The FIRST BACARDI LEGACY COCKTAIL COMPETITION in the PHILIPPINES

This year marks a milestone in Philippine Bartending.

This global cocktail competition challenges the best bartenders in the world to create their own cocktail legacy that will stand the test of time and that can go shoulder to shoulder with great classics like the daiquiri and mojito.

What makes this event so special? The BACARDÍ Legacy Cocktail Competition is a serious competition for talented Mixologists and it has quickly established itself as one of the most important cocktail competitions in the world. It is judged by an unrivaled panel of industry experts, renowned for their distinguished palates and years of bartending experience.

However, BACARDÍ believes that it takes time for a drink to become a true classic. That's why the deliberations process takes months; to ensure it has the potential to join our unique heritage as a BACARDÍ Legacy Cocktail. If it is successful, it will have the honor of being recorded in our company archives for generations to come.

This year there will be 1 winner each from Singapore, Thailand & the Philippines - to represent South East Asia in San Francisco for the Global Competition.

Out of 50 entries coming from different Bars in the metro it was trimmed down to the TOP 15 which were the following:

 Joey Cerdinia- The Exit

 Bianca Condes – The Curator
 Rodrigo Tomoling – Simply Thai
 Marnel Masallo – Skye
 Jason Hussein Ali – Niner Ichi Nana

 Mark Alvin Tolentino- Niner Inchi Nana

 Jerry Miranda – Niner Ichi Nana

 Philip John Seralde – Team Insider Sports Bar

 Guillermo Natividad – Eclipse Solaire

 Clayton Munar – Buddha Bar

 Aliuss Burnhard Abrazado – Buddha Bar 

Cedric Cello- Smith
Mark Jerrold Bernandino – B Hotel 
Richie Cruz - Team Insider Sports Bar
Kenneth Lloyd Misagal - ABV —  

The semi finals was held at the Distillery in BGC. It was a private event attended by the contestants, Bacardi Philippines and our select panel of judges.

The judges were a combination of industry experts that included:

Bobby Campos of Bacardi Philippines

Ito Zamora of Bacardi Philippines

David Denis - bar consultant from Miami

Danee Macatulad of Savoroso Philippines

Chef Philip Golding

It was a nerve wracking completion but everybody enjoyed the night until the results. The top 5 of the Philippines were announced and they were:

The Philippines' 5 finalists for the BACARDI Legacy Cocktail Competition:

1) Richie Cruz - El Tindero
2) Joey Cerdinia - bequest
3) Mark Alvin Tolentino - Little Man
4) Marnel Masallo - Island Souvenir
5) Mark Jerrold Bernardino - Kalikasan

What people do not know about this first batch is they are pretty solid and united. The next 4 months is going to be tough as they market their respective cocktails.But as they say, this is still a competition and may the best Bartender represent the Philippines.

Please support our homegrown bartenders if you happen to pass by their bars. Goodluck to all our Filipino Bartenders!!!!!

Bacardi U Mix 2014-2015 ...a Legacy on it's own.

Last February 21,2015, Pinoytender Management Consultancy in cooperation with Bacardi-Martini Philippines staged the Bacardi U-Mix Bartending Challenge ,a bartending competition for students that focuses on the “talking bartender” and the search for that ultimate cocktail. This is the culminating activity of the advocacy program of Bacardi Philippines, the Bacardi University for students which is now on its 2^nd year.

The competition was held at en Route Distillery Tomas Morato in Quezon City. The venue itself gave its attendees a feel of what Bacardi is all about. A bottomless Cuba Libre bar with stunning models, Cuban songs filling the area, wood planks and barrels which takes us back to the country where the best international rum was founded. 

The program started with the opening remarks given by the organizer of the event and proprietor of Pinoytender and Philippine Bartending.com Mr. Richie Cruz. As he puts it, “This is the first competition in the country to adapt this format for students (the talking bartender) because we want to develop the future players of the beverage industry in how they express themselves while making a drink. Our goal is to produce bartenders that can compete in international competitions and be future ambassadors of our brand.  A bartender takes pride in the drinks he makes, a cocktail is a whole story on its own. We always invest in the youth and believe that one day we will achieve our road to LEGACY.

In order to know who is best for this year, 5 distinguished panel of judges were invited and these included:

Mitos Semana – Champion Bacardi U-Mix 2013-2014

Jericson Co – Partner in Curator and Edsa Beverage Group

Rian Asiddao – Bartender of Long Bar in Raffles Makati

Jerry Miranda – Head Bartender Prive Luxury Club

Adrian Gearing – Training Director of Holland America

The mechanics of this competition is to make a cocktail in 5 minutes. But the twist is that they have to talk and explain what they are doing in English.

Criteria for judging:

Name                                                                                                  10

Technical Skills and presentation                                                       10

Appearance                                                                                         10       

Aroma, balance flavours and character appeal                                   40

Ingenuity and innovation                                                                    10

Inspiration and story behind the recipe                                               10

Product knowledge                                                                               5

Promotional Plan                                                                                  5

TOTAL                                                                                                 100

Deductions would include over time if the drink yield is appropriate

After the competition all of the participants were asked to sit down with the judges and had a debriefing of how they performed. As one judge said, “ You are all winners the fact that you are here in this competition. Never stop honing your craft and expose yourselves in the world of cocktails.”

Bacardi U Mix 2014-2015 Official Scores
Ansherina                    Vicente Umali                          56.2
Tropical Sensation      Joseph Tibayan                        62.6
Cucuban Delight         Joshua Parcero                         68.6
Pristine                        Ansherina Bautista                     57
Rogue                          Ralph Romasanta                       44.8
Burst                            Jhon Parraba                             73.6 3^rd University of Santo Tomas
Facundo’s Special        Venian Duque                      72.6 4^th Manila Tytana College
Storge                          Charmaine Dela Paz   74.4 1^st   Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila
The Summer Class      Rizele Camille Trinidad             68.8
Cocorumba                 Emervin Torlao              73.8 2^nd Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila
The heart of Flamel    John Caballes               71.4

Best in Cocktail John Anthony P. Caballes Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila

1^st P5,000 trophy,medal.certificate, gift packs from Bacardi and World Class Concepts

2^nd P3,000 trophy,medal.certificate, gift packs from Bacardi and World Class Concepts

3^rd P2,000 trophy,medal.certificate, gift packs from Bacardi and World Class Concepts

Best in Cocktail

P2,000 trophy,medal.certificate, gift packs from Bacardi and World Class Concepts

Schools that participated include: Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila, University of Santo Tomas, Manila Tytana College and St. Paul University of Quezon City.

Official Media Sponsors of this event are: When in Manila.com and Hospitality News Philippines.

This is indeed another historical event for Philippine Bartending in the aspect of Mixology.

Kudos to Ito Zamora and Bobby Campos of Bacardi Philippines for making this event a reality.

Let us see where the road will take us.