Journey to the World of Gin

Throughout dinner and long after, we kept chanting, like a mantra in a transcendental meditation class, “Gin is in.” 

While our gin-tonic days have long subsided, leaving no more trace of a hangover, together with our dizzying 20s and 30s, the message of gin being a well-loved drink among Filipinos has remained afloat in our hearts and minds.

We saw that for ourselves amidst a sea of mostly young people that crowded the Manila Diamond Hotel ballroom June 10 in a celebration aptly dubbed as World Gin Day(WGD).   

Believe it or not, there is one such informal ‘holiday’ in the Philippines celebrated every second Saturday of June. What a coincidence that Father’s Day follows immediately, right next on the third Sunday of the same month. Gin and daddy, like horse and carriage, ala eh?

WGD is held in congruence with similar celebrations worldwide, especially in the United Kingdom, where drinking gin is a way of life.

According to Global World Gin Day Ambassador Emma Stokes, more than 36 countries around the world celebrate World Gin Day.

“From Brussels to Bangkok, gin lovers are discovering what Filipinos have always known—Ginebra is a world-class spirit,” Stokes said.

This year’s World Gin Day 2025 celebration was spearheaded by Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI), producer of the world’s best-selling gin. We Filipinos are said to be the biggest consumer of gin products, although we have yet to see the numbers as of this writing.

The immersive event transformed the hotel ballroom into a gateway to the world, where every sip was a new destination, and every corner revealed gin’s interesting characteristics.  

With the theme “Your World of Gin Experience,” the event was designed as a full-fledged voyage, blending aviation-inspired aesthetics with the sensory adventure of gin appreciation. From check-in to the final landing, guests were taken on a “flight” through global flavors, cultural heritage, and Filipino excellence. 

The event brought together gin enthusiasts, industry leaders, media, influencers, and celebrities to celebrate gin as a global favorite and Ginebra San Miguel as a brand that has now gone international. 

On hand to either grace the occasion or entertain were Julie Anne San Jose, Gabbi Garcia, Boss Toyo, Oliver Moeller, MikeeQuintos, Nik Makino. 

Beyond the cocktails and entertainment, World Gin Day 2025 served a deeper purpose: to spotlight Filipino excellence on the world stage. The event celebrated GSMI’s impressive track record, including seven consecutive Gold Quality Seals from Monde Selection in Belgium, the international acclaim for its 1834 Premium Distilled Gin, and the strong overseas reception of local favorites like Gin Bilog and Kwatro Kantos.