In a fit of busyness, I found myself at a loss on what to write… Which is why I turned to my all time source of inspiration, Anthony Bourdain. I didn’t have time to look for a decent (and snarky) episode, so I decided to try and prod whatever writing spirit I could through one of my Bourdain books: A Cook’s Tour.
In it, I was reminded of one of Anthony Bourdain’s favourite games, which involves asking people what they would like to eat as their last meal. To Bourdain (and the reader), it provides a deep insight into a person, which was something I found fascinating.
Over the years, he discovered that most of the time, people – no matter what level they are at in their culinary exposure or expertise (i.e., whether it’s a comfort-food loving friend or an Executive Chef of a fancy Michelin star restaurant) – would prefer something simple as their last meal (the answers he got, according to his book, varied from braised short ribs, to a mother’s home cooked linguini pomodoro, to a cold meat loaf sandwich). Bottom line, he said, “context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one’s life.”
Personally, I think it’s safe to say that the same principle applies to drinks. In fact, if one asks me, my last drink would be a 1982 Château Petrus. It’s not just about the flavours of the wine: First, it was wine that got me into the alcohol industry. My first “legal” sip of alcohol was wine (this is a story I will save for another time). Suffice to say, wine is a fitting last drink for me. Choosing a French wine involves my love of most things French: The language, the history, the art, the culture, the food, my friends, and of course, the wine (as I write this, I just got out of a conversation with one of my Parisian friends over the concept of cancoillotte, and I’ve made it my mission to get some on my next trip to France). Finally, 1982 is my birth year… To this day, I’m completely astounded with the fact that my birth year coincided with an amazing year in Bordeaux.
Of course, life isn’t all about me. I decided to ask friends what they would have as their last drink. The people who responded range* from passionate gourmands to bar owners and industry practitioners, and I thought the answers were interesting:
Alex Sawit, Barkeep
“A good, cold beer. ‘What, why just a beer? Shouldn’t it be a truly amazing wine or a sublime malt whisky?’ Because that kind of great booze demands contemplation. Contemplation demands time. And the question being asked makes it clear that there is no time.”
Brad Feliciano, Dog Trainer/Yoga Instructor
“Coffee, but (who) to have it with is the deciding factor.”
Mike Sy Yu, Photographer
“Irish Coffee. You get that wake up and (buzzed) sensation at the same time… It feels right because you are ending and beginning a new day.”
Tatum Ancheta, Co-Founder, DrinkManila
“An expensive and rare bottle of single malt. Maybe a bottle of The Macallan M, (USD 628,205) one of the oldest and most expensive whiskies in the world. (If the last one who bought it will give it to me for free haha.) Why? Why not? If I will draw my last breath, I want the best ‘water of life’ to be the last liquid to ever touch my lips.”
Sonny de Leon, Owner, Poco Deli
“A nice Barolo and a slab of well marbled prime rib. I have great memories sharing Barolo with family. Celebrations with family would always be with a slab of meat and wine. The Barolo’s high tannin, blackberry and earthy profile brings out the best in a well marbled prime rib… Never overpowers the meat. My last drink should not be a one time big time drink, but something I can enjoy and share multiple times before kicking the bucket.”
Émeric Laffray, HR Data Owner and Foodie, Paris
“If I could only choose one drink, I would choose a Ricqlès** if it’s the summer, or an Ispahan (cocktail)*** if it’s the winter. They both remind me of sweet memories.”
Joko De Veyra of @jokoness on Instagram
“Glencairn of Vinho Barrique. It’s a beautiful drink, and it will remind me about the wonderful surprises in my life, including how my husband gave me a bottle for our first anniversary.”
Bel Castro, Assistant Dean, Enderun Colleges
“Perhaps birthyear Bordeaux? At least we go out together! But no, gotta be Champagne! Go out in style right? Preferably a Perrier Jouët Belle Epoque NV so nobody will know my age.”
