It’s easy to walk straight past the entrance to this recent addition to Boat Quay. Tucked away amongst all the seafood restaurants, this treasure trove of a bar is on the second floor of a riverside shop house and marked by a small black sign with a few Chinese characters and the name ‘Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall’.

It’s worth the hunt though; owner-bartender Sam Wong is an ex-employee of local hot spot Jigger & Pony and fine-tuned his craft under initial head bartender Anthony Zhong. Strong Japanese techniques with a little local flair, and a healthy dose of local language sums up Sam’s style. The drinks themselves, erring towards the classic, are some of the best balanced and refined you’ll have this side of the hemisphere.

The bar is light, the furniture kitsch and the décor minimal. There’s limited bar seats and just three tables catering to smaller groups - it’s a small bar, but that pretty much guarantees you’ll get Sam’s undivided attention. And for a major bonus, there are also a couple of absinthe fountains. Steady now.