From peanut-butter fat-wash to bittersweet gourd tinctures, this year’s “All-Star Old Fashioned” brief has inspired Singapore’s bartending elite to reimagine a timeless classic. Here are the ten finalists and the flavours to watch, before the final Woodford Reserve shake-down on 16 November
Back for its third edition, The Wonderful Race is Woodford Reserve’s month-long salute to the Old Fashioned, inviting top hospitality professionals to craft an “All-Star” rendition worthy of modern classic status. Shortlisting emphasises concept and storyline, creativity, presentation and advocacy, with the national champion earning a trip to the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Kentucky, and bragging rights as Singapore’s 2025 champion.
This year’s brief keeps the bones of the world’s most-ordered classic while urging originality: drinks that tell a story, present with flair, and showcase the whiskey’s character. Finalists were picked for distinct narratives—often rooted in heritage, places and people—and for the finesse to make an icon feel new.
Dates to note: a regional guest shift lands at Origin Bar on 12 November for Old Fashioned Month, while the Singapore finals take place on 16 November.
The Finalists & Their All-Star Old Fashioneds
Dongje Kim from The Backdrop: “The Bridge”
This is a cultural handshake between Kentucky and Singapore: peanut-butter fat-washed bourbon nods to Raffles’ peanuts; pineapple oleo and salted cherry syrup echo Sling DNA. Served in a peanut basket, here’s nostalgia, re-plated. Flavour: nutty, tropical, nostalgic.
Le Minh from Offtrack: “Low and Slow”
In this glass, Vietnamese tea culture meets Japanese craft: roasted hojicha-infused bourbon with reduced umeshu and chocolate. This one’s like a meditation on patience and ritual. Flavour: smoky, toasty, serene.
Yu Heng Chai from Nutmeg & Clove: “Sip of Gratitude”
Sip of Gratitude is a love letter to family and the Cameron Highlands, featuring corn, strawberries and tea memories balanced with Earl Grey and softened by chamomile tincture. Flavour: floral, fruity, comforting.
Jia Ding Leng from Tess Bar & Kitchen: “Maqaw Symphony”
Here, Taiwanese maqaw pepper and curry leaf create an aromatic chorus; a dark-chocolate-sealed glass is torched for a smoky plume that tastes of theatre and texture in tandem. Flavour: smoky, spiced, aromatic.
Guanhui Lee from Dempsey Cookhouse: “Oat Krunch Old Fashioned”
Lee has created an oatmeal-cookie memory, sous-vide-infused into bourbon with maple-spice syrup and black walnut bitters for a dessert-meets-digestif vibe. Flavour: buttery, nutty, smooth.
April Yeo from Dimple: “Shrimp & Sausage”
Want to try a liquidised version of Hong Kong’s claypot rice? In this glass, shrimp and lap cheong fat-washes over bourbon and rye, with rice crisps on the side. Flavour: savoury, umami, bold.
Kazuhiro Chii from The Bar KAKURE: “Ichigeki”
A decisive strike in the glass, this is Woodford Reserve with Okinawan black sugar syrup and sansho-yuzu bitters, with focus and balance as guiding principles. Flavour: spicy, citrusy, disciplined.
Huang Geng from Origin Bar: “The Bitter Sweet Reserve”
Just like the Chinese saying, “bitter first, sweet later”; this is rendered with bitter gourd tincture, burnt honey and Amaro Montenegro. Flavour: bittersweet, deep, reflective.
Mel John Chavez from Bar Somma: “Barrels & Barrels”
Here, Kentucky bourbon meets Japanese miso: burnt butter, orange caramel and umami silkiness through time and fermentation. Flavour: buttery, umami, complex.
Wee Siong Wong from Lobby Bar, The Singapore Edition: “Simmera”
Simmera is a flaming Blue Blazer ritual that honours Chinese tonics and bourbon’s slow alchemy, featuring oolong, apple tonic, and orange bitters. Flavour: warm, herbal, soulful.
Our favourite? We can’t possibly say—lucky for us, we’re not on the judging panel. To watch the professionals pass judgment, catch the final race for the top place on 16 November 2025 (venue and final panel details to be announced). Until then, keep an eye on Old Fashioned Month activations—and consider this your cue to order something All-Star.
