Cocktail hour

MANILA, Philippines - It’s one of those Friday nights again, and while you’d love to share a drink or five with friends, the thought of rubbing elbows with your slaggy Bio classmate at Privé just isn’t as appealing as it used to be. Raiding the liquor shelves of your local 7-11 may have been cool in school, but you’re all grown up now, aren’t you? And grown-ups, well… they not only know what they like, but they get it done on their own. That includes their favorite cocktails.

Just ask David Ong, co-owner and manager of The Curator and the EDSA Beverage Design Studio (BDS). After falling in love with cocktails during a trip to Shanghai, David fueled his passion for great beverages by creating an avenue where people can enjoy the best coffee and cocktails that the city has to offer. The Curator is a retail space in Makati with quality coffee and cocktails served by knowledgable baristas. EDSA BDS has a similar concept, but elevates the conversation by also being a hub of original coffee blends and craft beer — all concocted in the studio’s ground floor.

And because that’s the kind of DIY we definitely like, we asked David to show us how to make one of EDSA’s Whiskey Sours. Like the coffee and beer that they make, EDSA’s whiskey sour is simple, unassuming, and stands out through the use great ingredients. Who knew your Friday night could be so good? — Margarita Buenaventura

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EDSA Design Beverage Studio can be found at the CLMC Building along the southbound side of EDSA in Mandaluyong City. Follow them on Instagram @edsabdg for more details.

Whiskey Sour by EDSA Beverage Design Studio

Ingredients:

15ml of simple syrup

30ml lemon juice

45ml bourbon

30ml egg white

Angostura bitters

Ice cubes

Other things you might need:

Cocktail shaker

An Advil for the hangover

Steps:

• Pour the bourbon into the shaker. You can change it with gin or any alcohol, if you prefer it.

• Follow it up with the lemon juice.

• Add the simple syrup.

• Finish it up with the egg white. Tip: the more egg white, the better. It adds an interesting texture to the drink.

• Chill your glass by filling it with ice cubes and letting it sit there for a few seconds. Throw out the cubes after the glass has reached your preferred temperature.

• Shake the shaker as hard as you can. Pour the contents into your glass.

• Add a dash of Angostura bitters. The bitters contrast the tartness of the drink.