Do you remember the Silahis Hotel, that iconic structure along Roxas Boulevard? And its equally legendary space, the Playboy Club?

I remember my halcyon days in the early ’90s in Manila City, when I would swim in the pool some weekends at Silahis Hotel. One day after swimming, I needed to go to the bathroom. I wandered around and ended up entering a dark bar while looking for the toilet. Inside, I was greeted by a pretty lady wearing what looked like a swimsuit with a bunny tail. It looked funny to me back then. She was very kind and asked if I was lost. I told her I was looking for the bathroom. She held my hand and ushered me to the toilet, and then after, all smiles, led me out.

Soon after, my lolo, Feliciano Sr., longtime dean of Mechanical Engineering at Mapua Institute of Technology, found me and asked where I went. I told him about the dark place I wandered into. With a sly smile, he told me, “Oh apo, you can’t go there yet. But when you grow up, we can both go there.”

“What do you do there, lolo?” I asked, being the always curious child that I was. With another grin he told me, “That’s where gentlemen drink whisky and smoke cigars, just like the ones we have at home. You know what apo, the best way to smoke cigars is when you tell the ladies to roll you up a fresh cigar, and line the tobacco with Cognac before closing it up. Just like how I learned it when I went to Paris.” I was excited to grow up and try this.

But of course, being the youngest of his seven grandchildren, Feliciano Sr. died when I was 10 years old, and Silahis Hotel was no more. The Playboy Club’s Philippine franchise left the country even earlier. So my dream of experiencing such gentlemanly pursuits was put on hold. My own father, Feliciano Jr., coughs uncontrollably with just a few puffs of tobacco, so no cigars with that one. That’s why, nearing four decades in the world, I have never really tried a gentleman’s cigar club. Until now.

Last March 12, Solaire Resort Entertainment City invited us to experience a cigar and whisky pairing at BRB, the speakeasy-style establishment tucked within the resort-casino. From the main floor, you go down a flight of stairs, almost like going down a rabbit hole, and enter a dark passageway that opens into warm light, the clink of glasses, the earthy smell of smoke, and the buzz of conversation from friends and couples enjoying the night.

Daniel Blais, director of beverage for Solaire properties, toured me around. With a champagne glass in hand, we paused by a cabinet housing the resort’s extensive spirits collection. He pointed to a bottle filled with a deep brown liquid.

“This bottle costs P8 million pesos,” he said, before adding that here, guests are allowed to experience such rare spirits by the glass. “In other places, you need to buy the whole bottle.”

That philosophy of access, of letting guests experience something rare without intimidation, carries through the entire BRB experience.

The evening also marked the launch of something equally exclusive. BRB introduced the Solaire Uncut Robusto Colección, a cigar line crafted by Davidoff and available in only a handful of locations worldwide, with Solaire as the sole property in the Philippines to carry it.

“Bringing Davidoff Uncut Cigars to BRB is a true milestone for us,” Daniel said to me. “As the home of the most extensive whisky and cigar collection—406 whiskies and 152 cigars—BRB is proud to present an exclusive cigar crafted by Davidoff. Having our own exclusive cigar crafted by Davidoff represents the crowning achievement of a continuous journey.”

The Uncut cigars themselves are designed to offer something different. With an unfinished foot, they allow smokers to first experience the filler tobacco on its own before the wrapper gradually comes into play, creating a layered progression of flavor as the cigar burns.

The launch took place during one of BRB’s Leaf & Barrel events, an intimate gathering where cigars are paired with a curated selection of whiskies. I experienced the event with fellow media friends, so the night was fun, full of industry “chismis.” We talked and laughed the night away, puffing cigars (all in moderation, of course) and drinking good whisky. I was introduced toa whole new flavor pairing cigars with whisky. Next time, I’ll try what my lolo told me to do, during his escapades in Paris. I’ll line up a cigar with Cognac.

Adding to the energy of the night was a special bar takeover by the BKK Boys, a trio of bartenders from Bangkok: Ryan de Vega of Aqua Bar, Dicky Hartono of Firefly, and Niks Anuman of God. Known for their bold techniques, they brought a different rhythm to the room, crafting cocktails that complemented the cigars.

I realized how far this idea of a “gentleman’s night” has evolved in my mind. What once felt like a closed, almost mythical world from my childhood memory has now opened up into something more welcoming, more curious, and more experiential. The spirit remains, whisky, cigars, conversation, but the atmosphere feels less rigid, more inclusive.

I went to sleep that night filled with good vibes, warm memories of conversations with old and new friends, and my shirt, trousers, down to my briefs smelling of tobacco smoke. Good times, but I told myself, “Not everyday. Your laundry bill is gonna go through the roof.”