When Sago House Singapore’s creative minds took over a Hyderabad bar

When Ronan and Norman of Sago House Singapore took over a Hyderabad bar

How do Ronan Keilthy and Norman Tan Yong Lin of Sago House, Singapore, spend their layovers during bar takeovers?

Ronan, the creative director of Sago House, says he struggles to switch off from work, even when travelling. “You’ve seen those memes of people with 50 tabs open on their laptops? That’s me. I’ve got just as many thought blurbs in my head too.”

Norman adds, “I enjoy exploring food and drinks and observing people’s choices — it’s always fascinating.”

The duo were recently in Hyderabad for a bar takeover at The Library Bar, The Leela Hyderabad. Sago House is ranked 15th on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. Their menu always features six classic cocktail styles, but the actual drinks change weekly, depending on what is available locally. “That’s what we aim for at a takeover, creating drinks true to the Sago House philosophy using the best local ingredients,” Ronan explains. This visit marks his fourth trip to India.

Hence the 50 tabs — real and metaphorical. The team logs all experiences from their travels, drawing on them for future experimentation.

So, how do these flavours travel? Ronan says, “It’s not just about ingredients; it’s about context. If I want to explore Hyderabadi cuisine, I can look up its key components and get ingredients shipped, if needed. But using cardamom in a drink doesn’t make it Indian. Its use needs cultural relevance and proper pairing.”

Ronan leans towards savoury drinks — a preference he says is gaining global traction. He began working in bars around the same time he started drinking, gradually discovering the world of spirits and cocktails.