One of our favourite watering holes gives us the lowdown on how best to enjoy a cocktail — and surprise, it's more than just about getting tipsy.
Remember pre-pandemic, when everyone congregated around bars and clubs? It seems so long ago that our nights should have turned hazy from that extra bottle of beer, that extra shot of tequila. The drinking culture in the Philippines starts fairly early when compared to a few Western counterparts. At 18, people here are legally allowed to indulge in a tipple or two. Of course, it's rare that young college students (such as myself at one point!) know much about how to appreciate a good drink. Now we see that cocktails are more than just a means to an end; in reality, each drink served at your favourite watering hole is a work of art.
The Lotus Gin Room, a cocktail bar at the Pasig food hub of Kapitolyo, is here to prove just that. In their words, the bar is "hell-bent on welcoming beginner drinkers". "You ask us what we know, and we will gladly share to you what we know," they say. Its founders, Rosenthal Tee, Inigo Uy, Vincent Alvarado and Anjelino Zetha want to educate the younger demographic on how to appreciate fine drinks and quality cocktails.
"Typically, these types of sessions would be limited to industry-F&B folk or for those in the PR scene, so one thing that we wanted to expand on was tapping into a younger and interested demographic to start off this series," adds Inigo. As one of the first few to have hosted an open-invite cocktail webinar, The Lotus Gin Room perpetuates an aura of welcome hospitality. They will be hosting a series of educational and interactive cocktail classes to keep an eye out for updates!
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Their first event was on 9 October 2020, hosted by fashion designer and Gen.T honouree Rosenthal Tee, and award-winning bartender, MK Ramores, centred on two very familiar names: Aperol and Campari. "We decided to collaborate with Campari and Aperol first, basically because these two brands make for the most popular beginner-level drinks that everybody can do from the comforts of home," says Rosenthal. As such, we were treated to an informative night learning how to make Negroni and Aperol Spritz.
Here are some tips on how to enjoy and create cocktails:
Invest in good barware
Negroni and Aperol Spritz were surprisingly simple to make. With the help of Lotus Gin Room's cocktail kits — which are available online for intimate events and celebrations — all I really needed was a glass, a pair of scissors, and a spoon to stir. Of course, they advise everyone who's interested to invest in better barware. "We highly recommend getting yourself a jigger, long bar spoon, strainer, and cocktail shaker," says Vincent, adding that "additional pieces to elevate the cocktail-making arsenal is to have a mixing glass and strainer (Hawthorne or Julep style), which just makes the whole set look more professional."
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