Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Recipe by Lennon Aguilar / Bar Supervisor at Discovery Primea Since it’s the Christmas season, and you can practically hear bells, whistles, and Christmas tunes in every corner of the city, we’ve decided to round out top bartenders in Manila to create holiday cocktails inspired by popular Filipino Christmas songs. Inspired by the ’80s Filipino hit Christmas song Sa Paskong Darating performed by Celeste Legaspi, Discovery Primea’s Bar Supervisor, Lennon Aguilar, created this hot cocktail to warm the soul. Called Pasalubong ni Santa, it’s Lennon’s twist to a spiced mulled wine. It’s aromatic, has spicy notes of cloves, cinnamon, and anise, sourness from the wine, and fruity notes coming from the apples and pears. We enjoyed stirring with the candy cane as it adds minty flavors to the drink. “When the Christmas breeze greets the air, nothing could be cozier than a hot mug of spiced wine. This version of the classic holiday wine cocktail reflects all the ingredients from the Filipino Christmas song “Sa Paskong Darating—’Dadalhan ko kayo ng mansanas at ubas. May kendi at tsokolate, peras, kastanyas na marami.’ These ingredients are staples in Filipino Noche Buena spreads shared by families during the Christmas feast. To keep you warm this holiday season, here’s Pasalubong ni Santa cocktail.” Ingredients: 150 ml Red Wine (Soleca Reserva Carmenere) 15 ml Cognac (Hennessy VS) 15 ml Crème de Cacao 15 ml Honey Syrup 8 g TWG Midsummer Night Loose Leaf Tea Apple and Pear Slices Cinnamon, Cloves, and Star Anise Candy Cane as garnish and stirrer How to make the cocktail: Pour in all liquid ingredients in the lower bowl of the coffee siphon. Arrange the dry ingredients in the upper bowl. Brew the mixture for around 5 minutes. Pour the cocktail in an Irish cup. Garnish with candy cane that will serve as a stirrer. Serve with apple and pear slices on the side. If you want to taste this cocktail, it will be available in Discovery Primea this holiday season, you can request for Pasalubong ni Santa and Lennon will create the drink. 1824, Edge, Gilarmi Lounge / Discovery Primea, 6749 Ayala Ave, Makati City