By Marinel E. Peroy
There’s something delightfully unifying about gin.
At the recent World Gin Day hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) at Dusit Thani, Makati, the crowd was buzzing—and not just from the cocktails.
Featuring 22 unique flavors from 7 acclaimed UK distilleries, the event gathered Manila’s finest: business leaders, spirits connoisseurs, distributors, and anyone who knows their gin.
Among the distillers present were Dunnet Bay Distillers, Eight Lands, G&I Spirit Group Ltd., Masons of Yorkshire, Spirit of Trent, The Cotswolds Distillery, and Whitley Neill Gin.
“Five minutes after arriving at the place, I met a newfound friend named Kenny,” shared Ron Molina, AVP and Marketing Manager of San Miguel, who mingled with guests at the 1834 Bar.
“I’ve met him at the 1834 Bar over there, and that’s what gin does. It’s our common love for gin that brings us together—all sorts of stories come up in the conversation, and it’s just so much fun. That’s what everyone is in for tonight… Let’s enjoy ourselves. Congratulations to [the BCCP]. Cheers!”
On the menu at the 1834 Bar:
Pearl Of The Orient – 1834 Premium Distilled Gin, aloe vera, lemon, elderflower, sugar syrup, topped with edible flowers
Gin & Tonic – a timeless staple
Premium Shots – served with salt or sugar, straight-up style
The mixology showdown
But what really had the crowd cheering was the 7th BCCP Bartending Competition, where competitors were tasked with using Ginebra San Miguel’s 1834 gin, adding a twist of Filipino flair to a very British tradition.
From pandan syrup and calamansi juice to English breakfast tea and parsley, the results were as daring as they were delicious.
And the winners were:
Champion: Jay Christian Callanga of Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila
Flor De Banua
Ingredients: 1834 gin, tultul salt, batuan juice, elderflower sweetener, thyme, parsley
“For the final touches, I’ll be using this herbed oil as my garnish, which is made from thyme and parsley. Every drop of this represents why we are here. It is for the collaboration, innovation, and culture,” he said.
1st Runner-Up: Glenn Ivan Arupo – Dusit Thani Manila
2nd Runner-Up: Roumel Bolagao – Ascott BGC
3rd Runner-Up: James Matthew Geronimo – De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
Pair these award-winning gins with fish & chips or hot cross buns, and you’ve got the recipe for a cozy English evening right in the heart of Manila:
“2014 was the first gin night that we had with our sponsors… And over the last 10-11 years, we have really become a global player in the quality gin, and also won awards,” said Sarah McLeod, BCCP Vice Chair and Managing Director of Q2 HR Solutions Group of Companies.
For those eager to explore UK gin for retail or partnership, BCCP is inviting interested parties to connect with Ms. Mikaela Josef, Research and Project Officer. Reach out via uksme@britcham.org.ph or +63 935 590 8858 (Viber).
Gin may be British, but at World Gin Day, it became everyone’s celebration. Cheers to that.
