Seven New Ways of Drinking Gin at BCCP’s World Gin Day 2018
Gin is probably one of the most versatile spirits known to man. Often referred to by the English as “Dutch courage”, this colorless spirit mixes well into most cocktail recipes that call for anywhere from mild to strong spirits.
A TOAST TO GIN, good times, and good friends during World Gin Day held at the Dusit Thani Manila last June 28, 2018, led by British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce alongside representatives from the British Chamber and Ginebra San Miguel.
While everyone’s familiar with the classic gin and tonic, the British Chamber of Commerce – Philippines (BCCP) and Ginebra San Miguel went out of their way to find seven other ways you can get this iconic English spirit into a glass and add a bit more spice to it.
While Ginebra gave out four fairly simple cocktails (Calamansi Surprise, Gin 7, Lemony Sweet, and the classic Gin and Tonic) that you can do at home, BCCP gave us seven more ways to drink gin, through the help of some of the metro’s hotel-based bartenders:
The Luminary
THE LUMINARY. A drink inspired by Florence Nightingale, it highlights the marriage of local and English flavors (and colors) in a drink that can easily pass as a dessert, thanks to Paul Perez of Raffles Makati adding a few ounces of apple-flavored blue gelatin.
PAUL PEREZ of Raffles and Fairmont Makati
7 Dutches
SWEET INSIDE AND OUT. This uber-fragrant drink uses a combination of berries and flowers with gin to create a drink that ladies would definitely like.
ARNEL VILLAVERDE, the man behind the 7 Dutches
Magical Pomelo
THERE IS NO POMELO. Yes, it looks like gin-pomelo, a simple mix done in most home drinking sessions by Filipinos, but this one doesn’t have a drop of pomelo. It uses a combination of green mango and strawberry. There are people who have said it tastes like grapefruit, though.
JOHN RICK UY, the dude who was just crazy enough to create this “magical” cocktail
Spice
A SIMPLE NAME FOR a simple drink. Spice marries several different spices with pineapple and gin to create a drink that even the Spice Girls would love.
HOPE DANIEL, the man from Joy Nostalg Suites who brought out (or back?) the Spice
An Afternoon with a King
MORE LIKE KINGS. This drink takes three top-notch beverages and molds them into one solid drink: Earl Grey, Jasmine Tea, and GSM Premium.
HE MIGHT NOT BELONG TO ROYALTY, but Albert Cartagena of Discovery Primea certainly introduced the judges to royalty last night.
Bliss in the Sun
A BLISSFUL DRINK that takes one of the country’s best exports (mangoes from Guimaras) and makes you think of sitting on a pool chair or in a hot tub as you watch the sun set.
ANTHONY LLORCA of New World Hotel – Makati gave us this “bliss” last night
Gin Paters
FROM BEHIND THE BAR at Dusit Thani Manila comes this interesting purple concoction.
JOHN ANTHONY MENDOZA, the boisterous man behind that interesting purple concoction
We’re not about to reveal the recipes as we want you to visit them at their hotels and have them make these drinks for you—or you can swing by and ask them for a classic gin and tonic.
Another reason why we’re not revealing the recipe: these guys were competing for a chance to win a ticket to any Etihad destination, and The Luminary lit their way.
PAUL PEREZ won the 2nd Annual BCCP Bartending Competition after wowing the gentlemen in the next photo
Take note that these cocktails were very different from what transpired during last year’s World Gin Day, also held at the Dusit Thani Manila. They also gave us seven ways of drinking gin, which should now give you a total of 14.
These gentlemen proved that there’s no one way to have gin, even though the classic gin and tonic will never go away. What about you? Do you have your own undiscovered gin cocktail? Let us know about it in the comments below!
Written by Andronico Del Rosario
