Every Cocktail is a Story

Ever tried joining a book club with cocktail-tasting for a reading event? 

Words Rica Mae Labbao
Photos courtesy of The Spirits Library
July 20, 2026

Literature is literally poured and stirred during “Pouring Over Pages”, a special take of a book club by The Spirits Library in partnership with Art Books last Sunday, July 12 at Poblacion, Makati City.

With a curated special menu of four carefully crafted cocktails, the fusion of literature, conversations, and eclectic energy from the guests were successfully mixed and served during a special “Happy Hours for Book Lovers” inside The Spirits Library.

Every cocktail mix on the menu carried a flavorful way of narrating themes, perspectives, and tales of every Filipino literary work it represented. 

The Bat Signal Cocktail

First off the list is Bat Signal. Based on Eddie Boy Escudero's ‘When We Danced’,  this drink served as a toast to Manila’s high-energy and dynamic nightlife. 

Crafted with gin, blue curaçao, raspberry, calamansi, and soda water, Bat Signal felt like a familiar sip of shared memories under the city’s unforgettable strobe lights.

The Heart Of Manila Cocktail

Next is Heart of Manila, another mix created to celebrate the city in its shining glory—history, culture, and architecture. 

Inspired by ‘Walk Manila’, the mix is made of white rum, Aperol, agave, lime, and grapefruit, encouraging the guests to appreciate Manila more in a new perspective and calm demeanor.

The Imahinasyon Cocktail

Then there’s Imahinasyon with fore flavor notes of mango and lychee before revealing the rich earthy spirit of mezcal and cacao butter paint. 

This cocktail is a nod to the nostalgic reflection of how precious childhood memories are over time, serving as the perfect drink version of Russell Trinidad's ‘Grade 3: Kwento ni Dr. Karayom’.

Dark Soul Cocktail

Completing the menu is Dark Soul, a mix inspired by Rick Rocamora's ‘Human Wrongs’. Its taste profile boasts a layer of bourbon, Lazzaroni Amaro, toasted rice, orange, and an Islay whisky mist, portraying the book’s candid and bold narration of the disturbing reality where the last sip lingers in reflection.

The event proved how stories can feed the mind and be poured as drinks. This is where every mix urges the topics to flow and gather diverse communities.

Pouring Over Pages’ special literary-inspired cocktails are available at The Spirits Library until Sunday, July 19 for only ₱500 each. 

Each purchase will also be entitled to 5% off to any of the four featured books—When We Danced, Walk Manila, Grade 3: Kwento ni Dr. Karayom, and Human Wrongs. 

Indeed, story-telling is not limited to books and texts, sometimes tales can also be sipped and poured. After all, every cocktail is a story in itself.