We all know I had an absolute ball tasting Toronto culture at Smirnoff’s Nightlife Exchange Project Party in India, but I’m curious as to how the rest of the world fared.

So… I did a little investigating, tracked down some other partygoers and kindly asked them to share their experience.

Great Britain’s Exchange

Hannah Domingo experienced MIAMI (USA) nightlife in LONDON

“Smirnoff sure do know how to throw a party. I loved that on arrival guests were given $500 of Miami Money to spend on a cocktail, massage and souvenirs including a pair of fun red sunglasses. Too cool for school UK rapper Tinie Tempah gave an energetic performance which got the crown hyped up - but for me the stand out element of the night was the DJ set from Zane Lowe, he was incredible. From start to finish his song choices were perfect but he didn’t just play music; he put on a show and made the audience feel like they were part of something special.”

DRINK OF THE NIGHT:  Miami Mule (the ginger-beer gave it some extra punch!)

 

South Africa’s Exchange

Piotr and Ania Rokita experienced BERLIN (GERMANY) nightlife in CAPE TOWN

“Seeing as we tasted all the food, drank everything there was to drink and saw everything there was to see, I’d say we’d have a good time partying in Berlin if we ever went there. Monika Kruse said in a press conference that Berlin natives partied very differently from many other countries’ that she’d been to, so we did our best to show her especially what South Africans are like. I especially enjoyed her set because I had no idea what to expect – and that girl knows how to give it horns. I wouldn’t mind seeing her come back to SA and perhaps play with a bunch of our local female DJs – make it a girl-power night. Chicks on the decks are hot! I think ATB’s Andre played an amazing set, and if the number of people on the dance floor is anything to go by, so the crowd thought so too. Markus Schulz was quite hard-core (by my fluffy-bunny standards!) but very special. He gave the audience exactly what they had been wanting all night and, as a main act, I think he was amazing. Slick, focused, he smiled throughout and I think he was amazed by the response he got from the Saffers. In general, the production of the whole gig was amazing. The lighting rigs were fabulous; I loved the little touches (German writing, Berlin scrawled over artworks everywhere); and the best thing was how effortless everything seemed. No queues at the bar – not because there was nobody there, but because there was enough bar staff – no craziness, no people getting miff or testy with each other. Just an amazing show from an amazing sponsor that takes care of its guests whether they’re “plebs”, media or VIPs. I must have drunk my own weight in Smirnoff+Red Bull. And I will always maintain that NOTHING beats a good German sausage at the end of a good night!“

DRINK OF THE NIGHT: Smirnoff + RED BULL (I must have drank my own weight of it!)

Canada’s Exchange

Nathan MacKinnon and Christine Estima experienced BANGALORE (INDIA) nightlife in TORONTO

“Although Indian culture isn’t entirely alien to me living so close to a diverse city like Toronto, the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project took a culture that I’m familiar with and showed me a whole new side of it. The minute I stepped inside The Munition Factory I felt like I had left the street in Toronto and entered a bazaar in India. The two Indian artists, Jalebee Cartel and Sha’ir and Func brought as much energy as Dragonette and Isis Salam, but they also gave me a glimpse of a new type of Indian music. I was on the dance floor right in front of the stage the whole time with a close up view of the Indian fashion, both traditional and modern from the artists and Jalebee Cartel’s dancers. It was an amazing night filled with dancing that really changed my perspective on the nightlife scene in India.” - NATHAN

DRINK OF THE NIGHT: A twist of vodka and cranberry juice (they had white cranberry juice, which was delicious and a lot less messy)

“The India experience at the Toronto stop kiboshed all other Smirnoff parties. I’ve been to India before and they re-created if as they’d invaded and raided my memory. Rupees, mendhi, bangles, tuk-tuks, pakoras, sitars, saris . . . it was a full-blown marketplace in a bottle neck before the dance floor and opened up and everyone was popping dance boners. Rajhastani masks were being given out like it was giftmas if you tweeted like I did with hashtag #SmirnoffXChange, with the benefit of it showing up in the Twitter fountain. Smirnoff definitely pulled out all the stops on the Sexulator as everyone brushing by me was so hot, I didn’t know whether to sleep with them or stuff them into a bong and smoke them. Everyone displayed Canadian-anticipatience for Dragonette, most redonkulously amazeballs performer of the night. The cool cats stayed banging bodies on the floor til the lights came up. All in all, the party was made with mango-chutney amazesauce and you are a hoser if you didn’t attend.” - CHRISTINE

DRINK OF THE NIGHT: I didn’t drink a drop at the party because I was the designated driver (Smirnoff responsible drinking, right there!)

Australia’s Exchange

Lance Gurisik experienced SAO PAULO (BRAZIL) nightlife in SYDNEY

“It begins pre-Smirnoff Party. My friend and I just left his house and were heading towards the location. We were about to catch a cab there however our eyes were caught by an illuminated van. We walked over to the van better known as a Cabbie-Oke and queried the attractive girl that worked inside it. We were persuaded to sing ‘I’m a Barbie Girl’ under the conditions that we got taken to the Smirnoff Party. Win, win I say haha. So free trip to the party, we got some funny looks as we got out of the van (as you do). We collected our VIP passes, which included a good amount of free drinks. We first hit the bar and got a cocktail we didn’t know existed, very (tropical), either way it was still awesome. Babes to my left, babes to my right, couldn’t really complain to be honest. The Brazilian decorations/layout were spot on. Do they like feathers in Brazil? There were a F%$K load of feathers!!! Haha the headlining act from Brazil were proper. The skinny male singer put on a wicked show. One of the definite highlights of the night was when they brought the blow up ‘Smirnoff’ beach-balls to the main dance room because it got waaaayyyy out of control haha. It started off peacefully but then became something similar to paintball. Balls were flying around everywhere, hitting people in the face, knocking drinks out of hands, it was loose! One of my mates accidently hit one directly into this chicks face…..lets just say the boyfriend wasn’t impressed! Haha All in all a great night and one I’ll remember for a long time. You could tell it was a Smirnoff Party.”

DRINK OF THE NIGHT: Brazilian Mule (it was tropical!)

  

Lebanon’s Exchange

Najib Mitri experienced BANGKOK (THAILAND) nightlife in BEIRUT

“It was my first party of that kind and I really was not expecting to like it that much, but i did and in fact it was one of the best parties I’ve been to this year. I was mostly curious on knowing what does Thailand have to offer in terms of parties and music and it was quite enjoyable to say the least. The Thai culture was all over the place. Thai red lanterns were hanging everywhere and gave a really cool ambiance. Also, the theme of the party appeared to be the full-moon Thai party and it was fitting just perfectly. Hostesses were very welcoming, sexy and neatly dressed in Thai customes. Their dancing was also enjoyable to watch. As for music, it was a mix of Thai songs with popular mixes and it kept getting better and better as the night went on. Overall, I can’t wait to go to next year’s exchange party and hope it would be Sydney.”

DRINK OF THE NIGHT: Smirnoff Gold Vanilla (It was surprisingly good. Not so heavy and tasted a bit sweet)

Disclaimer: Feature picture courtesy of interviewees, Splendid Communications, WillWho (Sydney) and Beirut Nightlife.