The spirit of the day, lived every night at The Whisky Library

At the heart of Newport World Resorts lies The Whisky Library, a sanctuary where history is poured, glass by glass, chapter by chapter. Here, amidst the deep mahogany tones and the hush of quiet reverence, the world’s most storied spirits reside, from Manila’s largest whisky collection to a diverse cocktail selection inspired from famous artworks around the globe.

Whisky, long regarded as uisge beatha or the water of life, began its journey centuries ago in the misted highlands of Scotland. Its earliest known record dates back to the 15th century, when kings ordered it as a restorative elixir. Far from the modern bar, it was once housed in monasteries and handwritten into apothecary ledgers. Over time, it transcended borders, traditions, and names, aging not only in barrels but in the memory of those who crafted and sipped it.

Cocktails, by contrast, emerged from more playful origins, though no less historical. Regardless if linked to French eggcups or American tavern tales, the earliest cocktails were acts of invention—spirits shaped into stories, flavor turned into theater. Today, it exists not only as refreshment but as ritual or a symbol, each glass a composition of texture, temperature, and intent.

Reimagined whisky collections

At The Whisky Library, both whisky and cocktail are given space to be reimagined. It holds not only Manila’s most extensive whisky list but also some of the rarest expressions ever made. 

The Dalmore Constellation Series 1971, valued at P3.4 million, remains the most prized. The Whisky Library houses one of only two bottles in all of Asia, laid to rest for four decades in a cask from the Ozark Range in Missouri. 

The 1973 edition, matured in American White Oak and later finished in a Château Haut Marbuzet barrique, is offered at P2.9 million, while the 1991 expression, with its gentle notes of coconut and liquorice from Amoroso Oloroso Sherry casks, is valued at P1.55 million.

The collection extends with grace into the Tamnavulin vintages. The 1973, aged for 45 years, is priced at P340,000+, while the 1979, among the last batches of its kind, rests at P240,000+. These whiskies speak in quiet tones of bourbon, sherry, and the kind of oak that teaches stillness.

The Whisky Library does not remain bound to the past, however. Alongside these legends lies a cocktail menu inspired by another kind of artistry. 

Its Volume 2 collection of signature cocktails is a dialogue between glass and gallery. Paint Your Palette, a vivid mix of Smirnoff Apple Vodka and blue curaçao, nods to Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Avenue of Fantasy, influenced by John William Waterhouse’s Hylas and the Nymphs, unfolds with a floral and fruit-forward profile—Citadelle French Gin, Aperol, Fleur de Sureau Sauvage, pomelo, passionfruit, grenadine, lemon, and egg white; delicately perfumed and richly sweet. Shy Girl, subtle and arresting like Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, finds harmony in South African gin, black winter truffles, lime, and cucumber. 

Prices for the Volume 2 collection of signature cocktails are inclusive of VAT and are subject to service charge, starting at P520.

For inquiries, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Newport World Resorts.