Revival Bar, a new watering hole in Robertson Quay, is The Compound Collective’s latest venture. If you’re familiar with the group’s dual-concept joint, Barbary Coast, then Revival beckons with the same appeal, serving refined cocktails and spirits with aplomb and a hefty side of knowledge in a chic, yet not overly opulent setting.
It offers 16 house cocktails named after famous pieces of art, each representing a different art movement. This isn’t as pretentious as it sounds. For example, you don’t have to know what Camille Pissaro’s Jardin Et Poulailler Chez Octave Mirbeau is (or even how to pronounce it) to enjoy it — a curious but balanced mix of Lake Bartezek Vodka, linden leaf, chlorophyll, peach, lemon, and champagne presented in a cocktail glass cloaked in edible flowers.
Throughout the menu, the history and visual context behind each masterpiece that inspired the drink are helpfully provided. But what the menu doesn’t immediately reveal is that Revival is a little-known treasure trove of rare and collectible bottles. The bar offers a retail service, and has access to over 1,300 bottles worth approximately $5 million.
“We wanted to create a place for people to explore elevated spirits and dabble in the world of spirit-collecting and barrel investments,” says Roman Foltan of The Compound Collective. “The focus is not on sales or even your palate’s development. It’s a journey for you to find what you like, and we want to help you grow.”
Thanks to partners in the high-end spirits trade, Revival has gems like the Gordon & Macphail Glen Grant 70 Year Old, an independent bottling that holds the oldest expression ever bottled by the Speyside distillery. Others include a limited edition 32 Year Old cask-strength whisky from ghost distillery Port Ellen, and a JP Wiser’s Last Barrels, a one-off experiment by the Canadian distillery to create a whiskey in the style of bourbon.
Foltan admits the offerings lean more heavily into the whisky segment — “since it is where a lot of the business is” — but the team is just as proud of the spirits from other categories.
General manager Ronan Keilthy recommends Caroni rum from the iconic and now-defunct Trinidadian distillery. It has “flavours Scotch can’t touch” and “smells like fresh gasoline”.
A 21-year-old anejo tequila, a Swedish whisky made using a recipe churned out by AI, limited-run gins aged in wine casks, … it’s a veritable playground for the palate.
“Not all are super expensive, but they are super interesting,” Keilthy insists. “We’re still finalising details and getting more stock, so the retail concept is still in its early stages,” Foltan adds. “For now, we work directly with clients and will deliver the bottles if they’re not at the bar yet.”
Some requests include the purchase of entire whisky casks, a growing trend that entices those seeking alternative investment assets. To this end, the respective distilleries will store and mature these purchased casks on their grounds and they can be bottled on request.
“Purchasing a cask is a unique opportunity to invest in one of the world’s leading alternative investments. More importantly, it provides secure access to a ready supply of mature whisky in the future,” Foltan explains. “Time is everything for whisky investment, so you may as well enjoy the journey. Visit the cask, bottle some for special occasions, and most of all, have fun.”
