A Night of Cocktails at Potato Head Folk

This article was first published on ASIA 361 and written by Mark Tan.

You’d most likely not be thinking of famous children’s book author Enid Blyton when heading to a cocktail bar. But, that was exactly whom I had in my mind when heading to Studio 1939, the cocktail bar on the third floor of Potato Head Folk on Keong Siak Street.

It was hard not to be thinking of Enid Blyton — a mural depicting popular characters from the author’s books, along with art pieces, created by well-known Australian artist David Bromley spans the entire stairwell of the four-storey shophouse which was built in 1939. The playful appeal extends even to Studio 1939 and the cocktail menu.

As we walked into Studio 1939, the first thing that caught my eye was the bar on the opposite end of the room. The bar counter is unconventionally shaped, like a hammer. The marble counter-top with pick hues that forms the ‘hammerhead’ draws the eye and is beautifully framed by shelf upon shelf of warmly lit liquor lining the wall. Cushioned rattan seats and used leather sofas make up the rest of the room in an eclectic mix of colours and texture. One would think this mishmash of dark hues, antique furniture and a modern bar coupled with weird mechanical smoking clown dolls would be an assault on the senses, but it all somehow seems to work in a crazy, charming sort of way.

We were introduced to Irwan, the head bartender (that’s how he prefers to be referred as, not the fancy-pants title of mixologist), who recommended two drinks – “Chinatown Mojito” and “Heard It Through the Grapevine” – from the extensive but not overwhelming cocktail menu.

“Chinatown Mojito” (S$24) is made with three-year-old Havana rum, Myers Dark rum, fresh lime juice, mint and rosemary syrup, a splash of soda and for that extra twist, a reduction of apple. The hint of apple made it stand out from a traditional mojito and complement the slightly smokey taste of the rum perfectly.

“Heard It Through the Grapevine” (S$26) is a concoction of G’vine Floraisson gin, lemongrass and ginger syrup, lemon, citrus bitters and ginger beer. The taste of the gin was masked by the citrusy combination of flavours, but this drink sure packed a punch! Irwan highlighted to us that the gin used in this cocktail is made from grapes instead of the usual botanicals like juniper or liquorice, which, in my opinion, masked its flavour and could easily have passed the drink off as a citrus mocktail.

We also heard from Operations Manager Tron that their bestseller at the recently concluded Singapore Cocktail Week was a cocktail called “Cherry Pop”, which was not on the menu. “Cherry Pop” is a relatively simple mix of Plymouth Sloe gin, Cointreau with a splash of pineapple and lime juice.

Irwan made a couple for us to sample — the pineapple and lime juice nicely balanced out the liquorice flavor of the gin and Cointreau. The drink was a tad too sweet for my taste, but I’m sure those with a sweet tooth would be able to appreciate it more.

The attentive and obliging staff, coupled with the whimsical décor, made our night at Studio 1939 a truly wonderful experience. The cocktail menu features just enough items to pique the interest but is not be overwhelming for the uninitiated. I’m already looking forward to my next trip to the whimsical cocktail bar at the corner of Keong Saik Road.

Potato Head Folk
36 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089143
Tel: +65 6327 1939
www.ptthead.com
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 11 am to 12 midnight; Closed on Mon