I've got one hand in my pocket...

As Alanis Morissette would have said it: "I've got one hand in my pocket and other's.. holding THIS!"

POCKET SHOT!

Somewhere between bottles and flasks, this quirky alcohol innovation appeared.
I was surprised that this didn't come as Filipino ingenuity knowing that we put our sodas in plastic bags (bringing back childhood memories).

Coke-in-a-bag from a sari-sari store

But really, this is something fantastic.
As of today, these babies are only available in the American retail market.
Though everyone from all over the world can grab a pocket through their online store.

You gotta love their selection from Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila to Whiskey.

Visit Pocket Shot: http://www.pocketshot.net/

Detoxify: Cookie's MAI TAI

For almost three weeks, I have been a good girl at work but it had squeezed out all the patience in me and I can definitely feel that the toxins of frustration had taken over. So to my reprieve my weary soul of numbers and trades, I took the day off ---yes, on a Wednesday (...the middle of the week).

Just to make me happy, I'm mixing my own take on the classic Mai Tai and sharing it to you! I would't want to sound too excited but next to Long Island Iced Tea, I am a Mai Tai fan... so carry on!

The MIX:
                           1 part RUM
                           half part ALMOND BRANDY
                           half part TRIPLE SEC
                           2 parts PINE APPLE JUICE
                           1 part ORANGE JUICE
                           a dash of GRENADINE

The ALCOHOL:

I'd choose Bacardi Oro at any time of the day for rum.
It's smooth, spiced & fragrant.


The best tip I can give you in mixing drinks,
YOUR ALCOHOL MATTERS!


(in any supermarket in Manila, a 1L bottle is about Php700)

Almond Brandy easily translates to
Creme de Almond in most Mai Tai recipes.


Question is, do we have it here in Manila?
---Yes we do! at Distillery (at the Fort).


Grab a bottle of Bols Amaretto to substitute that complex Almond Brandy component.


It has the same thick aroma and sweet taste.

Triple Sec is easy! About Php160 per 750ml bottle


Orchid Triple Sec is a local brand from Destileria Limtuaco, the same company that produces Toska Vodka and the El Hombre Tequila.


Triple Sec is a type of cordial derived from brandy soaked with lemon zests.


Thick, sweet and heavy.

When it comes to juices, "fresh" ones are seemingly better.


Del Monte or Dole Juices works best for me. (though Dole Juices seem to taste better and sweeter)


Plus! Dole has the best PineOrange Mix!--how convenient is that!

Finally Grenadine!!! 




The sweet-red-nonalcoholic drizzle over Mai Tai


There's a whole variety of Grenadine brands available in the supermarkets (wine section)


You can have Walsh (Php150), Orchid (Php140), Rose (Php450) or Bols (Php650) to choose from. Normally available in supermarkets or in S&R








THE HOW TO:


Mix the rum, amaretto, triple sec, & juices. Shake until the juice froths a little. Pour in a tall glass and drizzle with grenadine. Wait a few seconds for the grenadine to drop and serve unstirred.

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There you have it! My version of a Mai Tai. Grab those shakers and have yourself a great glass of cocktail. Let me know how it goes!

Inside B-Side

This is a backdated post of an adventure, two weeks late to be exact.
This grew out from the hopes of prep-ing ourselves for a "BarCrawl" in Makati.

And then there's three of us (two girls and a guy), all donning semi-casaul attires, hailing a cab from the Fort and making our way to the streets of Makati. Our destination, B-SIDE. It is a most talked about place of my "Tito Teban" (an expat who has covered more square feet of the metro party scene that I have been) where as he described it: music is good, ambiance is rexaling, and drinks are cheap.



LOCATION:  B-SIDE at The Collective (7274 Malugay St.), Makati, PHILIPPINES
The building's at the corner of Mayapis and Malugay Streets
(Do lookup, as there is a big glaring white light convenietly spelling: The Collective)

ENTRANCE: B-SIDE is inside The Collective which has a big white entrance gate
Once you enter, turn to the left and you'll see b-side (at the side--no pun intended)

AMBIANCE: Home-y, Rustic, Chill
Feels like your drinking at home or by the beach or at an old shack



OUR ESCAPADE:

The place is like a big warehouse waiting to be filled with good vibes and good music. Though we felt a bit out-of-place wearing semi-formal office attire vs shorts, creative shirts and slip-ons.

It was a Friday Night when we went there and nothing much was happening at around 11:00pm, a steady beat and some good conversations

The crowd must be from the condominiums around the area, there are also the creatives and the free people...the artists, if I was to describe. Plus expats looking like surfer hotties and Bob Marleys.


Drinks are indeed cheap and they have a selection of San Miguel Beers (Premium, Strong Ice, Pilsen, Lemon, & Apple) that range from Php60 to Php100 per bottle. Vodka Cruisers and Tanduay Ice are also available plus their house cocktail mixes. We tried the Long Island Iced Tea in a Teapot (Php 350 per pot, roughly 400ml). It was Creatively Fantastic!

THE VERDICT:

It was only through my recent internet surfing that I've seen parties at B-SIDE during Sundays. Where everyone flocks and dance to an IRIE Sunday --a DJ mixing his beats in a mobile truck. For that reason and that reason alone... I WILL GO BACK TO B-SIDE.

But none-the-less for the cheap drinks and the home-y ambiance, I will definitely visit this place again, though more appropriately dressed for the second time around!

OUT OF 5
PLACE:     ★★★
SERVICE:   SELF-SERVICE
PRICE:     ★★★★★


Like B-SIDE on Facebook: B-SIDE Page


Photo Credits:
Nikki Tuason in http://rippedtee.blogspot.com
Pinoy Boy Journals in http://www.pinoyboyjournals.com
B-SIDE Facebook Page

BarCrawl.PH: A NEW take on City Tours

Buenos Aires has it.

Hong Kong does it.

and so must we...

My friends and I recently launched our newest baby: BarCrawl.PH

We take the concept of a city tour to the next level and bring you the best Manila Nightlife Tour! We identify ourselves as people drinking in multiple bars on a single night, normally walking or taking short trips around the area.

Gone are the days of sight seeing, city walks and boring bus rides because we take you on a tour like no other... exploring Manila's Nightlife

This is a tour for the tourists who are adventurous and wild at heart, for the locals wanting to meet new friends and pretty much anyone who wants to explore the metro...

BarCrawl.PH will be bringing you to 4 bars in one single night and we'll be drinking, dancing and living the night away. Bar spots are the hippest in the metro, the hidden gems you don't normally find, and those sweet spots that have most fantastic drinks to offer.

We have itineraries for BAR CRAWLing at THE FORT and MAKATI

Join us as we conquer all in one night... one shot at a time...

Add us on Facebook: BarCrawl.PH