Jonas Ng, Celebrity Chef
“A single malt would be nice. You didn’t say how big the drink would be so I’d take a barrel… Likely a Ka Va Lan Solist Vino Barrique.”
Gus Sibayan, Chef
“Louis XIII Cognac. My dad left one unopened bottle and I just can’t bring myself to open it. Wouldn’t know what to make out of a 10k peso shot! But seriously, a really fresh and properly chilled pilsen in a properly frosted glass. That’s the drink I started with, that’s the last drink I’m going to have. (That’s literally) one more for the road! That, or a bottle of 200k peso bottle of Bordeaux! Hopefully by the time I find out I was going to die, I could already afford to buy one.”
Spanky Enriquez, Journalist, Foodie, and Marketing Guru
“The Perfect Dry Martini. Gin, not Vodka. Tiniest Splash of Vermouth. 3 Olives. I was 8 years old when I first saw 007 sip a Martini. It took me about 15 years more before I tasted a really good one It’s still the simplest drink that very few bartenders have mastered.”
Francis Balbarin, Bartender, Tsurutontan New York
“A very rare single malt scotch whisky. Who wouldn’t want the complexities of a rare single malt? Plus the fact that it’s super rare. Also, Sarsi, because every sip instantly brings me back to my childhood days in Tondo.”
Hans Eckstein, Actor
“I normally live on coffee for survival, and a good quality coffee can be really spectacular, but knowing that I’m about to die anyway, I’d have to go with one of my favourite drinks of the moment: The Kingston Negroni, which is your standard three-part Negroni with extra funky navy strength or overproof Jamaican rum for the spirit. The time I made a perfect one I literally said, “I can die now” after enjoying it. Overproof for that extra kick.”
Kath Yao Santos, Happy Living
“Water…? No, because it has no taste, too boring. Coffee…? I won’t be needing caffeine since I don’t need to stay awake, hahaha… Fruit juice…? Nah, the vitamins and nutrients won’t do any good anymore. Definitely wine, so I can be peaceful and reminisce the blessings of a good life. (I can’t decide between) Château Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Joseph Phelps Insignia, or Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc. But really (since we’re here), Screaming Eagle!”
Michael Fox, Mandalay
“I think as of this moment it would be any overproof worthy park rum. It’s the most amount of flavour and aromas of anything food or beverage that I’ve ever experienced. Sweet, a little savoury, fruitiness, a bit of sour. So many different notes you can pick up.”
Chia Roxas
“If I had my way, the drink on my way out would be a piña colada: It’s the alcoholic drink I’d cut my teeth on, it’s sweet and delicious and unapologetic about its frilly-ness, and I won’t have to worry about the calories making their way elsewhere.”
Leo Veroy, brother and IT guy
“The smokiest 21 year old single malt scotch I could get. I believe in the afterlife so I’d like to leave this existence with the best scotch on my lips. I’ll have that taste in my mind as I cross them pearly gates to remind me that I lived a full life and enjoyed it. It’s not like I just lived to work but worked to live life and enjoyed what life had to offer.”
Lana Faith Johnson, CEO, Johnson PR Management
“I would have a Negroni. Because it’s bittersweet just like my life.”
John Go, Alcohol Aficionado (and a great source of information for all things spirits)
“Black Velvet. It’s a mix of equal parts Guinness and Champagne. I’d like my last meal to be in Japan, and it sounds like a fitting last drink (to have there) too. I always order that when I’m in Japan.”
Miles Poblete, Singer
“For me, one pitcher of margarita! Its my go-to drink, and always an enjoyable cocktail for me because it’s easy drinking.”
*PS, I realise I surround myself with people from work, very few but really close friends, and family
**A Ricqlès is a peppermint spirit and a French softdrink.
***If one searches for an Ispahan cocktail online, it seems to be a cocktail that looks quite like a pastry. Émeric’s version involves a rose flower and champagne, which looks closer to this: http://www.gastronomista.com/2015/03/the-isfahan-rose-cocktail-inspired-by.html#.XUEGL5Mza5w
