Monthlong World Cocktail Day celebration

DAY TURNS TO MONTH Celebrating World Cocktail Month, launched at Admiral Hotel by its general manager Matthieu Busschaërt and Diane-Laure Dudoué, regional marketing director for Asia of Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery, and Emblems, who flew in from Singapore —MARGAUX SALCEDO

May is a truly festive month. Aside from Labor Day, May the 4th Be With You, Cinco de Mayo, and my gorgeous sister Goldee’s birthday on the 30th, we also celebrated World Cocktail Day last May 13.

Of course the hotel industry would not allow World Cocktail Day to be celebrated for just a day. So Admiral Hotel—along with MGallery bars around the world—is celebrating World Cocktail Day for a whole month or until June 13th!

Admiral Hotel is a member of Accor—the world’s leading augmented hospitality group offering unique and meaningful experiences in almost 4,800 hotels, resorts, and residences around the world—that is part of the group’s MGallery Collection. This means that the hotel is known for beautiful experiences, exceptional interiors, and even memorable mixology.

In the words of Michelin, Admiral Hotel is “a member of Accor’s MGallery collection, which means it’s got a bit of local personality to go with its Art Deco influence, as well as up-to-date in-room comforts like Bose sound systems and Nespresso coffee machines.”

MGallery, for World Cocktail Day (now running for a month) will showcase the art of mixology wherein “all of the brand’s establishments will proudly bear the colors of World Cocktail Month.” Don’t ask me what that means—when I’m in a drunken stupor I see all colors, from lavender haze to burning red!

The colors will come alive through the following cocktails created by the mixologist Matthias Giroud, each representing a key MGallery destination through its flavors and presentation—The “Symphony of Sydney Opera [House],” which is a nod to the famous building by the Danish architect Jørn Utzon; “The Brazilian Rainforest,” displaying colors like those of the lush rainforest; “The Polish Harvest,” which is a reference to the geometric rooftops of the Main Square in Kraków in Poland; “The Love Letter from Provence, “ representing France and is spritzed with lavender; “The Italian Limonaia,”  highlighting an ice cube that leans like the Tower of Pisa, and “The Sunfire in Thailand,” reflecting various graphic elements of the Grand Palace of Bangkok.

Of course, there will always also be mocktails for those who cannot have any alcohol intake for whatever reason. There’s “The Cappadocian Lantern,” featuring colorful ice spheres in the spirit of Turkish hot air balloons; “The Moroccan Oasis,” inspired by the dunes of the Sahara; “The Chinese Elixir,” which has the unique element of a bamboo leaf that curves like the Great Wall of China, and “The Folk Tale of the Mekong,” served in a glass adorned with bamboo like the one that grows along the banks of this iconic river.

Five of these international cocktails will be available at the glamorous “secret” bar/ speakeasy of Admiral Hotel, Ruby Wong’s Godown, until June 13—The Symphony of Sydney Opera, The Love Letter from Provence, The Chinese Elixir, The Folk Tale of the Mekong, China and The Sunfire in Thailand.

On top of these, Ruby Wong is also offering three local cocktails: “Fiery Dragon,” a spicy cocktail; “Original Sin,” using cognac and pineapple; and a “Bukayo Mon Amour,” using the classic Pinoy dessert made from sweetened coconut strips.

Best of all, more than being creative, the drinks will also put the spotlight on sustainability, introducing zero-waste mixology! The drinks will use whole products and prioritize local and seasonal ingredients. At the same time, they will ensure that they are reducing packaging and composting organic waste. Imagine enjoying a cocktail—and contributing to helping the earth, too!

No better way to beat this heat than with a fabulous cocktail celebrating World Cocktail Day! Cheers! INQ