Los Baños restaurateur David Lobo had this in his mind for many years: a place where people could come visit to know more about what they’re drinking; a place where they could relax and enjoy, and maybe even have a dram or two of that whisky that they’ve never tried before.
This vision turned into reality when Meister’s Uncorked opened its doors in the bustling town of Los Baños.
Meister’s Uncorked, a newcomer in the restaurant and bar landscape of the province, enters the scene with Mediterranean, and European-inspired cuisine, a well-stocked bar of wine and spirits; and an impressive whisky collection one may never perhaps find, south of Metro Manila.
As a passion project fulfilled, its founder revealed that the idea of Meister’s Uncorked has been gestating with him for over a decade. “I love hosting private parties, I love to cook, and in the company of friends, I love to drink. I want to give the community something different. The Los Baños dining and drinking scene has always been variations of existing establishments. They serve the standard whiskies and wines. We’d like to change that.”
An avid wine and whisky enthusiast himself, David takes special pride in what Meister’s Uncorked has to offer: a wide variety of whiskies for all drinkers, from the newbies looking to expand their horizons, to independent bottlings and rare gems for the whisky aficionado.
Meister’s Uncorked took it up a notch when it hosted what could very well be, the first-ever whisky tasting session in Los Baños. Scotch Malt Whisky Society Philippine Liaison Kris Ong opened the world of whisky to a group of local businessmen, professors, doctors, and enthusiasts: from the basics, to production, classification, how to nose, and taste varieties.
The night started with the double-aged blended Scotch whisky, Dewar’s 15. This multi-awarded whisky is famed for its smoothness and long finish. From the blended malt category, guests were treated to Timorous Beastie, a Scotch whisky that combines spirits from three distilleries. Its producers describe it as “a medley of vanilla, malted barley meringue, honey and citrus just bursting to be unleashed.”
Borders was a special surprise, being one of the few Single Grain Scotch Whiskies in the world. It has a malty fruitiness and some floral qualities that thrilled the tasters. Crossing the Atlantic to Kentucky, USA, guests had a taste of Buffalo Trace. The bourbon is special for its interesting rye-forward scents and an intensity that may seem just enough even for a beginner.
The tasting session then ended with the monstrous Smokehead Sherry Bomb, a flavorful Islay (Scotland) single malt whisky which combines the rich briny smoke the region is known for, with dried fruits from the Oloroso sherry casks used to mature the whisky.
The Whisky Appreciation Night is just the first of more tasting sessions ahead. Meister’s Uncorked is looking to expand it further to include other liquors such as wine, rum, and gin, and even a wide-reaching selection of cigars in the future.
Ultimately, Meister’s Uncorked is envisioned to be a destination for enthusiasts south of the metro.