The Philippines’ first and only online magazine about drinks, DrinkManila.com, celebrated its first anniversary on the 29th of August at the new site of Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery as one would expect, with free-flowing booze and great fun. Guests from the beverage industry and beyond came in droves to party with the go-to online drink destination. The big shindig served as a “thank you” to those who have supported the site and its team, and also as a celebration of what DrinkManila.com has accomplished so far.
The past year saw DrinkManila.com cover many aspects of drinking: where to drink, how to drink, what to drink, why we drink, and who makes our drinks, among other things. DrinkManila.com also offers over a hundred (and counting) easy-to-follow recipes and videos featuring a variety of ingredients. The website continues its pursuit to feature news, products, and events in the beverage category, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and stories about the unique local drinking culture.
It was a mutual love of drinks and drinking that brought the founders of DrinkManila.com together. Editor-in-chief and publishing industry veteran Tatum Ancheta and Marketing Director, restaurateur, and mixology expert Icy Mariñas got together conceptualized an online magazine focusing on drinks in the Philippines. And thus, DrinkManila.com was born.
The DrinkManila.com crew and sponsors offered an impressive array of libations for partygoers to enjoy. People had their pick of poisons. What they drank and how they drank was totally up to them. Guests were encouraged to drink responsibly, though, meaning not to spill their drinks!
The debut of the DrinkManila pop-up bar featured cocktails found on the site: Bananarama (Don Papa Rum, banana syrup, pineapple juice, lemon juice, banana candy), Steal My Sunshine (Paradise Mango Rum, Manille Calamansi, Da Vinci Tropical Passionfruit Syrup, calamansi shrub, dehydrated calamansi), Rumma Dumdam (Very Old Captain Rum, lime juice, calamansi juice, ginger beer), Kamias Daiquiri (Bacardi Superior, kamias juice, lime juice, simple syrup), Player Rickey (The Andy Player Whisky, lime juice, Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water, lime), and Scarlet Letter (The Botanist Gin, Old Orchard Cranberry Reduction, Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water). Also available by the shot were Port Charlotte Single Malt Whisky, Jameson Irish Whisky, The Andy Player Whisky, HotShot Brandy, as well as bottles of the chillnuman beverage Andy Cola.
Diageo Reserve Brand Ambassador Rian Asiddao had a two-hour guest shift behind the DrinkManila bar where he served cocktails specifically made for the celebration: Are You Thirsty Smash (Bulleit Bourbon, lemon, hazelnut syrup, sesame oil, mint), B.B.O.F (Johnnie Walker Blender’s Batch, spicy maple syrup, grapefruit bitters, grapefruit zest, orange zest), Not A Rose Garden (Tanqueray London Dry Gin, elderflower syrup, lime soda, grapefruit and cucumber slices, salt, grapefruit bitters).
The hip Destileria Limtuaco bar offered three distinct cocktails featuring products from their Philippine Craft Spirits line: Halimuyak (Manille Dalandan, Empire Vodka, dalandan purée, lemon juice and sampaguita syrup), Manille Basil Smash (Manille Calamansi, Empire London Dry Gin, lemon Juice, simple syrup), and Punyeta (Very Old Captain Rum, black tea reduction, lemon juice, spice syrup, pineapple juice).
Monkey Shoulder’s super cool cart had Monkey Shoulder 2017 Ultimate Bartending Champion Lester Ligon behind the bar mixing up takes on classics: Old Fashioned Monkey (Monkey Shoulder Whisky, simple syrup, angostura bitters), and Tiki Monkey (Monkey Shoulder Whisky, mango juice, lime juice, Aperol).
Heineken, the beer sponsor for the evening, set up a beer bar to cater to those craving beer amidst the deluge of cocktails.
That’s a total of 20 alcoholic beverages jam-packed into one event! And since drinking is a marathon, not a sprint, guests were supplied with Summit Mineral Water, Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water, and Old Orchard Cranberry Juice for them to rehydrate and pace themselves.
Apart from the overflowing cocktails, DrinkManila raffled off numerous bottles, cases, and prizes, and also provided performances from several artists. Acoustic artist Robin started of the entertainment as guests were easing into the evening of revelry. “Mental Assassin” Justin Piñon made a special appearance and showed off his mindreading skills to the astounded and buzzed audience. Lucas Floyd and The Crashers laid down their funky beats and DJ Samantha Nicole got the crowd dancing and grooving the rest of the night. The kickass ladies from Manila-based art platform for women in sound and interdisciplinary media, HERESY, provided cool visual projections throughout the event.
It was an epic night of indulgence that people won’t soon forget (depending on how much they drank). There was literally something for everybody; everyone got what their hearts (or liver) desired. Amidst the din of merrymaking and inebriated haze, one thing is certain: no one goes thirsty at a DrinkManila.com party.
This event was made possible with the support of our sponsors and partners: Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery, Heineken, Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc., Diageo Reserve and World Class Philippines, Monkey Shoulder, Andy Cola, Andy Player, HotShot Brandy, Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water, Summit Mineral Water, Don Papa Rum, Bacardi, Bevtools.com, Premier Wine & Spirits Inc., Port Charlotte, The Botanist, Old Orchard, DaVinci Gourmet, Jameson Irish Whiskey, and Alamat Filipino Pub & Deli.
DrinkManila.com is published under Stargate Media Corporation, publisher of PeopleAsia Magazine. Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @DrinkManila
Photos by Star Sanroso and Miguel Bernal
