Drink in hand, guests are walked through Full Circle’s mini museum of sorts. As a family-run operation, heritage plays a key role in Full Circle’s brand identity—after all, Matthew Westfall’s grandfather, Peter Westfall had his own turn in the Philippine beverage industry, developing a certain orange-flavoured soda you can still see on market shelves today. Apart from family keepsakes, the Westfalls have also collected artefacts of Philippine botany. Among them, the 1830s title Flora de Filipinas, which details a wealth of Philippine botany with images hand-painted by the likes of Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, then just a college student.

“180 years ago, the Philippines was on the cutting edge of botanical nomenclature and classification, which is really amazing,” narrates the head distiller, our knowledgeable tour guide that afternoon. After browsing through some ARC mementoes like their private-label bottles, crafted with bespoke recipes for clients like Amanpulo and Txanton, we met “Maddie”: their state-of-the-art hybrid copper still handcrafted in Germany exclusively for Full Circle.

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Named after the family’s French bulldog, “Maddie” is where all the magic takes place. In the lefthand chamber, sturdier botanicals like juniper and pomelo are introduced into the 90-proof liquid. Once vaporised, more delicate botanicals are steamed and gently introduced into the mix, before everything is condensed into liquid form once more and tempered down to that palatable 45 per cent ABV. Educational and immersive, the tour even invites guests to take part in the distillation process by adding botanicals into the chamber.

Step into the back room, where large glass flasks of distillation experiments line the wall—a glimpse into the team’s R&D. Opposite, a row of oak barrels used for ARC Barrel Age Reserve Gin and an upcoming rum project that Westfall teases with the utmost excitement.

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Given its global impact, it’s hard to believe that the Full Circle team is only comprised of 12 members, and even more mind-boggling to consider they were only 5-strong three months prior. But this has its benefits, too. From the labels carefully pressed onto each bottle by hand to the handwritten notes indicating the batch and bottle number, a palpable degree of thoughtfulness colours every detail of the ARC brand. Even the brand’s lettering, which pays homage to the unique Filipino painting style “letras y figuras,” reflects a lot of heart. 

The tour concludes with a guided tasting flight of ARC’s signature spirits, including ARC Botanical Gin, ARC Lava Rock Vodka, and ARC Barrel Reserve Gin, with bar chow to boot. Guests may also upgrade with a cheese and charcuterie platter, or bring their own snacks to enjoy on-site—at least, until their kitchen opens for full operations. In addition, Full Circle offers a selection of ARC merchandise, gift boxes, and fresh releases, exclusively available at the distillery. Along with this new experience, the proudly Filipino distillery celebrates five years with an all-new bottle design and two new spirits: the ARC Black Bamboo Gin and Arc Navy Strength Gin.

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Opening their distillery doors to curious consumers, spirits aficionados, and everyone in between, the founders share: “We hope visitors to the distillery will leave with a better sense of the beauty of our amazing country, a greater appreciation for artisanal distilling, and a sense of pride for the Philippines, knowing that indeed we can compete on the global craft spirits stage and win.”

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The Full Circle Distillery offers public tours every Saturday, 2-4pm. For an intimate experience, you may also book a private experience for a group of 12-20 guests. Please text +63 917 118 4446 for bookings and inquiries.