ONE GIN NATION: Ginebra San Miguel Celebrates World Gin Day with a Bang

We owe the Philippines’ top ranking in gin consumption – over 43% of the world gin market – to one brand: Ginebra San Miguel. For 184 years, Filipinos have been enjoying and sharing the country’s pioneering spirit, often through drinking sessions with “tagay” – where the group shares a common glass to be passed on and refilled as it goes around. This feeling of camaraderie and unity is what Ginebra San Miguel aims to cultivate as it celebrates World Gin Day as One Gin Nation.

Guests were taken on a “ginstronomic” and a gastronomic tour of the Philippines as Ginebra San Miguel gathered some of the country’s top master mixologists, a highly-acclaimed chef, popular celebrity performers, and a nation of gin lovers in one big celebration held at the Axon in Green Sun Hotel Makati on June 7, 2018.

Three established mixologists were invited to created special Ginebra San Miguel cocktails to represent the country’s three island groups while rockstar chef Rolando Laudico prepared a sumptuous “pulutan” feast, to be paired with them.

Kalel Demetrio created the “Quatro Katipunero Sour” – a cocktail that incorporates the four dominant Luzon ingredients that he loves to use: kamias, sampaguita, labuyo, and calamansi, which was paired with Chef Lau’s “Nilasing na Sisig,” both of which used Ginebra San Miguel as ingredients.

DrinkManila’s resident mixologist Icy Mariñas crafted the fun serve “In It to Gin-It” inspired by flavors of the Visayas, brings the deep fruity flavors of Mango Nectar (Cebu) and Pineapple Juice (Ormoc) together with the light and smooth GSM Blue.  Calamansi syrup adds a touch of citrus to this lush yet refreshing cocktail. The hint of basil freshness in the background and the light bite from the coconut vinegar add depths of flavor, punctuated by the Peanut Kisses (Bacolod).with flavors of Cebu mango nectar, Leyte pineapple, coconut vinegar, and Bohol peanut kisses. Chef Lau’s “Chicken Ginasal Wrap,” made with GSM Blue was a perfect pairing to the summery drink.

For Mindanao, Enzo Lim made the Samal Beach Cocktail, a fusion of Pinoy flavors with Davao pomelo as its dominant taste, which Chef Lau paired with “Spicy Tuna Ginilaw”, which also used GSM Premium (and pomelo) as ingredients.

It was a night to drink gin and have fun, they made sure of that. Their pop-up bar, 1834 (which was the year GSM came out), served some classic gin cocktails (Gimlet, Tom Collins, Dirty Martini, G&T) made with the different GSM gins as base. The bar was also where they held a short mixology class before the event. Guests were given the chance to have their own Ginebra San Miguel label made for a personalized Cuatro Cantos and have their picture taken inside a life sized bottle. GSM Blue endorser Myrtle Sarrosa, singer, rapper, and songwriter Quest, and Europop Festival Gold Medalist Ana Ramsey delivered outstanding performances that entertained the tipsy crowd.

Pushing the GSM gin brands as a staple base in cocktails, they held a “Mixologist Showdown”, a bartending competition where some of the country’s up-and-coming bartenders from local hotels whipped up signature cocktails using unique and indigenous ingredients from the three regions of the Philippines. New World Hotel Makati’s Dexter Poquita won the competition with his cocktail that uses Mindanao fruits aratiles (mango caliber fruit). Light yet layered, host Bianca Valerio even said it tasted like “inasal with mango salad.”

“Gin is enjoying a wave of popularity the world over right now,” says Ginebra San Miguel Marketing Manager Ron Molina. “Owing to its versatility, gin can mix with a variety of flavors. In the Philippines, this love for gin and Ginebra San Miguel is celebrated with regional flair and flavor. Local mixes and pairing with local food takes the gin experience to a whole new level.”

Among the guests who graced the event were famous personalities like dancer/director Gab Valenciano, Mr. World Philippines 2016 Sam Ajdani, and all-around vlogger Vince Vandorpe. Travel and beauty vlogger Angel Dei Peralta, and international model couple/reality TV stars Chelsea Robato and Christian Busby also had a taste of the gin-credible night.

In the Philippines, World Gin Day was first celebrated in 2014 coinciding with the celebration of Ginebra San Miguel’s 180th anniversary, highlighted by the launch of a travelling exhibit showcasing the brand’s colorful history and rich heritage. World Gin Day celebrations this year were also held in Cabanatuan, Cebu and Davao at selected bars and establishments where Ginebra San Miguel offers the Gin O’ Clock promo.

Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) is the producer of the world’s no. 1 selling gin Ginebra San Miguel and other quality liquor products including GSM Premium Gin, GSM Blue, GSM Blue Flavors, Antonov Vodka, Vino Kulafu, Don Enrique Tequila, Añejo Gold Medium Rum and Primera Light Brandy.

Photos by Star Sabroso