British gin maker eyes Philippines schools

MANILA, Philippines — British firm Nelson’s Distillery and School is investing about £650,000 for four gin schools in the country over the next 12 months as it aims to make the Philippines its hub in Asia.

Nelson’s Distillery founder Neil Harrison said in an interview £500,000 has been spent for the first gin school located at the Port Bar in Hilton Manila in Pasay City which opened last Feb.15.

After the first gin school, he said the plan is to open two or three more which would need an investment of about £50,000 each.

“In the next 12 months, we should have at least three in total,” he said.

For the upcoming gin schools, he said the firm is looking at setting up in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Clark and Subic.

The firm is also interested in setting up a distillery in the country.

He said the firm has chosen to set up its first gin school outside the United Kingdom (UK) in the Philippines as it is the biggest gin drinking country in the world. 

“We’re using the Philippines as a hub for the whole of Asia,” he said.

He said the gin schools would allow attendees to learn about the history of gin, get to know the different flavors and botanicals used in gin from all around the world, as well as craft their very own blend of gin.

Each class could have 12 up to 40 attendees.

To attend a class, a participant would have to pay P7,700, while the rate is at P9,900 if you come with a date.

Harrison said the firm is targeting the high-end Filipino market for its offering.

“We’re looking at more local people. Tourists are welcome to go, but it should be around 80 percent Filipinos with disposable income,” he said.

While the firm is using the Philippines as its hub in Asia, there are plans to set up in other locations in the region such as Hong Kong and Singapore.

Harrison said the firm is also looking to expand to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, as well as in Canada and Australia.

But for now, he said the focus would be to grow the business within the UK and in the Philippines.