There is a different kind of energy when the people behind the bar are not just serving drinks, but telling stories.

On March 25, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., The Whisky Library at Newport World Resorts hosts “Women and Tipple,” a one-night-only bar takeover, its first, bringing together some of Asia’s most respected bartenders and creatives.

The event is part of a broader initiative curated by DrinkCollectiv, a platform that moves across cities in Asia, creating spaces where women in the bar and lifestyle industries can come together to collaborate and share ideas. What began in Manila has since traveled through the region, with this year’s edition opening in Hong Kong before returning to the city.

It goes beyond the usual guest shift. Each bartender works with a collaborator from outside the bar, and the drinks come out of that exchange.

For the Manila stop, the bar brings in Claire Liu of Hope and Sesame in Guangzhou, currently ranked No. 7 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025. Known for a program rooted in Cantonese culture, Claire’s work draws from regional flavors and storytelling, translating them into cocktails. Her background includes competition wins and placements across China.

Working alongside her is Christi McGarry, whose presence in Manila’s nightlife is more often heard behind the DJ booth. For this evening, she steps behind the bar, bringing a different rhythm into the space. Her sets, shaped between New York and Manila, carry over into the drinks, not literally, but in the way the night is paced.

From 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., the bar shifts again. Michelle Ong of COA in Hong Kong takes over, representing a venue that once held the No. 1 spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars for three consecutive years and now sits at No. 17. COA built its reputation around a focused concept, agave, and turned it into something that resonated globally. Michelle continues to carry that approach, recently winning the Cointreau Margarita Competition for Hong Kong in 2025, while also expanding into food through her Malaysian catering venture.

Her collaborator for the night is Gabs Gibbs, a creative director and founder of Open House. Her work exists in a different space, design, community, storytelling, but it aligns closely with what bars like COA have become: places where people gather not just to drink, but to connect.

Behind all this is The Whisky Library itself, a space long associated with one of the largest whisky collections in Manila. On most nights, it is defined by its contemplative pace. On this night, it shifts. The room fills, the bar becomes a shared workspace, and the usual rhythm gives way to something collaborative.

The spirits lineup reflects that balance between structure and experimentation. The women work with a curated selection that includes Fettercairn Single Malt Scotch Whisky, The Dalmore 12-Year-Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Cazabana Sherry Oak Cask, and The London No. 1 Original Blue Gin.

Women-led brands such as The Blomstre and One Earth Organics take part, extending the idea of collaboration beyond drinks and into a wider lifestyle space.