Finding the spirit of innovation in a bottle

In 1880, Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle was inspired to blend the grandeur of cognac with the exotic bigaradia orange  that gave birth to the famous Grand Marnier liqueur.

Every year, Grand Marnier reinvents its iconic bottle with a new design. These limited editions express the brand’s unique personality as being eternally contemporary. For its ninth edition, Grand Marnier presents the Red Ribbon edition. This represents the dynamic nature of the brand and reflects its spirit of innovation.

Grand Marnier celebrated the release of the Red Ribbon edition with a cocktail party at the Skye Lounge at the Fort. Mixologist for the brand Julien Defrance flew in from Paris especially for the event and created sophisticated cocktails for the guests. He specifically concocted his new drink, the grand colada, for the Red Ribbon edition. Guests also enjoyed grand mojito, grand cucumber, grand cosmo and grand iced tea. Guests also partook of Skye’s great tasting food such as palomitas, alas de pollo pho, croquetas de chorizo, albondigas and salpicao.

Skye Lounge, an open air rooftop bar was a perfect venue for great food, great people and the great drink Grand Marnier itself.

Opus turns one!

Opus Restaurant and Lounge turned one year old with a bang. Its co-owner and Chef Carlo Miguel prepared a fabulous dining experience for the guests. Diners enjoyed a seven-course modernist cuisine menu, which included duck sisig risotto with calamansi air, sous vide US Angus beef short ribs with Cabernet Sauvignon veil, mushroom pudding and truffled potato foam and a modernist smores (roasted marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between graham crackers) for dessert.

The party kicked off with host Sarah Meier giving away luxury prizes from the night’s sponsors like Art of Scent, Mich Araullo, Amina Aranaz, Beats by Dre, Bose, Maxims Tower and The Tides Boracay. Lucky guests went home with a Rimowa Salsa air polycarbonate luggage set, a TW Steel watch from Lucerne and vacation gift certificates to Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan and The Farm at San Benito care of Deal Grocer (www.dealgrocer.com).

The Opus anniversary celebration featured the music of John Monreal, Karl Ty and Manolet Dario as well as a performances from Sanya Smith and her rocker father Pepe Smith.

Guests sipped drinks and cocktails by Jose Cuervo, Johnnie Walker, Grey Goose, Bacardi, Hennessy and toasted to Moet & Chandon champagne as host Sarah together with Opus’ partners thanked everyone who contributed to the success of Opus.

Season of sun

Summer is already here and everyone knows how much fun the season of sun is welcomed in this country of over 7,000 islands!

In celebration of the hot season, Nivea Sun launched “Summer’s More Fun with Nivea Sun” at Skye Lounge in Fort Bonifacio. Karen Pamintuan hosted the event while Beiersdorf Philippines country manager Marcelo Biasia, Nivea marketing manager Ida Dizon and Nivea Sun brand manager Jamie Sanico were present to welcome the guests.

The promo is in partnership with the Department of Tourism. Dubbed “Nivea Sun’s Seven Summer Wonders,” the promo enjoins people to vote online for the top seven local summer wonders in the Philippines. One winner will get to enjoy an all-expense paid trip for two to the destination that will top the list. 

A collection by designer Charina Sarte was also presented. During the raffle, five guests each won a Charina Sarte gift certificate worth P5,000 while one won an all-expense paid trip for two to a local destination that will top the seven local summer wonders promo. Guests also took home Nivea Sun products.