"Alright, so maybe you're not a fan of Jimmy Johnson or B.B. King. That's okay," said Arun as he took me on a mini-tour around his new whisky bar. "But," he added, pointing towards a blue vinyl record stood on the shelf, "if you say anything bad about this one, I'll personally kick you out! Haha!" The irony of it all was not lost on me: I’m still learning to appreciate the legends of American folk and blues, but dare to criticise the record released by Anjana Vasan – or Arun’s singer-songwriter sister – I’ll find a swift boot up my behind.

After years of pouring drinks at The Swan Song, Arun has become more than just a bartender to the Singapore whisky community; he's our friend. Besides whiskies and spirits, Arun’s space is one where folks share their geeky passions (chess), trade life stories and their deepest secrets. And we wouldn't have it any other way.

For many whisky lovers around the world, The Swan Song needs little introduction. It's been a place where you could sip on some of the rarest vintage Scotch, possibly the last drops of their kind on earth. Recently, the bird has built a larger nest in a new location, just around the corner from their old spot at Boat Quay. They’ve also undergone something of a rebrand as The Emerald Room (by The Swan Song), taking over the second floor of a heritage shophouse along North Canal Road. So, it was high time we checked out Arun's new digs and caught up with the man himself.

Stepping into The Emerald Room, there’s definitely a different vibe from the old bar. It's still got that timeless, elegant, library-like vibe, and yet it’s much bigger. They've gone for a sleek, mid-century modern look with lots of a large marble countertop, and retro-modern furnishings with lots of wood and leather.

One of the changes everyone would love about the new space is this awesome outdoor terrace. It’s an open space tucked away in a little enclave, so you get that alfresco vibe while still feeling like you've got your own private space in the cool tropical evening.

And let’s not forget that music is as serious a business as the whisky! Arun, the man with the encyclopaedic whisky knowledge and the brotherly protectiveness is still holding down the fort. Besides the whisky, you're likely to get a free education in soulful blues and foot-tapping folk thanks to Arun's passion for the genres.

Now, let's talk whisky. The Emerald Room boasts an impressive collection of rare and vintage bottles. They were one of the few bars to have popped a Bowmore Bicentenary 1964 which attracted enthusiasts from around the region to drop by the bar.

There’s also often whiskies from closed distilleries like Port Ellen, Brora and Rosebank, and bottlings from the legendary Silvano Samaroli – the world’s most renowned whisky bottler who popularised cask single malts.

I’ve myself snagged a delicious dram of a 1970s Springbank while doing an interview with Arun a couple of years back, with its rich depths of oak and brown sugar with a classic Springbank oiliness, fusel oil and barnyard-bucolic aroma to it.

Being a big fan of fresh and clean Lowland Scotches, this 21 Year Old Rosebank I've tasted at Arun's bar also comes to mind – a ghost malt from a closed distillery. On the nose, it's fresh, mellow yet buttery and full of clotted cream and vanilla pods. In the mouth, it gives a great silky smooth mouthfeel and a sweetness of icing sugar glazed donuts with a pronounced creaminess. This never gets old.

Beyond Scotch, they've also got a fantastic rum selection, including rare bottles from the closed Caroni Distillery in Trinidad. The whole place feels like a cosy museum of spirits.

It seems like with the rebrand, The Emerald Room (by The Swan Song) is spreading its wings a bit. They continue to have an amazing selection of rare vintage Scotch that would wow us. But, I've noticed they've also expanded their Japanese whisky collection.

Just last month, they hosted a tasting with Yoshitsugu Komasa, the founder of the cult favourite Kanosuke Distillery. I've spotted quite a number of interesting limited-edition Chichibu bottles, including one with a picture of John Lennon and Yoko Ono that, from a distance, kind of looked like two guys kissing! There’s even a wine cabinet behind the bar now and Arun has confirm that they intend to serve a growing selection of wine. Certainly adds another dimension to the place.

We all know that vintage Scotch will eventually run out, or become so expensive that only a select few can afford it – we’ve discussed all about this with Arun back in 2023. Yet seems like this sad swan has turned into a phoenix, rising from the ashes with a fresh perspective and a wider range of spirits and drinks.

The best part about this bar ultimately remains the people – as clichéd as it may sound. Arun’s a legend – seriously, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone else within a 10 mile radius who knows more about whisky and vintage Scotch. He's not just reciting facts from a book, he's actually lived this stuff. He's hung out with the giants of the whisky world – the OG of independent bottlers like Silvano Samaroli and Sukhinder Singh who founded The Whisky Exchange. Arun's got stories for days, and trust me, you'll want to hear them all.

A vinyl record of the "Strange Country Jukebox" album by the UK-based folk musician and actor Anjana Vasan – on display by a proud brother.

And here's the thing – even if you're a total newcomer to the spirit, you will feel right at home here. It doesn't matter if you can't tell a Speyside from an Islay, or thought whisky was made from grapes – these folks are always genuinely excited to share their love for whisky with everyone and they'll happily walk you through the collection, help you find something you'll love, and answer any questions you have, no matter how basic you think they might be.

More than just a place to drink exceptional Scotch, you have something of a haven for the spirits community, to catch up with friends or meet new ones to discuss your favourite dram and the state of the world. You might find yourself deep in a conversation about music, or chess, or even mountaineering and completely forget you came there for a drink in the first place. That's the magic of the place.

@CharsiuCharlie