MANILA, Philippines — That every Filipino celebration be it a wedding, anniversary, birthday, christening, or casual get-together ends up with a drinking session is almost a given.
Filipinos like to dot every "salu-salo" (get-together) with a casual drink or two among family, relatives, and friends. It is also the group’s way of welcoming strangers, or new friends, into the fold. When sharing a drink or two, everyone suddenly becomes related to each other somehow, everyone becomes like family.
That is the magic of casual drinking that comes at the end of a Filipino celebration. The table is laden with food from the party, which will serve as pulutan for the big boys, and these are paired with spirits.
Johnnie Walker unveils Blue Label Elusive Umami Limited Edition
Johnnie Walker proudly announces its latest limited-edition release, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami, an invitation to immerse one’s senses in an exquisite journey of flavor.
This groundbreaking whisky expression is the product of a collaboration between renowned Chef Kei Kobayashi and Johnnie Walker’s Master Blender Dr. Emma Walker as they artfully captured the enigmatic “fifth taste” known as umami and its mysterious qualities.
“The Philippines is poised to become an emerging luxury destination, and we look at playing our part in encouraging consumers to drink better, not more by introducing Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami as part of our growing luxury Scotch Whisky portfolio,” says Rajesh Joshi, General Manager, Diageo Philippines.
To create the blend of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami, Chef Kei Kobayashi and Emma Walker channeled their years of experience into combining the unrivaled taste of Johnnie Walker Blue Label with the essence of umami. This extraordinary Scotch whisky is a testament to Johnnie Walker's heritage and craftsmanship and unwavering commitment to whisky innovation. It is a remarkable fusion of tradition and innovation, designed to tantalize the palate with a symphony of flavors.
A beautifully balanced Blended Scotch whisky of sweet and savory flavors, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami has notes of blood oranges and red berries with sweet wood spice, a touch of smoked meat, a hint of salt and pepper with a long, sweet fruit finish.
Johnnie Walker Master Blender Emma Walker explained, “The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami is a testament to Johnnie Walker’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of whisky craftsmanship. Working with Chef Kei Kobayashi to create this limited-edition Umami blend embodies that philosophy perfectly, as we explore the culinary world's most elusive taste."
Only one in 25,000 casks succeeds in bringing this elusive character to life. Each whisky was handpicked to create an umami profile, just like ingredients for a recipe, allowing Chef Kei and Emma Walker to bring out the unique character of this innovative Scotch whisky.
The exclusive launch of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami took place at the "Feast for the Senses," a one-night-only, eight-hands tasting experience held last October 9, in the recently reopened Makati Shangri-La hotel. This remarkable event was led by a collaboration with Angelo Comsti of the Asian Culinary Exchange and Makati Shangri-La’s Chef Edwin Lo, together with Don Baldosano of Linamnam MNL and Nicco Santos and Quenee Vilar of Cafe Aurora to curate this culinary sensory adventure.
The “Feast for the Senses” explored the facets of umami as represented by the elements of wind, earth, and water. Each facet came to life through different courses by each chef, expertly paired with the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami.
Live music by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra elevated the tasting experience, immersing guests in an ambiance that mirrored the dishes’ inspiration. Specialty Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktails were also developed by drink collaborator David Ong.
Guests of the exclusive event were also treated to an exquisite whisky mentoring session with none other than Dr. Emma Walker, who dove into the intricacies of the Elusive Umami blend, revealing its unique sensory experience. She led a tasting of the Elusive Umami through its perfect serve – neat with a spoon of Oscietra Caviar – to unlock its full depth of flavor.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami is a testament to the brand’s commitment to innovation and the art of whisky craftsmanship. This new limited edition release is available in limited quantities in the Philippines - get yours exclusively at S&R, through Diageo Private Sales Channel via diageoprestige.ph@diageo.com and Singlemalt.ph. Drink responsibly. Visit the DrinkIQ.com site to learn more about alcohol facts.
Celebrate Filipino flavors with Don Papa and its Tres Papas
Don Papa Rum, the Philippines’ single island premium rum, is celebrating its Filipino provenance by bringing together some prominent names in the industry in a series of bartender guest shifts called Tres Papas. For each night of the series, three bartenders will take over one of the metro’s top cocktail bars not only to introduce the different flavors of Don Papa Rum and the Philippines but to also showcase the pinnacle of Filipino talent.
The first in the series brings home the original Tres Papas, which includes David Ong, Cedric Mendoza, and Joma Rivera. They first got together in Singapore back in 2017 but last August 9, Don Papa Rum brought them back to their (and Don Papa Rum’s) homeland where they took over OTO, Makati for a one-night-only guest shift aptly called Tres Papas: Homecoming.
Why did Don Papa Rum choose to work with these Tres Papas and who are they? In case you haven’t heard, these guys are among those paving the way for Filipino talent in the spirits industry.
David Ong is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Curator Coffee & Cocktails, currently ranked #34 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars. He is also Co-Founder and Managing Partner of other coffee and cocktail concepts in Manila such as OTO, EDSA Beverage Design Group, #YKWRoasters at The Grid, and PourHouse Hospitality.
We also have Cedric Mendoza, the previous Head Bartender at Manhattan Bar, who helped put the bar at #1 for two consecutive years on the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2017/2018, and helped it climb to the #3 on the World's 50 Best Bars 2018. He is now a Managing Partner of Pourhouse Hospitality and ReCraft.
Finally, we have the well-decorated Joma Rivera. He is the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year in 2014 - Philippines, Campari Bartender Competition Asia - 2018 Singapore Champion, and Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge 2020 - Singapore Champion. He is currently Bar Manager at Kafe UTU and Tamba in Singapore.
Why use Don Papa Rum in cocktails? And what makes these concoctions special? Due to its vanilla, honey, and candied fruit notes, Don Papa Rum is actually perfect for mixing in a wide range of cocktails. By letting bartenders explore different concoctions, Don Papa Rum’s versatility and complexity really shines through.
What makes this series and the concoctions special though, is its championing of Philippine ingredients and stories. One of David’s cocktails is called “Enriquez," an homage to OTO’s street that they call home. This recipe is a riff of one of their original signature cocktails that is modeled after a childhood favorite, the Twin Popsies. Made with tablea-infused Don Papa Rum, sweet vermouth, orange bitters, and sugar, the resulting drink is potent and delicious with that tsokolate bittersweet flavor that Filipinos know and love.
Cedric on the other hand created cocktails that are tributes to the 2 other Tres Papas. One of the cocktails is named “Dong Papa," playfully named after David Ong’s industry nickname “Dong." It is a nutty riff on the classic daquiri. Hazelnut and spiced syrup bring out the caramel notes and vibrancy in Don Papa Masskara.
Joma created the cocktail called “Hey-A-Ron." This one is a tribute to Don Papa Rum’s Global Brand Ambassador, Aaron Goodall, who’s half Filipino and half Australian. Inspired by a drink from down under, this highball style drink mixes fresh granny smith apple, manuka honey, and bee pollen with Don Papa Masskara for a bright, velvety, and refreshing taste. Hey, it’s -A(pple)-Ron(Rum)!
Don Papa Rum has come far, from a local brand launched in the Philippines 10 years ago, to now a well-loved premium rum present in more than 30 countries. As it did back then, Don Papa Rum will always proudly showcase its roots – its bountiful flavours and ingredients, its wealth and level of talent, and its wonderful tapestry of stories to tell. Be on the lookout and follow Don Papa Rum on Facebook and Instagram at @donpaparum.