Guys, let’s face it: the old movie-dinner-drinks schtick can get a bit stale when it comes to date time with that special someone. If you’re looking to shake things up and learn a thing or two, try the Craft Cocktail Masterclass by ABV, which was just recently named as one of the best bars in Asia.
If you haven’t heard of ABV (Alcohol by Volume) yet, you really should: this gorgeous speakeasy bar lurks behind the walls of hot dog joint Lazy Bastard along Jupiter Street in Makati, and is decked out in cozy yet elegant interiors, reminiscent of the 1920s Prohibition era it gives homage to. Here, meticulously crafted cocktails are served by award-winning mixologists, where you can order one of the classics, try one of their signature creations, or even have a specially made drink just for you.
ABV is the kind of hideout ideal for unwinding after work or even for post-dinner drinks on a first date. That said, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join the ABV Masterclass, a series of their regular weekend classes where one can learn to create a craft cocktail, learn more about the different spirits and refine their overall drinking experience.
Volume 1, the first of 15 total sessions, teaches the difference between shaken and stirred drinks. The class we attended was taught by Bar Captain Lester Ligon, a finalist at this year’s Diageo Southeast Asia Finals, so to say that we were learning from the expert is an understatement.
Each class makes up about six to ten participants or so, lending an intimate and focused setting. In this class, we learned about the basic concepts behind craft cocktails, and the fundamentals behind classics such as the Old Fashioned, the Negroni, Champagne Cocktail, Manhattan, and more.
Basically, a classic cocktail is made of three things: a base spirit, a sweetener, and bitters. From that recipe alone, there are tons of cocktails one can make, and can even be the base of your own concoction.
During the class, tasting your classmates’ creations is encouraged, and you can even learn to replicate a signature cocktail as made by the masters — perfect for impressing friends at a party!
And when you’re done with volume 1, if you’re serious about learning all there is to bartending you can choose to enrich your knowledge on spirits further by enrolling in 14 other ABV classes that teach more advanced concepts.
So drag your date over at ABV, exchange each other’s cocktails and learn a thing or two — it’s romantic as it is educational, and definitely a weekend worthwhile spent.
Learn more about the ABV masterclass through their website, masterclass.abv.ph or their Facebook page, ABV Masterclass.
