Two Shots and a Pint
  • Home
  • Blog Posts
    • From The 2 Shots Cellar
    • Beverages
      • Wine
      • Spirits and Cocktails
      • Beer
      • Coffee and Tea
      • Juice
    • Equipment
    • People
    • Wine 101
    • 2shotsaway
    • 2ShotsinChile
  • Events
  • About 2 Shots and a Pint
  • Contact Us

Two Shots and a Pint

  • Home
  • Blog Posts
    • From The 2 Shots Cellar
    • Beverages
      • Wine
      • Spirits and Cocktails
      • Beer
      • Coffee and Tea
      • Juice
    • Equipment
    • People
    • Wine 101
    • 2shotsaway
    • 2ShotsinChile
  • Events
  • About 2 Shots and a Pint
  • Contact Us
BeveragesEventsPeopleSpirits and Cocktails

Crowing About Pinoy Whiskey

written by Gail Sotelo March 26, 2019

The thing I remember most about Crows Craft as an alcohol brand is their legendary, albeit crass sounding, beer label called De Puta Madre, named so because the expression (despite it seeming to call someone’s mother a whore, it’s typically used amongst the Spanish speaking folk in Manila to mean something is so cool, it’s “the sh*t”) is something I would imagine myself saying after tasting the rich, flavourful, heavily aromatic double IPA craft ale. I’m also familiar with their Crows Pale Ale (an easy drinking pale ale), Carte Blanche (their craft take on a white beer), and Mala Hierba (“Bad Weed” is a wonderfully balanced India Pale Ale).

The brand has since diversified into launching one of my favourite local craft gins, Crows Gin, which makes use of the Philippine “flora and fauna” as botanicals. An added romanticism to it is its very limited quantity, because the brand only makes 300 bottles per batch, each numbered by hand.

In the spirit of keeping quality over quantity in mind (with a touch of rock n’ roll vibe, as is the brand’s image), on March 13, 2019 in Elbert’s Upstairs Bar, Crows launched the very first craft Philippine single malt whiskey, Crows Whiskey.

One might wonder where this seemingly irreverent spirit comes from. Former lead vocalist of the rock group Razorback, Jose Mari Cuervo, founded the label after messing around with a “How To Brew Your Own Beer Kit” during his time in the USA. To Cuervo, making whiskey is a “natural progression” from beer, having had to use similar agricultural products to produce both alcoholic beverages: Barley.

Jose Mari Cuervo on the left

To find that perfect whiskey, he went on the route of conducting experimentations (it helps to have friends who helped him sample different iterations of the drink), eventually coming up with the blend: A cask strength (65% ABV, phew!) whiskey reminiscent of candied oranges, ginger, and bread.

While it’s tempting to dilute it with a little water or have it on the rocks (personally, I splash a little water on my whiskey to get the little nuances out… Else, I typically get stuck with a nose full of alcohol), Cuervo insists, in true rocker fashion, that there is no right way of enjoying whiskey.

My recommendation on how to drink Crows Whiskey is with fellow whisky-philes, listening to awesome rock music, while munching on some truly pinoy pulutan. I’m personally penciling in a drinking session with my family (all of us are whisky-philes, of course), while listening to a 90s rock playlist I just made.

How would you enjoy Crows Whiskey? Leave a comment below and let us know. Cheers!


All photos courtesy of Jean Park from Enderun Colleges

Crowing About Pinoy Whiskey was last modified: March 25th, 2019 by Gail Sotelo

Comments

comments

alcoholblogbloggerbloggingcrowseventsjose mari cuervorazorbackrockwhiskey
0 comment
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Gail Sotelo

previous post
A Colorful Conversation with Cristián and Chilean Wine – Part 2
next post
The End Is The Beginning – Redux

You may also like

Homesick (A Pinoy Food and Wine Special)

February 4, 2016

Chia!

August 3, 2015

Last Drink Game

July 31, 2019

Les Bars Secrets À Paris

July 14, 2017

Wine, TV, and Chill: Top Five Wine Documentaries

February 21, 2018

Legend on Legends

May 26, 2020

From Coast to Toast: Exciting Chilean Wines from Casablanca Valley (paired with Indian Food!)

September 20, 2019

An Excerpt from The Diary of an Alcohol Specialist (Part 2)

August 12, 2016

The Balvenie in Moods

August 31, 2018

2shots away from Singapore Traditions

May 15, 2015

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Follow Us

Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube

STAY UPDATED

Instagram

  • My new wine toy arrived this week (after waiting oh so very long for our balikbayan box full of our
  • #budol #victim by @eatgirlmanila thanks for the reco beb! Perfect with tea and coffee. Eat and drink with you when
  • #aboutlastnight Pleasantly surprised by how yummy and round this wine was... I mean it clashed like hell with the gorgonzola
  • Ctto, but I
  • Ctto #humor #joke #tea #coffee #caffeine #home #quote #coffeePorn #drinks #lol #2shotsandapint #herbal #organic #natural
  • If you
  • Craving for some rebujito on a very hot day like today #summer #manila #philippines #lockdown #quarantine #home #cocktail #drinks #alcohol
  • Feeling extra bougie during our brand spanking new lockdown. What
  • LA memories #jetlag #travel #losangeles #la #socal #california #alcohol #hotel #drinks #beer #beerporn #2shotsandapint #flashback

Recent Posts

  • Music and Drinks
  • I’m Drinking… Nespresso in Volluto Decaffeinato
  • I’m Drinking… Santa Margherita Chianti Classico Riserva 2016
  • I’m Drinking… Sho Chiku Bai Nigori Sake
  • I’m Drinking…. Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Our Partners

Chile
Poco Deli

2018 Copyright © All Rights Reserved - 2 Shots and a Pint