THE MIXOLOGISTS
DAVID ONG Co-founder and Mananging Partner, The Curator, Oto, EDSA BDG (Beverage Design Group)
A barista, bartender and all-around foodie obsessed with crafting fine beverages, David Ong has played a major role in elevating the coffee and cocktails scene in the country.
Ong works with his friends who share the same passions and the joy they have for their work has shone through, with The Curator making it to Asia’s 50 Best Bars list six times. “The peak for me was in 2019 when both The Curator and Oto made the list!” Ong exclaims.
While The Curator is a café-speakeasy with a quiet hidden backroom bar that comes to life at night, Oto is one of the Metro’s most frequented nightlife spots. “I think that our contribution is based on the fact that we’ve always stuck to our own guns,” Ong shares. To him it is an endless journey to improve their craft, both through execution and innovation. He is proud to have played a role in setting “some sort of standard”.
MONICA AND AJ GARCIA Co-founders, Don Papa Rum
“Don Papa was the brainchild of our co-founder Stephen Carroll, while he was vacationing, looking at the vast sugar cane fields.” shares co-founders husband wife team Monica and AJ Garcia. That was 11 years ago; today Don Papa Rum brings flavours of the Philippines to the corners of the globe.
“Part of the genesis of Don Papa included the opportunity to really showcase our local rum-making heritage on an international scale, particularly in the premium rum segment. ” AJ expounds.
On top of developing a beverage that tastes fantastic, AJ believes that standing out on the shelf is quite vital. The team worked tirelessly to create a beautiful brand, one that clearly has no problem competing on a world-stage.
At the core, Don Papa strives to promote all that the Philippines has to offer. “Having the freedom to create and innovate and be able to decide on the direction of how we want our brand to go is quite liberating” Monica shares. “The fact that the landscape is always changing, especially now with the pandemic, gives me motivation. We have not and still do not rest on our laurels.”
MATTHEW AND LAURIE WESTFALL Founders, Full Circle Craft Distillers
“There is a growing demand for honest, handcrafted products. The consumer palate is evolving, and the level of knowledge—on the difference between industrial, mass-produced alcohol and artisanal handcrafted spirits—is growing by leaps and bounds,” declare Matthew and Laurie Westfall, founders of Full Circle Craft Distillers.
This has been their vision all along—to explain the value of craft, promote locally made spirits that are exquisite and authentic, and place the Philippines on the global spirits map. They explain, “Full Circle is inspired by three threads: a grandfather’s legacy, the rich history of the Philippines and the wondrous rich botanicals found across the Archipelago.” Their world-class spirits crafted on stateof-the-art German copper stills at their distillery caught the attention of gin connoisseurs globally and won them two gold medals at the World Gin Awards in London.