Get your drinks on at the first ever Manila Cocktail Festival, opening tonight

Mark your calendars because the very first cocktail festival is here: A celebration of the Filipino cocktail scene and the warmth in its close-knit, fun-loving bartender community, this first Manila Cocktail Festival starts today, September 12, and runs until September 14 in some of Manila’s most iconic bars.

Recognizing the trailblazers who have done the country proud on the global bartending stage, this year’s festival features Filipino bartenders who are currently helming bars around the region, and for this special homecoming, they are joining forces with local icons. Cocktail enthusiasts can attend any of the 18 guest shifts being held across the Makati Central Business District, Poblacion, and Bonifacio Global City, sign up for a bar tour, or complete a cocktail passport to redeem exclusive MCF merchandise.

It’s not all about drinking, though, as trade-focused panels will tackle topics such as sustainability, service, and cocktail trends. “We have come a long way since 2011, when one of the first speakeasy cocktail bars opened in the country,” said Ken Bandivas, the On Trade Commercial Manager for William Grant & Sons, in a statement. “This year, three bars were recognized in Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, with many more gems to be discovered, and we are so excited to now have a platform to celebrate the cocktail scene and encourage more people to visit these great bars.”

Purchase nightly bar tour tickets for Php2,100 each or get a three-night package for Php5,300. For more information about the guest shifts, bar tours, and cocktail passports, visit Manila Cocktail Festival’s website.