When in Poblacion and looking for a nice place to drink and enjoy a night out with friends, I’m sure it can be quite overwhelming to decide where to go. With Poblacion being known for its nightlife–bars, lounges, late-night restaurants, and unique drinks–the choices can sometimes be a bit too much.
If you’re one who’s looking for a chic yet chill place with great drinks and unique experiences in Poblacion, the newly-opened Johnnie Walker House is a must-visit place for you.
After opening for a few months first in BGC and in Greenbelt 3, the pop-up Johnnie Walker House is now in Poblacion until May 10th.
Here’s what we experienced at the newest whiskey bar in Poblacion:
Upon arriving at the address, we were greeted by a huge picture of Johnnie Walker with a lit up sign saying, “This is the sign you’ve been looking for.” Yes, literally. It was an edgy welcome to a whole new whisky experience–it felt like being invited into a secret club!
Art by Jappy Agoncillo
Going up the building and into the bar, we were accommodated into a wide sophisticated space that showcased the works of well-known local artists such as Jappy Agoncillo, Lee Caces, Kookoo Ramos, Kate Quebrar, and Kara Pangilinan. There are gorgeous murals and art installations that, aside from giving us awesome Instagrammable spots, made our whisky experience a lot more lively and colorful.
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As part of the housewarming, Johnnie Walker brand ambassador Nico Bolzico hosted a special whisky tasting. As someone who is new to Scotch whisky, I had the opportunity to experience the different Johnnie Walker labels.
This tasting proved to me how distinct the taste of each label is. Paired with cheese, fruits, and crackers, the tasting also taught us how pairing whisky with different textures and flavors can bring out the uniqueness of each label. For example, the Johnnie Walker Black Label tastes amazing with toasted marshmallows. Who knew?! With the wide range of labels available, there’s definitely one for each one’s preferences.
Diageo Reserve World Class Philippines Bartender of the Year 2018 Lester Ligon
But it turned out that the blind tasting experience we had was more than just appreciating Scotch whisky as it is. Award-winning bartender Lester Ligon was also present at the House to offer Johnnie Walker cocktails and to show us new ways to enjoy whisky.
We even got to try making our own cocktails! Talk about an immersive and hands-on whisky experience.
Nico Bolzico holding one of the most expensive bottles of Johnnie Walker: the King George V
As if all these weren’t enough for a great Scotch experience, we were also given the privilege to taste (thanks to Nico Bolzico’s curiosity) one of the most expensive and rarest drinks from Johnnie Walker, the King George V, which is only available at the Johnnie Walker House.
For someone who’s not exactly familiar with Scotch, being immersed in a bar that features the world’s top Scotch whisky is definitely the right step in the right direction.
Sans the food pairing, our whole experience is something everyone can enjoy on regular nights too. The full range of Johnnie Walker, from Red to Blue, is available to order at the House. You can also order those in a flight and in a cocktail (with a recipe made by Lester Ligon!). What’s more, you can even enjoy exclusive single malts – those that are blended into Johnnie Walker – and sample some of their rarest offerings, such as XR21 and King George V.
If you want to experience Johnnie Walker in new ways, be sure to drop by the Johnnie Walker House in Poblacion before it moves to another location. Remember to drink responsibly!
Johnnie Walker House
Dona Carmen St. Cor. Kalayaan Ave., Poblacion, Makati City
Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM
