First Sip: Yes Please

I occasionally drink and when I do, I always stick to my usuals--margarita, amaretto sour, wine and Patron XO. These past months though, I grew to like other drinks thanks to various events I've attended. And thanks to Zomato, I had deeper appreciation for whisky last Monday. 
 
Hello, Yes Please.

I was lucky to be invited to a whisky appreciation night hosted by Auchentoshan. Though I've never heard of the Scotch brand before, the idea of learning more about something made me clear my schedule and brave the traffic.

Unfamiliar with the BGC party scene, it took me over 15 minutes to find Yes Please's "neon purple signage." And finally, I found it which happens to be at the back side of Salvatore Coumo.

I was greeted by an interesting staircase with different words or short phrases that also means yes. (Well, sort of.)

As soon as I opened the door, I was welcomed by a spacious dimly lit bar with a NYC loft feel with its wall murals and brick walls.

After scanning the area and seeing familiar faces, I decided to join some friends at the far end of the room, right beside the stage set for Mr. Jamey Merkel, Auchentoshan South East Asia's brand ambassador.

Speaking of Mr. Merkel, he made some Earl of Auch before starting the night and it was fantastic! 

It is a cocktail concoction made of earl grey tea, Auchentoshan, bitters and some lemon juice for zest and a strip of lemon peel for aroma. 

It has a sweet and citrusy taste that I love and I easily finished two mugs that night.

As we wait for the program to start, plate after plate of mouthwatering dishes were served.

First served was cheese thin crust pizza and I loved it! The crunchy crust and the slightly sweet cheese combo was so good. My only problem was that it was also very oily.

We also had some beef and tuna skewers which were superb as well.

But I'd go with tuna more than beef as it was more flavorful and I liked its wasabi tasting sauce.

I wasn't too crazy with the crab cakes as it was too try for my liking. Perhaps it would have been better if there were more sauce or if they served it with dip. 

The fries topped with chicken poppers were great too and a nice dish to share with friends over a drink or two. Just eat it fast as it doesn't taste good once it gets cold.

Last served was this nacho-like dish on a flaky base and it had a bit of spicy kick to it making it a nice bar chow.

We were also able to try Yes Please's Steak and Egg bowl perfect for those looking for something heavy before gulping down a few drinks. The beef tenderloin bits were succulent. The rice mixed with corn was pretty good too as it added texture to the dish. Its slight sweet and spicy flavor was also addicting that I had to get another spoonful.

As for the highlight of the night, we sampled Auchertoshan's 12 Years Old, Three Wood, 18 Years Old and Bowmore 15 Years Old.

Throughout the whisky tasting, we learned how to differentiate one from the other. From the color to different casks, we grew to appreciate different aromas and flavors whiskies offer its drinkers.

The Auchentoshan 12 Years Old has a predominant scent of toasted almonds and caramelized toffee. 

But its sweet scent sure packs a spicy kick as a tiny gulp of this made me feel like I just drank potent ginger tea (that could intoxicate a bull).

Three Wood has a darker hue and it could be attributed to the fact that it was matured in three different types of casks. From the American Bourbon to Spanish Oloroso Sherry and finally to the Pedro Ximenez Sherry, this single malt gets a richer and rosier color. 

It has a brown sugar scent and cinnamon-y flavor. Though it also has the heat of alcohol, I find this one smoother than the 12 years old whisky.

We sampled the 18 Years Old right after and just like the 12 Years old, it has a nice gold color though slightly darker given its longer period inside the cask. A sniff of this would make one think of tobacco giving an impression that it's a drink for the old ones. But slight sweet barley taste made me like it.

Bowmore 18 Years Old was served last and it had warm amber color. It has a nice smokey scent and taste-wise, it was sweet for a whisky. I like that it leaves a bit of zest for an after taste.

To cap the night, we had some chocolate cake. Though good, it was just your usual sweet cake.

Overall, it was a fun night. We learned a lot from Mr. Merkel and I'm glad that I could now properly describe my whiskies.

Yes Please is located at 2nd Floor, 38th Street corner 9th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.