Bacardi-Martini Philippines continues to hone young talents through Bacardi U-Mix Bartending Competition

Bacardi-Martini Philippines, in partnership with Pinoytender Management Consultancy, recently staged the Bacardi U-Mix Bartending Competition held at The Ruins in Poblacion. Now in its fifth year, the competition continues its goal to prepare students and inspire them to join the industry as well as hone their skills to eventually join the local and global Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition.

Richie Cruz of Pinoytender and winner of the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition Philippines 2015-16 , wanted to bridge the industry with the academe by encouraging students to take up the bartending profession and partnered with Bacardi Philippines to mount the annual student competition. He made it his advocacy and legacy to help young talents grow in the bartending industry.

The competition is the culmination of Bacardi University, a series of seminars conducted by Bacardi Philippines Ambassador Niño Cruz in participating schools last September 2017. This year’s competition is the biggest so far, with 27 students who gave their all during the competition. Judges for the event were Adrian Gearing, Training Director of Holland America; Bacardi Legacy 2018 finalist Ian Osillo; Bacardi Legacy 2018 PH Champion Jason “Haven” Hussein Ali; Bacardi Legacy 2017 PH Champion Orman Bag-ao; and DrinkManila’s resident mixologist Icy Mariñas.

After several hours, 27 cocktails, and a spirited discussion among the judges, three ladies came out on top. Larren Ysabel Samson from St. Scholastica’s College of Manila came in third with Twisted Rocky Road, a dessert cocktail that takes you back to childhood, and received P2,000 plus Bar Kit. Lea Palmera from Lyceum of the Philippines University of Manila took second place and was awarded P3,000 plus Bar Kit.

Princess Pablo from St. Louis University Baguio won the competition and was also awarded Best in Cocktail and Presentation for her cocktail Sweet 14. She shared a compelling story behind her cocktail (having her son at the tender age of 14) but also showed good knowledge of texture of cocktails and techniques for shaking with eggs. This is her second time joining the competition. She joined last year, learned from her mistakes, and came back to take the top prize. She received P5,000, Bar Kit from Bevtools.com (now Drinkka.com). The top three were also treated by Holland America Line to a free ship tour and lunch in the MS Volendam which docked in Manila March 17.

“I am shookt!” Princess exclaimed. “I wasn’t expecting to win. I just wanted to get more experience. I joined last year, but I wasn’t prepared. So, now I really prepared for this competition, but I really wasn’t expecting to win.” She came up with her winning cocktail by researching what would go with her favorite treat, chocolate and Bacardi Rum.

Her dream to be flight attendant couldn’t come true because of her diminutive stature. But she found out that there is no height limit for being a bartender, and that there is guest interaction and opportunity to travel in this field, so she decided to pursue this industry. “This is a good graduation gift for myself,” said Princess, who is due to graduate in June. “I want to work in Manila’s bar industry.”

It’s not uncommon for students to keep joining the competition. “These kids are very thirsty. I saw it in their eyes. They ask questions, are focused, and they get better. And they come back,” shares Richie. The fact that women took the top prizes in a cocktail competition is encouraging. “It’s still rare to find female bartenders,” Richie says. “So, it’s very inspiring to see that women won. It’s a first, a precedent. I’m expecting next year, more women will join because they’ll be inspired.

They want to groom the winners of the competition and set them up to succeed in the industry through training in bars and hotels. “We involve them in our programs with Bacardi, involving them in our events by letting them work behind the bar,” Niño says. The competition will only get bigger, as they’re planning on adding more schools in their program, to allow more students to get into bartending early, prepare them for working in the industry, and maybe take the professional title at the Bacardi Legacy.

Photos by Jai Reyes