There is a quiet frustration familiar to anyone who has ordered a dram at a restaurant and quietly calculated what the same bottle would cost at retail. The markup is understood, even accepted, as part of the dining contract — until it becomes difficult to ignore. Grand Imperial Group and Single & Available Malaysia are now doing something about it, and the solution is more straightforward than most in the industry have dared to attempt: simply put the bottle shop inside the restaurant.

The two companies have announced a strategic partnership that places a dedicated Single & Available retail kiosk inside Grand Imperial Restaurant at Bangsar Shopping Centre, allowing diners to browse and purchase bottles at recommended retail prices over the course of their meal. It is a concept that reframes the value of eating and drinking out. Rather than paying a premium for every pour, guests can select from an exclusive catalogue of over 80 premium spirits — spanning single malt Scotch whiskies, fine gins, and premium Chinese baijius — and take home whatever remains at the end of the evening.

The arrangement is available to both restaurant diners and walk-in customers during opening hours, effectively turning the kiosk into a satellite outlet of Single & Available’s existing presence at Bangsar Shopping Centre. The selection includes established distillery names as well as limited releases and new arrivals, making it a genuinely useful stop for collectors and casual enthusiasts alike.

The collaboration is billed as a first of its kind in Malaysia, and it is not difficult to see why it has not been done before: it requires a restaurant group willing to rethink its relationship with the drinks list in exchange for a more compelling overall offer. Grand Imperial Group, which has operated in Malaysia’s food and beverage landscape since 2008, has boldly decided to provide their diners with an extra benefit with this collaboration.

“At Grand Imperial Group, we’re always looking for ways to enhance the dining experience. Fine food and great drinks go hand in hand and this partnership-collaboration means that we can now provide both to our customers.”

Joshua Wong, Executive Director of Grand Imperial Group

The kiosk offers access to more than 80 premium spirits — whiskies, gins, and baijius — drawn from Single & Available’s catalogue. These are available both to restaurant diners and walk-in customers during opening hours, effectively extending the retailer’s reach into a high-footfall dining destination just a short walk from its existing Bangsar Shopping Centre outlet.

“This collaboration is about removing barriers between great spirits and the people who appreciate them. By bringing retail directly into a trusted dining destination, we’re giving consumers fair pricing, convenience, and access to an exceptional range of bottles — all in one place.”

Shareen Yew, Founder of Single & Available Malaysia

The launch selection skews towards bottles that reward the curious drinker rather than those simply chasing names. Here are three worth noting.

Arran 10 Year Old Local Barley (Limited Edition)

The Lochranza distillery on the Isle of Arran has built a loyal following in Malaysia, and this release offers a compelling reason why. True local barley provenance — where the grain is sourced from farms within close proximity of the distillery — is rare in Scotch whisky. Springbank and Bruichladdich have done it; now Arran joins that list. On the nose, expect fresh herbs, light citrus, medium sweetness, vanilla, and aniseed. The palate is spicy and biscuity, with ginger, oak, vanilla, and a complex oily viscosity that amplifies the fruit. The finish is medium and dry, with citrus and ginger-aniseed lingering. For those who appreciate provenance alongside quality, this is a bottle worth picking up while it lasts.

Springbank 18 Year Old (2024 Release)

Campbeltown’s most celebrated distillery continues to do things its own way — floor malting, worm tub condensers, and minimal compromise. This 2024 expression of the 18 Year Old was fully matured in ex-bourbon casks, which gives it a more approachable sweetness than some vintages while losing none of the coastal, mineralic complexity that defines the house style. The nose opens with sugar cookie dough, vanilla, coconut, tropical fruits, and lemon. The palate follows with ginger, banana, peaches, and smoked vanilla syrup, with candied lemon peel and a maritime mineral edge. The finish is long, waxy, and slightly funky — exactly what Springbank devotees come looking for. Sought-after globally and not always easy to find in good condition locally, this is one to consider seriously.

Glenfarclas 25 Year Old

Family-owned and resolutely traditional, Glenfarclas has long been one of the Speyside region’s more dependable producers of richly sherried whisky. The 25 Year Old recently took the top prize for World Best Speyside Whisky (21 Year & Above) at the World Whiskies Awards 2026, recognition that reflects what long-time fans of the distillery have known for some time. The nose is classically generous: marmalade, honey, beeswax, dried figs and raisins, with hints of old leather, tobacco, and oak. The palate is full-bodied and creamy, with nutty chocolate, ginger, dark fruits, and creamy malt. The finish is very long, transitioning from sweet dried fruit into a dry, oak-rich close with lingering cocoa and coffee. For those new to sherry-matured Scotch, it is as good an introduction as any.

Also available at the kiosk are premium Chinese baijius including Kweichow Moutai and WuLiangYe, along with selected gins and further bottles from Single & Available’s wider catalogue.

Grand Imperial Restaurant is located at T5, Third Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285 Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. The kiosk operates during restaurant hours.

Thanks for having us over for the launch and delicious lunch!

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