MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The recently concluded Maker’s Mark Bourbon 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.
Participants were tasked to submit a recipe incorporating a unique twist on a classic cocktail using Maker’s Mark. The top 30 entries took their creations to social media for likes and shares. The top 12 had a final showdown moderated by industry heavyweights Jun Charoenloet of Beam Suntory, Jericson Co of The Curator Coffee & Cocktails, and Icy Mariñas of Drinks Manila, who judged the creations based on 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 moved on to the Grand Finals. They were given a list of mystery ingredients that they had to incorporate into their cocktails.
Christian emerged as the strongest contender with his creation, the Saulog, a unique twist on a whiskey sour that combines 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 bourbon’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.
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 SM, Puregold, and The Marketplace outlets. Follow Maker’s Mark on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
