Female Bartenders Charlotte May / Pexels
Cover Meet these must-know female bartenders below (Photo: Charlotte May / Pexels)

Get to know the fearless female bartenders shaking up the local beverage scene

Whether it’s behind the bar of your favourite nightlife haunts or at cutthroat international competitions, these talented bartenders bring immense pride to the Philippines bar scene and fellow Filipinas throughout the nation. Get to know these friendly faces and skilful barwomen, below:

See also: What Cocktails do Bartenders Order to Judge Bars?

1. Audrey Gustillo

As a resident bartender and “small talk specialist” at Oto, you can trust that Audrey Gustillo’s concoctions are well-worth talking about. Gustillo also currently works as a drinks consultant for Diageo, and was previously the resident mixologist for Don Papa Rum.

See also: Contemporary Classics: Try This Cocktail and Music Pairing

2. Faye Fernando

Tatler Asia
Faye Fernando
Above Faye Fernando

Once a bartender at The Curator, Faye Fernando has also graced Cove Manila with her mixology know-how as its model marketing bartender and is now the mixologist at the newly-opened Lè Gastrō. In addition, she was also a finalist for the Diago Worldclass Philippines competition in 2017 and was recognised as one of the World’s Most Experimental Bartenders 2019, when she and teammate James Llamera moved onto the national finals as a dynamic duo.

See also: Meet The Most Powerful Women In The Philippines

3. Vanessa Rabadon

A trip to Kampai always proves rewarding—if not for the great music, then for the killer cocktails. Vanessa Rabadon’s easygoing smile shines ever-brighter when she’s mixing up top-quality sips at the eclectic bar (and prior to that, at the now-closed Nokal), a sight many Poblacion wanderers look forward to on a night about town.

See also: Remembering Nightlife In The Metro: Poblacion, Cubao Expo, BGC And More

4. Abby Quilal-lan

Abby Quilal-lan may be a familiar face for any number of reasons. At La Maison Cointreau’s regional competition 2019, she flew to Bangkok and proudly represented the Philippines after winning the national competition. Similarly, Quilal-lan was hailed as co-champion at Don Papa Rum’s first-ever cocktail competition two years prior. Most recently however, you may have seen her whip up a snazzy cocktail at Bar 10-4 in Legazpi Village, where she leads the team as head bartender.

See also: 5 Classic Cocktails & Mocktails Named After Famous Icons

5. Kia Opeda

As of late, beverage and hospitality consultant Kia Opeda has had her hands full with Three Squares Cafe + Bar, the food and beverage destination tucked away within the Design Story showroom. Now that the concept is all set up and ready to serve (with many of her cocktail creations on offer), she teases a new project on her Instagram: The Vineria, a speakeasy by Casa Bella.

See also: 9 Bike-Friendly Cafés For Your Next Ride About Town

6. Gladys Munar

Tatler Asia
Gladys Munar
Above Gladys Munar

Another bartender decorated with awards and recognitions, Gladys Munar currently welcomes thirsty guests at Raging Bull Chophouse and Bar at Shangri-La, The Fort as its talented officer in charge. Formerly known for her flairtending prowess, she continued to raise the bar through multiple competitions, like the Hendrick’s Competition 2015 in Dubai where she reigned champion, and the Diageo World Class 2017 competition, where she proved to be a formidable finalist.

See also: 21 Must-Know Filipino Women In The Food And Drink Industry

7. Kate Osmillo

Often regarded as the mum of the Oto team, bar manager Kate Osmillo was champion of the Don Papa Cocktail Competition back in 2017, and among the Philippine winners of the Glenfiddich World’s Most Experimental Bartender in 2019. Sadly, the day she celebrates her fifth anniversary at the bar will also be the day of her last shift—a bittersweet moment for the Oto family, but we can’t wait to see what she’ll get up to next.

NOW READ

Order Cocktails From Your Favourite Metro Manila Bars

Boozy Desserts: Where To Buy 6 Inventive Alcohol-Infused Desserts

Childfree By Choice: 7 Asian Women Share Their Stories

Topics