Cocktails: Shaking Things Up

Cool Cats

Cool Cats is a swinging live music venue with a drinks menu inspired by the jazz genre it celebrates. But head bartender Nicola Paterno has since gone deeper, with a new menu of 14 (and counting) cocktails inspired by the songs and stories that have shaped this musical art form over the decades. After six months of research, the self-professed jazz newbie has created classics with an up-tempo vibe, including a purple-hued Holiday's Protest ($24) in tribute to Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit - about the harsh realities of a black man in America - as well as a rich concoction of Mozart Dry Chocolate Spirit and mezcal in Ways Of A Diva ($24) for Bessie Smith's Empress of the Blues, among others. Besides immersing himself in the world of big bang jazz, rhythm and blues for menu inspiration, he also looked at incorporating the latest market trends as well. "Once the direction was set, I spent six months letting my creative juices flow with all sorts of ingredients and flavour profiles," explains Mr. Paterno. Not only has he got each cocktail down pat with its own "unique flavour profiles and textures", he's also created a more efficient cocktail-making routine. Sit at the bar and you'll notice a mise-en-place approach, with all the ingredients on hand so that even complex drinks can be whipped up without missing a beat.

Level 1, The NCO Club, 32 Beach Road, Singapore 189764. Tel: +65 6818 1920