Step into a nostalgia-bathed, neon-lit immersive space where you can enjoy the refreshing new flavors of Johnnie Walker whisky and ultimately a banging good time.
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When the word whisky comes into play, one immediately imagines a dimly lit cavernous space, plush velvet seats backed to the wall, and wisps of smoke curling against the light. The drink of choice? Whisky neat or one the rocks, naturally. While this literature-approved visual still rings true today, even to the unmoving of purists, there has been a shift to a more progressive, encompassing way of experiencing and enjoying the deliciously distilled drink. With a lot more buoyant energy, the brooding takes a considerable side step, letting in a lightness to the process for a more youthful and fun way to drink up.
“There is only really one rule when it comes to drinking whisky, and that’s that there are no rules,” attests Rian Asiddao, Diageo Reserve Brand Ambassador. True enough, there was a complete absence of the textbook-prescribed template, and in its place was a nostalgia-bathed, neon-lit immersive space designed to push boundaries when it comes to whisky. With every corner filled with interactive activities, the Johnnie Walker Arcade at Kondwi in Poblacion was every retro-loving souls dream. From a foosball table and claw machine, as well as basketball and skeeball booths, it was truly a good night for connoisseurs and newly inducted fans of whisky. With a Johnnie & Lime Highball in hand, guests were able to discover a fresh way to appreciate its signature smoky flavor, this time licked with a hint of refreshing citrus and shocked with cubes of ice.
“At the heart of Johnnie Walker is the drive to continuously create new and interesting experiences where consumers can appreciate whisky, and we’ve brought this to life in previous concepts such as the Johnnie Walker House and the Johnnie Weekend Series,” explains Fatima Espineda, Diageo Marketing Manager for Culture and Advocacy. “Where the Arcade invites consumers to imbibe a playful spirit, we want to encourage the same behavior in the discovery and enjoyment of our whiskies.” Apart from the hero Johnnie & Lime Highball, a free flow of the collection liberated the room from all their inhibitions such as Johnnie & Ginger, prepared using Johnnie Walker Double Black; and Johnnie & Apple, which has Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve as its base.
Meant to highlight and toast to the #1 Scotch whisky, Johnnie Walker, and International Scotch Day, the Johnnie Walker Arcade was made even more of a soaring success as the night lingered on with even more drinks and vibe-inducing music from the VeryDone crew, a coming together of DJs and artists such as Nix Damn P, Euric Lumanog, and Rammy Bitong, who are known to bring the house down at Manila’s most happening hotspots.
If you missed the good time at the Johnnie Walker Arcade at Kondwi, you can catch it soon at different festivals and happenings in and around the metro. For more information, keep your eyes peeled on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
