Where to get your buzz (and taste buds buzzing) this weekend
The Philippine Cocktail Fiesta, the biggest cocktail event of the season, is officially here. Running from Nov. 17 to 23, the weeklong celebration puts Metro Manila on the global cocktail map with nearly 100 participating bars, 40-plus guest bartender shifts, and a series of masterclasses and panel talks led by some of the most respected voices in Asia’s bar scene.
While the masterclasses were initially planned as an industry-only program, the Fiesta has opened some of its talks to the public, students, media, and bar owners, all of whom are eager to learn. The range of panel talks is tackling questions like: Do awards matter? Why are festivals important? And why do we need more women in the industry? Through these sessions, the Philippine Cocktail Fiesta is aiming to give clear, honest insights straight from people shaping the region’s drinking culture.
The first of its kind
Beyond knowledge sessions, perhaps the heart of the Fiesta lies in its collaborations, from pairing dinners, guest shifts, to cross-border bar partnerships for unforgettable one-off menus.
Throughout the week, the cocktail-driven pairing dinners include Bar Leone at Finestra, Malaysia’s Three X Co with Uma Nota, and Wing Lei, paired with Café Fleur and Mark Lloyd.
These cocktail-driven dining experiences “highlight local flavors, paired with drinks from award-winning bars across Asia,” program manager Icy Mariñas says, “[featuring] regional ingredients and culinary traditions, sparking creativity and showing that cocktails and food pairings are simply a match made in flavor heaven.”
As an added bit of fun, guests can also pick up a Fiesta Passport, where bars will offer complementary drinks, discounts, or small bites depending on the stop.
This first edition of the Philippine cocktail fiesta is so thrilling because it’s something that hasn’t been done at this scale in the country before. For the drinking public, it’s a rare chance to share a tipple with some of Asia’s most decorated bartenders. While for the industry, it’s looking like a moment of growth, as bartenders from around the world band together in our very own Philippines.
Spotlighting the Philippines
Festival director Tatum Ancheta, who has lived in Hong Kong and spent years traveling across Asia and the world’s biggest bar shows, says the idea came simply from bringing everyone into one room.
“I gathered everybody because all they needed was someone to whip them up. I scheduled a call with the bar owners, and I’m so proud that we have so many bartender-owned bars. I feel we deserve a spot anywhere, and that Asia’s cocktail culture needs to hear what the Philippines is doing.”
The support has been overwhelming, she recounts. “The amount of help we’ve gotten when someone abroad believes in you,” she pauses, “It trickles down to everybody! We asked for support from Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan, India, and more. Regionally, we flew in 11 bartenders from Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Siargao.”
The industry impact
For Aarom Limpe-Aw of Destileria Limtuaco, the energy is already palpable. “We haven’t seen the impact on the F&B scene yet, but among the stakeholders, morale has already skyrocketed. We’re working with close to 100 bars in Metro Manila and key bars from the provinces that deserve the limelight.”
Many international partners are also flying in, widening the spotlight on Filipino talent. “I’m most excited to show everyone what the Filipino bartender is capable of,” Limpe-Aw says, “Not just in Metro Manila but also our regional bartenders. I’m looking forward to the talks and panels. I’m leading one myself, and it’s not every day you get to introduce a new liquor variety to the international community, but we’ll be doing it for lambanog.”
Why cocktail culture matters
For Sean Matthew Lim of the new San Juar bar, Three Dots Manila, he cites how creativity has bolstered the cocktail scene.
“When I travel, I always visit the bars listed in the world’s or Asia’s 50 Best,” he says. “One common denominator I’ve noticed is creativity, with bartenders using ingredients like mala or miso. That kind of wow factor is something only cocktails can give because of how unique they’ve become.”
Events this weekend
While the Philippine Cocktail Fiesta has been buzzing since the industry kick-off party last Monday at the Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill, as well as The Whisky Library in Newport World Resorts, the weekend has no shortage of bars for the drinking public to hop through.
This Friday, the day kicks off at the Whisky Bar in Solaire with an invite-only panel on women in the industry, followed by a deep dive into Lambanog, the indigenous Philippine spirit, and an industry social by the pool.
As the sun sets, Manila’s bars ignite with guest shifts across the city: India’s Lair takes over The Spirits Library, while Malaysia’s Lavantha lands at BRB in Solaire Resort Entertainment City. Palawan’s Ap Kala pops up at After Hours in QC, and La Union’s The Ugly Bar pours at Alamat Filipino Cuisine.
Rounding out the lineup are more international and regional favorites: Malaysia’s Backdoor Bodega, Asia’s and The World’s 50 Best Bar awardee, shakes things up at The Bar in The Peninsula Manila; Beijing’s Bar Long Fong brings China’s finest ingredients to Ruby Wong’s Godown; Davao’s Takipsilim showcases its diverse southern flavors at Kauri Taproom in San Juan; Bangalore’s ZLB23 (India) joins The Curator Coffee & Cocktails; and The Brook (India) passes on the intangible heritage of the Himalayas at Southbank Cafe + Lounge. Meanwhile, in Taguig, Bangkok’s Firefly & Aqua closes the night at No Entry Cocktail Club.
On Saturday, things get even livelier. Solaire hosts a candid talk on whether awards matter with Jon Lee and Maria Escobia of Penrose Malaysia and Navjot Singh of Lair India (a popular topic in the Philippines today, since the arrival of the Michelin Guide). The Spirits Library also runs a masterclass on the history of Philippine drinks by spirits expert Lee Watson.
Come evening, the takeovers continue to roll out across the city: Cebu’s Cowrie Cove at Take Me Back in Quezon City, Siargao’s Manu at Solaire, Davao’s Takipsilim at Rosie’s Cocktail Lounge in Makati, plus major Asian heavyweights like Malaysia’s Bar Trigona and Hong Kong’s Qura throughout the first and second floors of ReCraft QC. Also check out Beijing’s Long Fong at Grasshopper Bar in Makati, and Wing Lei, the flagship bar of the Wynn Palace in Macau, at Somewhere Quiet.
Finally, on Sunday, India’s Sidecar pops up at BRB in Solaire before the week wraps with an industry after-party at Solaire’s Grand Ballroom.
Without a doubt, it’s a full-on fiesta, and one that is turning Manila into the most exciting place to drink in Asia this week. And on a grander scale, this first edition of the Philippine Cocktail fiesta shows exactly why Filipino bars are ready to pour on the world stage.
Check out the full schedule at https://thecocktailfiesta.com
