Maker’s Mark “Make Your Mark Bartending Competition” celebrates a new breed of Philippine bartenders

Top 3 Finalists with esteemed Judges and Maker’s Mark Channel Manager. From left: Brian Crisologo Maker’s Mark Channel Manager, Abby John John Reyes, Jon Charoenloet, Icy Mariñas, Jericson Co, Edward Reyes, and Christian Jude Basog

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Maker’s Mark Bourbon recently concluded its Make Your Mark Bartending Competition which drew over 60 bartender participants nationwide, all vying to be named the first Make Your Mark Grand Champion. The final stage of the competition was held in the brand’s venue partner, Electric Garden, in BGC, Taguig City.

“Continuously making our mark here in the Philippines, we strive to strengthen our relationship with our patrons by offering new drinking experiences through the boldness and craftsmanship of our products. Maker’s Mark is a brand that believes in pursuing only the best, and we are proud to provide our industry’s rising stars with a platform to showcase their remarkable skills through the brand’s first-ever bartending competition in the Philippines,” said Brian Crisologo, Maker’s Mark Channel Manager for On-Premise Philippines.

The journey to make your mark

Through a call for entries on social media, 64 aspiring bartenders hailing from different bars and restaurants around the country took on the challenge to create the ultimate Maker’s Mark cocktail.

In the first stage of competition, participants were tasked to submit a recipe that incorporated a unique twist on a classic cocktail using Maker’s Mark. The Top 30 entries made it to stage 2, where participants had to upload a photo or video of their creations on their social media pages to rally for likes and shares.

Finally, the Top 12 Bartenders convene at Electric Garden for the final showdown moderated by industry heavyweights, Jun Charoenloet of Beam Suntory, Jericson Co of The Curator Coffee & Cocktails, and Icy Mariñas of Drinks Manila.

For the first round, the judges evaluated the cocktails based on the following criteria: Creativity, Flavor, Presentation, Story and Brand Incorporation, and Style. Christian Jude Basog from The Vault Room, Abby Leyte from Southbank Cafe & Lounge, and Edward Reyes from The Spirits Library succeeded to the last round of the Grand Finals.

The top three finalists were given a list of mystery ingredients such as fruits, different spreads, and random snacks that they had to incorporate into their cocktails. Christian Jude Basog emerged as the strongest contender with his creation, the Saulog, a unique twist on a whiskey sour. In his recipe, he skillfully combined guava, passionfruit, fresh lemon juice, and maple syrup with Maker’s Mark 46. Together, the ingredients added a balance of sweetness and sourness to the Maker’s Mark 46’s flavors of oak and vanilla The judges praised Jude for infusing his personality into his performance and creating a drink that showcased the distinct flavors of Maker’s Mark 46 while ensuring that each ingredient complemented the others. Christian Jude was crowned the first-ever Make Your Mark Grand Champion.

To create the best-tasting and boldest cocktails, all participants used the smooth and sweet Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey known for its oak, vanilla, and fruity essences; and the bold and intense Maker’s 46 which exudes distinctive woody oak and caramel aroma—both aged to taste, not time. These are available online on Beam Suntory’s official store on Lazada, boozy.ph, and boozeshop.ph and in-store at all S&R branches, select outlets of SM, Puregold, and The Marketplace.