Philippine Cocktail Fiesta 2026 kicks off in Mactan

Tonic Liu, co-founder of Maltail in Taiwan, created three cocktails for the cocktail pairing at AKA in Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan to kick off Day 1 of the three-day Philippine Cocktail Fiesta 2026 happening in Cebu.

The first drink was Fresh Cut which was made of Aperol, kaffir lime leaf infused artisan vodka, pink grapefruit juice, lime juice, young ginger juice, and house-made bitters. The second one was called Blue Reverie which contained the following ingredients: Taiwanese candied tomato & butterfly pea-infused Artisan vodka, Tio Pepe fino sherry, Cocchi Americano Bianco, verjuice, coconut syrup, Ardbeg whisky, lemongrass tincture, magnolia essential oil batch-dosed, Taiwanese roasted tea dilution water. Lastly, there was the intriguing and refreshing Fertile Island, a mixture of Artisan vodka, guest-infused spiced cola vodka, pineapple vinegar, The Bitter Truth Cucumber Bitters and Singha soda water.

The cocktail pairing, which was preceded by a bar takeover at Azure by Adam Hrapko of Bar Principal in Siargao, is just of the many activities of the Philippine Cocktail Fiesta Day 1.

The bar-hopping continues on Saturday, November 14 in Cebu City and Mandaue City.

One of the highlights will be the cocktail-pairing collaboration between Manila’s The Grasshopper Bar and Balai Brunch by Cafe Plus in Mandaue City.

The festival will have a grand finale party on Sunday, November 15, at NUSTAR Resort Cebu, the official host partner, featuring the inaugural Bar Congress and “Asia Icons: The Fiesta Closing Party.”

Happening at the Grand Ballroom at NUSTAR Resort Cebufrom 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., Asia Icons will feature nine award-winning bars from Asia and the Philippines, including Hope & Sesame from Guangzhou, Bar Us from Bangkok, Coa from Hong Kong, Three X Co from Kuala Lumpur, and BOP from Singapore.

They will be joined by four Manila establishments: Problem Child, The Spirits Library, Recraft, and Raion.

Tickets are priced at P1,999 net, inclusive of unlimited beverages, with food available for purchase. You may score your tickets at https://nstr.ph/AsiaIcons (Niza Mariñas with PR)