Enhance the festive season, and all seasons for that matter, with these five top-of-the-line tipples
As we embrace the new normal and new trends in celebrating Christmas, let us not forget the important Filipino tradition ever present on any occasion, the inuman. The widespread pandemic shouldnot hinder us from living life to the fullest. That said, party hard, have a blast, and get your walwalon! In more ways than one, alcohol makes life better, whether the rubbing kind or the one we would drink. Of course, never forget the quarantine rules and drink responsibly.
Here are some of our top picks for the quality alcoholic beverages you should enjoy with everyone, or alone, or get as gift to your friends and family.
Santa Ana
Meet the beverage that tips its hat to the glamorous aesthetics of pre-war Manila, the city that married neoclassicism and Art Deco. A tribute to the grandeur of the roaring ’20s, the former glory of the capital city’s entertainment hub, and what was the largest cabaret in the world with the best dance music in the Orient, the Santa Ana Cabaret. This gin offers true class and exquisite local flavors in a bottle. Using traditional botanicals, such as juniper, bitter orange, angelica, orris roots, and fennel, this liquor has a rich, exotic taste. Local ingredients include ylang-ylang, alpinia, calamansi, and dalandan, which combine in a cosmopolitan concoction that still has the Filipino imprimatur. While the drink is Filipino it is vacuum-distilled in the Charente region of France, giving it an international flair.
A product ofBleeding Heart Rum Company, the trading arm of the award winning Philippine-made Don Papa, Santa Ana gin is available online through Boozeshop.ph and retail through Bacchus and Elbert’s Delivers. Both Facebook and Instagram handles are Santa Ana gin.
Crazy Carabao Brewing Co., Craft Beers
Handcrafted micro brews designed for taste, smoothness, and quality, Crazy Carabao is brewed conservatively utilizing only the most essential ingredients, namely water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. The brew is labor-intensive and made in small batches, resulting in a more flavor-forward and compounded beer, which is far and away from your regular booze. Variants include pilsner, ale, wheat, golden ale, and India pale ale.
Check out crazycarabao.ph and other e-retailers like boozy.ph.
ARC
Another Filipino gin, the ARC gin has gained international acclaim putting the Philippines on the global spirits map. Currently, there are three variants namely the Lava Rock, Botanical, and Barrel Reserve, each of which is produced in Full Circle’s PEZA-registered 5,000-square-meter distillery complex in Calamba. All of these drinks have a complex juniper and citrus taste.
Full Circle’s artisanal spirits can be purchased at Duty Free Philippines, Tesoro’s, Kultura stores, Real Food, and online via its official store on LazMall, Boozy.ph.,bowtieduck.com, and growcerymnl.ph.
Woomera Wines
Australian wines brought to us by the Wine Brothers Philippines, the importing and distributing company of San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation, the packaging division of San Miguel Corporation. Three are currently available in the market Cabernet Merlot (red), Sauvignon Blanc (white), and the sweet, semi-sparkling Rosé. This brand not only tastes good,it is also among the most affordable wines out there.
It is available in winery.ph, and some supermarkets like SM.
Don Papa Rye Aged Rum
“Imagine a lush rye field on a Tennessee spring day merging with a warm tropical shower blowing in from the Philippine Sea. This is the inspiration for Don Papa Rye Aged Rum—American Rye meets Philippine sugar. It combines the intense, granular, spicy notes from the rye barrels with Don Papa’s black gold molasses rum,” says global brand manager Mig Molina, detailing the new expression. Instead of aging the rum in ex-American oak bourbon barrels, and transferring to finishing barrels, the unique liquor is aged directly in rye barrels. A bit drier than your usual Don Papa, Rye Aged Rum bridges the gap between the worlds of whiskey and rum. Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or even as a cocktail.
Don Papa Rye Aged Rum is available online for delivery through Boozy.ph and Boozeshop.ph. It will soon be offered at various brick and mortar shops.