BY JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
Luxury tequila brand Don Julio hosted a series of parties for this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations, where guests enjoyed an unparalleled experience infused with the rich heritage and craftsmanship of Don Julio 1942.
And since Don Julio was playing host, the night, of course, went a little extra.
Straying away from the usual playlist, the party started at Uma Nota when DJ NixDamnP and the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra brought the house down with an electrifying performance. It was only a matter of time before guests found themselves on the dance floor, moving to the rhythm of timeless classics infused with modern beats.
The star of the night, however, still proved to be the fine bottles of Don Julio 1942. Make no mistake, this isn’t your everyday-get-wasted-tequila. Launched in 2002, the luxury añejo tequila commemorates Don Julio Gonzalez’s 60-year tequila-making journey. It is crafted in small batches and aged for a minimum of two and a half years, reflecting the artistry, passion and dedication of its creator. The flavors are delicate and rich, it’s texture smooth and fiery at the same time. To merely chug it down without trying to appreciate the interplay of vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, wild honey and dark chocolate in every sip (or shot) would be a mistake.
Rightfully so, these precious bottles were served in style. Aside from performing a choreographed service that truly captured the fun spirit of Cinco de Mayo, the Uma Nota and Don Julio teams also offered to engrave the sleek bottles [and a pair of accompanying glass flutes] for guests who ordered them. VIP guests even got to enjoy their Don Julio while donning on branded hats that completed their Cinco de Mayo looks.
While our party took sips of our tequila in our personalized flutes, guests who preferred cocktails weren’t left wanting either. Uma Nota’s head bartender also whipped up three signature Don Julio cocktails, namely the Don Paloma, the Don Matador, and Don’s Margarita. In between glasses, shots or otherwise, guests were also treated to sweet nibbles from Chocolate by Kevin Ong, which were also infused with tequila.
No effort was spared either, as stunning themed decorations adorned every part of Uma Nota — all the way down to coasters and the stirrers, and even the beautiful fans that came for free with every cocktail ordered.
And while we can’t say how it went over at Bar GoodTimes, Te’Kila, and Nokal — where Don Julio also hosted Cinco de Mayo celebrations —over at Uma Nota, this Mexican celebration definitely went down in style.
