We are all aware of the Mid-Autumn Festival ritual – sharing slices of mooncake with friends and family while sipping on hot tea and admiring the beauty of the lunar celestial body.
If you’re like us, we’re always looking to spice things up a little, with what else but touches of alcohol. Whether having it included in the confectionary itself, or pairing the paste-filled delicacies with a suitable spirit, we’re into it.
Here are two of the best alcohol-infused mooncakes we’ve found this year.
Glenfiddich Whisky-Infused Mooncakes
If you’re into Scotch, this one’s gonna be a real treat. In each box (embossed with the brand’s iconic stag) of Glenfiddich’s Mid-Autumn offering is not one but two full-sized, whisky-infused snowskin mooncakes, each inspired by a different age statement bottling in their lineup.
The Glenfiddich Solera 15 Mooncake is an ode to its most pioneering expression, exuding richness, roastedness, and sweetness – much like its liquid counterpart. For us, it’s the Glenfiddich 15 Year Old whisky-infused chocolate praline encased within a creamy dark chocolate filling in the centre that sets it apart.
Then there’s the Glenfiddich Small Batch 18 Mooncake, balanced and full-bodied like the 18 year bottling it is inspired by, with hints of nuttiness giving it greater complexity. This time, the chocolate praline centre contains the Glenfiddich 18 Year Old, adding to the decadence of the artisanal pastry.
You can purchase a box of the two mooncakes (S$68) on its own. But why not add a full bottle of Glenfiddich Solera 15 Whisky (S$159 total) that you can personalise with a name or initial, making it the ultimate gift. More details here.
Manhattan x Roku Gin Luxury Box
Leave it to one of the top cocktail bars in Singapore to come up with an alcoholic pastry offering befitting the taste of frequent imbibers. Both sweet tooths and thirsty tipplers need look no further than Manhattan at Conrad Singapore Orchard, which has partnered with famed Japanese gin brand Roku to create a mooncake and cocktail set.
Each ornate box comes with eight gold dusted charcoal mini snowskin mooncakes, a bottle of cocktail made specially for the occasion, and two branded sake cups courtesy of Roku Gin. The mooncakes themselves are filled with lotus paste and a surprise centre – a chocolate ball containing a thoroughly-soaked, Roku Gin-infused cherry.
Meanwhile, the 200ml bottle of cocktail (enough for two big servings), named Purple Moon, is a violet-hued libation made using Roku Gin as its base, coupled with banana wine, sweet potato, whey syrup, and a homemade hazelnut tincture.
Only 200 boxes of the Manhattan x Roku Gin Luxury Box (S$398) are available, so act fast. More details here.
[Read more: Old haunts with revamped spaces, brand new menus and limited time offerings]
About the Author
Dannon Har is the Managing Editor of Spill. Discovering his innate gift for drinking only at a ripe age, he spares no time trying to find more delicious drops to imbibe during his time on Earth. When he’s not minding every detail at Spill, he spends his time concocting luscious libations and sharing them with folks that visit his home bar.