(CLOSED) Johnnie Walker House in Poblacion: The Biggest Scotch Bar in Makati’s Nightlife District
There is something big hiding in the midst of Makati’s well-loved nightlife district.
The Johnnie Walker House has opened its newest and by far biggest location in Poblacion—and you won’t find it unless you take an inconspicuous staircase on the corner of Doña Carmen and Kalayaan and follow the (neon) signs along the rather dark stairway.
The Johnnie Walker House in Poblacion is the third of its series of limited-time installations in the Philippines, the first country in Southeast Asia to be the site for the House. The installation started in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City in October 2018, followed by a pop-up at Greenbelt 3 in Makati City, and then now in Poblacion.
A neon light mural on one side of the bar was designed by local artist Jappy Agoncillo.
The Johnnie Walker House was opened on February 10 in Poblacion and will welcome whiskey lovers and newbies until May 10, 2019, before they may—fingers crossed—find another place to steam up.
A housewarming was held last March 1, hosted by Johnnie Walker Brand Ambassador Nico Bolzico and graced by Diageo Reserve World Class Philippine Bartender of the Year 2019 Lester Ligon, who is the mastermind behind the highball and cocktail bar.
Johnnie Walker Brand Ambassador Nico Bolzico hosted the housewarming of the Johnnie Walker House in Poblacion last March 1, 2019.
The place is not only for whiskey lovers but also for the uninitiated to get a new kind of nightlife experience. The Johnnie Walker House is not your ordinary Scotch bar—it is an amalgamation of whiskey-centered drinking culture and passion for art and music. It is a dive bar and a gallery at the same time, a place where you can enjoy Scotch whiskey purely or in different blends, and learn about the world’s leading Scotch brand.
Diageo Reserve World Class Philippine Bartender of the Year 2019 Lester Ligon demonstrated his award-winning bartending skills.
“At the core of the Johnnie Walker brand is the drive to continuously push the envelope in creating ways for our consumers to enjoy and experience whisky—and the Johnnie Walker House is a physical testament to that,” says Johnnie Walker Senior Brand Manager, Andrea Raralio. “Through the offerings, we’re hopeful that people will find the whiskey taste that suits them—whether that’s simply in a highball or with a mixer, a cocktail, or on-the-rocks.”
Guests of the housewarming party also got to try mixing their own drinks.
The environment gives the feeling of being a dive bar, albeit rather elegant and cozy. Against one wall stands a big shelf display of different Johnnie Walker blends and on another a neon light mural that is a tribute to the brand.
The rectangular bar stands impressively in the middle of the space, which is a collaboration between Johnnie Walker and artists who represent the local creative community: Jappy Agoncillo, Lee Caces, Kookoo Ramos, Kate Quebrar, and Kara Pangilinan.
A rectangular bar is the center of attraction at the Johnnie Walker House in Poblacion.
Agoncillo, Pangilinan, Quebrar, and Caces also extended their artistic stroke on the limited-edition creative label designs for Johnnie Walker Black, Johnnie Walker Double Black, Johnnie Walker Green, and Johnnie Walker Label Reserve.
Despite being open for a limited period only, the Johnnie Walker House has made sure that there is a vast array of drinks to try, from highballs and cocktails to whiskey flights, which is perfect especially for whiskey newbies.
Cocktails and highballs range from Php 250 to Php 420, while whiskey flights are from Php 450 to Php 1,000. There are a couple of bar food options, which are mostly Latin-American-inspired, such as salchipapas, tacos, and empanadas (Php 100 to Php 170).
There are no concrete plans yet if and where The Johnnie Walker House will pop up next, but we do look forward to enjoying more of this Scotch whiskey bar concept after Poblacion, perhaps in another place in the archipelago.
How to get there:
- Johnnie Walker House is situated along Kalayaan Avenue in Poblacion, Makati. By car, you can get here from EDSA via Rockwell Drive or from Makati CBD via Makati Avenue.
- The nearest landmarks are I’M Hotel (8-min. walk) and Rockwell Center (12-minute walk)
