Sabado nights just got more exciting as Kwento Ni Toto joins together with other bloggers in a night of overflowing drinks and tummy-filling treats from Ginebra San Miguel and the different food stalls at Mercato Centrale in BGC. What makes the night to look forward to and enjoyable is because of Ginebra San Miguel's Gin On-The-Go Truck. If you have experienced food trucks then this time experience drinks on-the-go.

It was mid-week and the weather is having a little rain shower, I’m on my way to an event of which I know it is definitely for 18 years old and above. All the way from Clark, Pampanga and went on to the event’s place. Though familiar based on the map, I’m still not sure if it is precise. So together with my bag and alone I traverse a place which I rarely go. Fortunate enough that the weather has somewhat friendly to me that it made me reach the place first before it showers more.

 I came to the registration area and met Ms. Jane, she’s the one who emailed me and has been texting, asking if I’m attending. Anyway she showed me the way and met the other bloggers who were there already. Glad that I’m not that late.

 Okay so what was the event all about? Well it is the briefing of the new Benmore Marketing Campaign. They really wanted the product to sink in more to Filipinos because as we all know Filipinos are not very much of a Scotch whisky drinker. So through their thorough campaign they are aiming for the flourishing of the Benmore Four Casks. As part of their Marketing Campaign, they are also introducing their Brand Ambassador, Borgy Manotoc. As Borgy have mentioned in his speech this was his first time to endorse liquors, that’s why his really eager enough to introduce the product to the public.


 After the dinner and the short program Borgy Manotoc was able to seat with us, the bloggers. He was cool and easy to talk with. We even made that simple little chit chat into an interview, asking questions about Benmore Four Casks and even some touch of his love life. Some of the questions that we shoot to him was “If your (Borgy) going to rate Benmore Four Casks with the rate of 1 to 10, what’s its rate?” Without any much doubt he answered “It’s a 9”. Good enough to hear from the endorser himself. Another one was “If you’ll (Borgy) compare Benmore to a sexy lady who will it be?” He replied “it would be Megan Fox.” Then followed by “if locally who will it be?” Without hesitation he exclaimed “of course Georgina Wilson”. Then that interview ended with Borgy Manotoc inviting every to try Benmore Four Casks.


 Of course the product will not be judge without any taste test, so all the bloggers get a taste of Benmore. Some of us tried it with Cola and some just tried it plain. In my case I tried it with Cola and without Cola just to taste the difference. It’s quite good to taste something new.

 While having another chat with the staff of Global Noble some of us, bloggers got curious about the name and the icon. So what was Benmore in details? Here’s what according to them.

BenMore Four Casks is a more premium drink that believes that details matter. Expert blenders have specifically chosen MORE of the finest malt and grain whiskies up to 21. These batches have been matured in 4 different oak casks to give an even smoother Scotch Whisky experience.  It is made in Scotland and it is bottled by Diageo.

 The iconic stag - to represent heritage and authenticity. It connotes masculinity, superiority and leadership. Consumers drinking BenMore will be perceived as smart, stylish, presentable and tough. They know what they want and are a go-getter; but they’re also friendly and open-minded, exactly like the Brand Ambassador, Borgy Manotoc.

A week before the classes starts I received a letter from the GSM Blueniversity congratulating me and informing me that the Committee of Admission has voted to offer me a slot at the GSM Blueniversity (Just according to the letter, hehehe). Though it was a general letter for most of the HRM students, future bartenders and bartenders-at-heart the feeling is still the same when I was admitted into the university. I remember myself pulling out the letter from the envelope, inch by inch, to see whether I passed the exam or I failed it. Fortunately, it seems no one failed because most of us were given a letter through our emails.


As we all know, some of the classes during college were boring but of course it depends on the professor and the subject they are teaching. Good thing and were lucky that the Dean of the GSM Blueniversity is not a grumpy old man or woman that will just spoil the night. Dean Jayce Perlas is just the right person to make the night of learning fun and exciting. Plus we don’t have to cut-classes just to have fun because the fun is already in the class at A-venue’s Capone’s Bistro together with GSM Blueniversity Professors Derick de Borja and Erwyn Unigo. The GSM Blueniversity is organized to teach people more about drinks, drinking, mixing drinks and flair-tending with the assistance of professional bartenders and mixers plus a hands-on experience in mixing your own concoctions. As what Professor de Borja quoted “GSM Blue is here to educate, not intoxicate”.

Derick de Borja briefly discussed Alcohol 101. He explained us a bit about alcohols, liquors, and spirits. He even explained the differences of each alcoholic drinks and he also mentioned a bit how they are processed. We also learned terms and different ingredients needed in mixing cocktails. We even learned that a concoction is called a punch when juice is dominant than the alcohol and it is a cocktail when alcohol is much dominant than the juice.





The Science of Mixing according to Blueniversity Derick de Borja and Erwyn Unigo has a detailed ways on mixing and preparing cocktails and drinks. Erwyn Unigo shows us his flair moves and also mixes some of the famous cocktails like the martini and some local mixes like the Whatta Whatta BlueMix of San Juan, Manila and the Baragatan BlueMixx of Puerto Princesa.

Of course, the class will not be complete without experiencing it for ourselves, so three participants were chosen to make their own concoction. As a result personalities of the mixers came out to the concoction that they have prepared. For the final round of the night three students were chosen to participate in a drinking galore to get the Toma cum laude of the class. Mommy Lariza reign victorious as she swept the whole five cocktails with a straw.

To end the final rites of the GSM Blueniversity class a certificate as Toma Cum Laude was awarded to Mommy Lariza and certificate of participation to all the participants.

Photo by Jeman

They were also announcing their annual search for Flair Idols so if you got the guts, qualified and is a promising flair idol join their search who knows you might become this year’s Flair Idol.

As a reminder to all always drink responsibly and moderately! Kampai!