I have a set of friends who enjoy trying different kinds of alcohol. Once upon a time, we played a…read morebeer identification game, where we had to taste mysterious beers from a glass and figure out which beer bottle they came from. Of course, this being a drinking game, we had to do something stupid to make it fun. In this case, the losers got a slap in the face. Unfortunately, I suck at telling the difference between tastes and one of my friends there was a volleyball player. End result, I had a hand mark on my face for three weeks. If I'll ever hope to get my revenge when we eventually have our whisky identification game, I'm going to have to patronize Gilmore Wine's and Spirits more, since they have one of the widest ranges of products available in Metro Manila. That sounds like an excuse to get drunk all the time, but I'd prefer not to walk around like some Amazon ripped into my face.

Gilmore Wines and Spirits turned out to be a lifesaver for me at a specific time when I was selling…read moreJapanese whisky and my supply ran low. A friend was in search of a specific type of whisky that was very difficult to source but another friend suggested that I have a look at Gilmore's collection. Thank God I did because they had exactly what I was looking for! I was able to make a good cut out of it too. Haha. These guys are very easy to transact with and their physical address is right on Gilmore, hence the name.

This morning, I decided that I will end this day with a bottle of Malbec wine. It's one of those…read moresummer days where it's too hot to do anything and staying indoors is your best bet for a perfectly mediocre day. I headed to Metro Wine Center, a little shop by the entrance of Market! Market! to accomplish my morning goal and braced myself for what could be the hottest day of the year. This quaint laid-back shop makes wine selection easy for those short on time, knowledge, or both. The selections are fun and well-priced, and are backed by a helpful staff. The store is manned by its owner, who was fairly approachable and enthusiastic about his beer, wines and spirits. Once you've perused the selection at every pricepoint, it's hard to imagine not becoming a regular. Metro Wine Center has made buying wine a non-intimidating shopping experience for wine lovers whose only expertise is to drink.

From the owner: At Grand Metro Wine Center, we’re more than just an bottle shop — we’re your go-to destination for…read morethoughtfully curated, premium yet accessible wines and spirits in the Philippines. - Curated Selection: Every bottle on our shelves is handpicked — from celebrated classics to unique finds like Offley Port, Mio Sparkling Sake, and local treasures like Cebu Mango Rum. We focus on quality, taste, and value. - Local + International Vibes: We bridge local flavor and global taste. Whether it's world-renowned labels or homegrown favorites, we support both. - Accessible Expertise: You don’t need to be a sommelier. Our product descriptions and tasting notes make it easy for anyone — from first-timers to seasoned drinkers — to find the perfect match. - Fast, Reliable Delivery: We ship swiftly, with Metro Manila and provincial delivery options so your celebration never gets delayed. - Exclusive Deals & Discoveries: We offer promos, bundle savings, and rotating collections so you can always discover something new at a great price. - Passion-Driven Service: We’re wine lovers first, business second. Our passion shows in every recommendation, every bottle, and every customer interaction.

Wine Depot named their store Depot in the hope that people will think you can buy a lot of wine in…read morecartons here for a cheap price I think. This is not really the case. Sure there are lots of carton boxes here that save them money for decor, but the wines aren't that cheap. They make it seem like it though, by having signs with promotions on it. For a good bottle you do have to spend 500-600 php, where in rustans you can buy a good merlot for 400 php. There are free tastings here and there is a loyalty program I signed up for. Supposedly you get invited for tasting, but I never did so I don't really know what's the point. I only give them 4 stars because they sell D'arenberg here.

My first taste of independence tasted like bitter herbs and toothpaste. Fancy a guess? If you…read moreguessed Jagermeister, you guessed right. My college days were rife with drinking parties and fun nights with friends. You can argue with me on this, but Benilde kids are such hardy budding little alcoholics that it's never fun without anyone stumbling out of some place on Friday and Saturday nights. We got over the seedy drinking places real quick and discovered the joys of throwing house parties. You can drink to your fill and then pass out without having to worry about how to get home because you're already, well, home. For those nights when we would rather hole up in a friend's garage, or swimming pool, we get our liquor from the wholesale liquor stores along Buendia. This stretch of liquor stores from Taft Ave. to Leveriza has everything that you might want. Haggle and scout around for the best deals. You will also find stores that sell their liquors with fun stuff such as pitchers, free shotglasses, ice buckets or shirts. Bottles of alcohol here are much cheaper, and this is pretty much your one-stop shop for pretty much everything - from spirits to mixers ,from wines to strange brews for when you are feeling rather adventurous. They say it's all fun and games until someone loses a liver, but hey, at least here we get our libations at a fraction of their cost.

I never miss a chance to hit up an old skool bar. So when I saw that the Manila Hotel has a bar, I…read morestopped by for what else: A San Miguel! The bar has live music nightly with rotating themes. There is a lot of hardwood and nostalgia here. I'm sure many political and business deals have been cut at this var. If you are in the area, the Tap Room Bar is a must see. The place is old skool, and the staff is friendly & warm.

Cute & intimate lounge inside Manila Hotel. Drinks are fairly cheap by US standards but rather…read moreexpensive by PH standards. Live music during some nights too. Service was quite slow, but it was okay because the ambiance is inviting.

Great one stop shop! Has everything needed for dinner or a party. One day they might add Gina Mango…read moreJuice in 1 liter cartons!