6 Filipino liquors to add to your bar collection
Filipinos love to party, and these Filipino liquors can add even more fun to any gathering | Photo from @santanagin/Instagram
Drinks are a must at most Filipino parties around the world. It’s not a party until the titos crack a cold one open or the titas are swirling their favorite reds and whites in their glasses. That said, the Philippines isn’t necessarily known for its alcohol, but it should be.
Local distilleries have been around for hundreds of years, but there are some newer kids on the block putting out interesting stuff. From flavored liqueurs to handcrafted spirits using local ingredients, these bottles all deserve a spot in your bar cabinet.
Aside from having beautiful bottles, some of these Filipino alcoholic beverages have also won international liquor awards for their taste and quality. You can have these drinks straight or mixed with your favorite ingredients to create a cocktail.
If you have friends or family visiting the motherland anytime soon, make sure to ask for a bottle or two as a pasalubong.
Ube Cream Liqueur
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Destileria Barako makes all sorts of flavored and craft liquors. Their Ube Cream Liqueur is one of their premier products. It’s made with a blend of sugarcane vodka, full cream, and, of course, ube. It’s also been a consistent winner at the SIP awards, an international spirit competition that judges liquor from all over the world.
Agimat Gin
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Agimat Gin is another product of Destileria Barako. It’s made with foraged botanicals indigenous to the Philippines and features at least one ingredient from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It’s also another SIP awards recipient.
Lakan Lambanog
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Lakan Lambanog is a craft distilled liquor made from the sap of the coconut tree—not the fruit, which is a common misconception. Lakan has three varieties: gold, silver, and bronze. Whichever one you choose though, you’ll be sure to have a great time.
Santa Ana Gin
Santa Ana Gin is named after one of the most famous dance halls of old Manila, the Santa Ana cabaret. One of the gin’s main botanicals is sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines. The bottle’s design is inspired by the Art Deco era the cabaret belonged to, which makes it such a beautiful addition to any shelf.
ARC Vodka
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Vodka is usually associated with Russia, but the Philippines is holding its own when it comes to this drink. ARC’s vodka is purified by filtering it through literal lava rocks that are sourced from Taal Volcano and Mount Mayon. The two-time filtration system gives the spirit a smoother, crisper taste with just a hint of minerality.
Manille Liqueur
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Manille Liqueur is a product of Destileria Limtuaco—the Philippines’ oldest established distillery. It has a vodka base and comes in two flavors, the classic calamansi and dalandan. The spirit is made with the rind of either fruit to produce a proudly Pinoy product you can drink either straight or use as a mixer.
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