention of the iconic Singapore Sling, emerges clear and refined, with post-distilled gin and Cointreau, and a signature red lollipop made from the drink’s own ingredients.
Industry Community
This section celebrates collaboration and local talent. The “Espresso Martini”, made in partnership with sustainable start-up Prefer, replaces traditional coffee with a bean-free blend, layered with dark rum, coconut, and Guinness. Topped with Jolly Pong crisps, it’s both inventive and indulgent. T.Y.F (Thank You Fura) is a heartfelt tribute to bar Fura, whose gifted SCOBY became the base for MO BAR’s house-brewed oolong kombucha, mixed with bourbon and lemongrass for a robust, spirit-forward profile. Finally, RECAP turns the humble lychee martini into a conversation piece, served in recycled London Essence bottles with custom MO BAR labels.
Exceptionally Mandarin Oriental
The final chapter is a toast to the bar’s signature creations—those that keep regulars returning. The Mandarin Martini adds a bittersweet citrus edge to the classic gin martini, while the MO Whiskey Sour infuses the hotel’s signature tea into a smooth, bourbon-forward sour topped with velvety meringue. The Oriental Heritage is the most theatrical of the lot, unveiled from a treasure chest with a smoky blend of Macallan 12, Hennessy XO, and aromatic spice.
An Immersive Menu Experience
Even the way guests experience the menu has been rethought. Each menu is housed in a sleek box containing a retro-style viewfinder. Guests can load a tinted reel and peek into the lens to preview the cocktails visually. For those who prefer a more tactile approach, a traditional printed menu is also available, complete with elegant typography and artful illustrations.
More Than Cocktails
Bar Manager Charlie Kim describes Echoes of Singapore as “a journey of flavours, honouring the soul of the city we are privileged to call home, while embracing the future, one sip at a time.” It’s not just a showcase of mixology—it’s a cultural capsule. Each drink reflects the evolving identity of Singapore, rooted in community, memory, and the daring spirit of reinvention.
Whether you’re a cocktail aficionado, a local nostalgic for the tastes of the past, or a curious visitor looking for a uniquely Singaporean experience, MO BAR’s new menu offers more than a night out. It offers a narrative you can drink. I enjoyed these new drinks on the menu so far and will be back soon to try out the rest of the cocktails on the menu, especially the Gao Lak.