Reliving Old Manila with Santa Ana Gin

Growing up, I’ve heard countless stories of how life used to be in Manila. There were black and white photos taken when my grandmothers were still young, showing their travels, how they dressed, and the food they ate that seemed painstakingly prepared. I can just imagine the flavors and the scents! The elegance and affluence of the old word captured in snapshots.

As a cocktail geek, I always thought how lovely it would have been to experience the roaring ‘20s—all those events, parties—which always seemed so grand! The Philippines was the most happening place in the Orient at that time with Santa Ana as the largest cabaret in the world playing fine music for all.

Fast forward to 2020 and Santa Ana Cabaret has become the inspiration to the Bleeding Heart Spirits Ltd’s latest passion project, a truly iconic Philippine gin—Santa Ana Gin. This is not the first notable creation from this spirits company as it also brought pride to the country for the first successful premium homegrown craft rum from Bacolod, Don Papa Rum.

Santa Ana Gin captures Manila during the 1930s, the time of optimism and opulence, and its elegant art deco-designed bottle—credited to the award-winning team of Stranger & Stranger—encapsulates all that was fun and exciting in the city.

Its nostalgic conceptualization will surprise you with its highlighted unique forward nose of ylang-ylang, followed by juniper and citrus. On the palate, it is a contemporary gin that kept the juniper taste but has prominently featured the ylang-ylang, and local citrus dalandan and calamansi as its botanicals that give a well-rounded mouthfeel and subtle astringent taste that will leave you salivating.

On a side note, ylang-ylang has made a strong impression on me. I found out that this flower is also used as a treatment for depression and anxiety, and the word “ilang” means wilderness in Tagalog. And for centuries, the Philippines became the best-known source for ylang-ylang oil, which was used primarily in making French perfumes. The makers of Santa Ana Gin have tied up with Iba Botanicals, a local farm in Zambales, to provide the ylang-ylang for the company. I love the idea that this local gin is also helping revive the country’s ylang-ylang oil industry.

Santa Ana Gin is distilled and bottled in Charente France and it goes through a partial vacuum distillation to ensure that the imbiber enjoys the full nose and flavor of the botanicals.

And as I take a sniff of the bottle with my eyes closed, it seems as if I was being transported in another time. The experience lends a special moment as it feels like an escape from the world that we are in right now, courtesy of the Santa Ana Gin.

For more information and updates on Bleeding Heart Spirits and Santa Ana Gin, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Click here to check out two bubbly New Year’s cocktails from Santa Ana Gin brand ambassador Aaron Goodall.

Santa Ana Gin sells for Php 1,699 on Boozy.ph, and is also available online at Elbert’s Delivers and Boozeshop.ph, and retail through Bacchus and Ralph’s.