If you haven't visited Maison Ikkoku in recent times, then take this as a sign to do so. The 12-year fixture on Kandahar Street reopened recently as Maison Ikkoku 2.0, with a swish new look and menu.
The bar takes up a cosy space on the second floor of the shophouse, just above its French-Japanese restaurant counterpart. The revamped bar area now sports a back bar installation that's inspired by the love lock bridges on the Pont des Arts in Paris. Instead of love locks professing everlasting love, Maison Ikkoku's take features an impressive collection of hanging spirit bottles.
Headed up by Ethan Leslie Leong (formerly of Drink Culture and Bar Stories), Maison Ikkoku 2.0 stands out for its selection of in-house gins composed and distilled by Ethan himself. There are six of these one-of-a-kind gins to try, the newest being a milk and honey gin inspired by The Holy Bible. Another special to try is the Jon Loken gin, which Ethan distilled from herbs that were handpicked in Norway.
For gin enthusiasts out there, nothing could be more special than distilling your own unique bottle of gin. Now, you can do so at Maison Ikkoku, which offers a new bespoke gin workshop. Under Ethan's expert guidance, craft, compose, and distill a gin that's been tailored to your palate. After 45 days of waiting time, you'll have a one-of-a-kind bottled gin to savour yourself or to gift to someone special.
Find out more about Maison Ikkoku at ethanleslieleong.com.