As summer is fast approaching, the outdoor events all over the metro are now in full swing. One of the events lined up on my calendar for March was the Manila Gin Festival. Having attended the previous event in 2023, I was curious to see what changes and improvements were made to this year’s event. Let’s take a look at what unfolded during this two day event.
The first thing I’d like to point out is that the location has not changed which is great. BGC Highstreet is a great place for an event like this. Not only is it convenient to reach but it is surrounded by some great restaurants and cafes that you can visit before or after the event.
As the sun was setting I decided to go in at around 5pm just to see the setup before the crowd grew in size. My first impression was that it felt a little more spacious than last time. It is probably because they moved the food stands and concessionaires to just outside the event area. Even in the thick of it, there was still space to walk between the booths and seating areas with relative ease.
Speaking of seating areas, this is something that definitely improved from last year. There were more picnic style tables around the event grounds where you could sit and enjoy your drink and absorb all your surroundings. Last year it was quite difficult to find a place to sit and eat, or drink, or even network. This time around, you didn’t have to wait very long to find an open table or seat to take a break or enjoy a snack.
When it came to the food, there were more choices this time around. Last year there were only a few stands and this year it has doubled. As a foodie and someone who cannot drink without getting something to nibble on, I highly appreciated that there were choices when it came to food and bar chow. From some Indian goodies, to cold cuts of meat, sandwiches that hit the spot, to some classics such as calamari, nachos, and fries, there was a good array of food. It was a bit of a shame that the stands were outside the immediate venue premises which means you’d be lining up along with non partygoers. Some lines were longer than others which made the booths struggle a little bit when it came to serving everyone in a timely manner; but with a drink in hand and some good music in the background it’s difficult to get upset about it.
One thing that I would really like to point out is that they did a great job with the ventilation and hydration this time around. As last year I witnessed someone being wheeled out… It was nice to see that they really stocked up on the large fans that were placed all around the perimeter and had a designated area for a free water station. We all know what happens when alcoholic drinks are accompanied by tropical heat and a crowd of people dancing. The water station as well as the designated man who was very attentive in going around dispensing water to people seated or standing at the cocktail tables was a wonderful idea!
Now let’s take a look at the center of it all, the gin! Although there were other brands and kinds of drinks such as beer, tequila, and vodka, gin was the heart of it all. There were a few brands and booths that were there last time, and there were some new ones too which were interesting to explore. The booths in the center were well lit and decorated. Each had their own theme and concept for the evening which was nice to see and very instagrammable! Some had games wherein you could win some branded merchandise while some gave out stickers and such. Hendrick’s Gin had a unique concept which was having a Tini Martini Townhouse where you order your drink and it comes out from the little doors. Very cute and entertaining.
They also had their respective menus out for everyone to choose from. There were definitely some interesting mixes and flavors all around such as 1834’s Adobo Gin and Tonic. It smelled like adobo which I’m guessing is due to the peppercorns, bay leaf, and soy sauce. Fortunately, I'm glad to say it was not like drinking straight up adobo juice. Although the aromatics were strong it was very light and easy to drink.
If you wanted to take a bottle or two home there were special deals all around. Decent discounts that make it hard to walk away from especially that some of these brands are international and can be somewhat pricey. There was also a designated stand called The Bottle Shop where you can take a look at the discounts and other things you may purchase to make special cocktails at home.
Overall, it was a big improvement from the previous year and well executed. It was good value for money and a lot of fun. It seems the the Manila Gin Festival just keeps getting better and better and I’m very much looking forward to what next year’s will look like!
