On Making Award-Winning Drinks: SIP Supernova Cocktail Grand Prix Philippines

The Manila cocktail scene is on the rise, and the recently-concluded SIP Supernova showcased the skills of talented bartenders across the metro. SIP Supernova, the Pernod Ricard cocktail competition in Asia where bartenders from across the region come together to showcase their creativity and passion for mixology, has concluded its Grand Prix in the Philippines. This is the first time ever that the competition, which happened last January 13 and February 10, was held here in the Philippines.

The winner will represent the Philippines at the Asia Pacific Grand Finals in Shanghai, China in April and will be competing against other bartenders from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and the UAE.

A dream, a drink, a defining competition—that is what the SIP Supernova Cocktail Grand Prix was all about and it has already concluded with three winners: Dan Santos from The Curator (1st place), Amer Hussein Bin Alinor from Raion (2nd place), and Bernard Glori from Southbank Café + Lounge (3rd place).

Dan of The Curator won the competition with “Closing the Loop” a drink which was meant to be both sustainable and easily recreated by other bartenders. For his winning drink, he used strawberries as the main ingredient, because it is in season right now and he wanted to preserve its freshness. In addition to that, it really paired well with the flavor profile of Monkey 47, which is berry-forward, with notes of lingonberry, blackberry, with some hints of citrus peels.

In addition to that, the drink was inspired by Montgomery Collins, the original creator of the recipe of Monkey 47, who was a wing commander for the Royal British Air Force back in the 1940s. “I made this drink thinking if he’s my guest, this is the drink that I will serve to him,” Dan shared.

At second place, Bin of Raion was inspired by the idea of combining his all-time favorite cocktail–the negroni–together with the crowd-pleaser amaretto sour. The result is a highball-inspired drink—a bartender’s go-to drink. He utilized all parts of the passionfruit and paired it with Chivas Regal 12 which helped highlight the depth and flavor.

“They say less is more. Yes, highball may be a simple cocktail that only has 3 ingredients, but it already gives a lot of character in a tall glass. It is a drink that elegantly provides refreshment and lightness that bubbles up as the spirit adds complexity and depth,” Bin shared when asked about the inspiration behind his drink.

And at third place, Bernard Glori of Southbank Café + Lounge crafted the “Tree of Life” which utilizes Banana Peels Confit Jameson Triple Distilled, Banana Oleo Saccharum, Banana Heart Acid, Banana Blossom Oils, and Banana Leaf. Together, these ingredients tell the tale of a banana tree and Jameson, from the roots and its history.

“The body or trunk symbolizes fortitude, stability, and strength. The heart symbolizes the person behind the creation made out of love and passion. The leaf and flower symbolize growth—showcasing how Jameson continues to bloom and march forward. The peels, like a cocoon from which a butterfly emerges from, can bring us down to the fruit. Lastly, the harvest symbolizes success and hard work,” Bernard said.

Aside from filling the spot to represent the Philippines at the Asia Pacific Grand Finals, SIP’s ultimate goal in holding the Supernova Grand Prix was to create a competition that celebrates skill, passion and innovation, while shining a light on the next generation of exceptional talent that sets a new standard in the bartending community. All contestants showcased not only their skill and creativity, but also their desire and ambition to represent a new breed of talented bartenders.