Larry Guevara

PLACES THE PHILIPPINES ON THE COCKTAIL MAP

Larry Guevara is a Mixologist at Liquid Concepts. Having worked in the industry for 13 years, and noticing the negative connotations attached to bartending in his home country, Larry founded a consultant and training firm. His mission is to make bartending known as a respectable profession in the Philippines, and he is well on his way to achieving that goal. Read on to find out more…

DRINKS WORLD: Tell us a little about yourself, how you got started in the industry?

LARRY GUEVARA: I got into bartending by way of divine intervention. In 1999, I received my first college degree in Philosophy after eight years in the seminary (yes, I was supposed to be a Catholic Priest). However, I decided to take up another degree, which was Hotel and Restaurant Management with the dream of becoming a Chef. During our bar management subject, I saw one classmate flip a bottle and that completely blew my mind. I told myself that I needed to learn that too. From that point on I started practising some basic flair moves and studying the history of bartending in general. It felt like I was home. I later realised I found my true calling, not in the kitchen but behind the bar.

DW: You do bar consulting for Liquid Concepts, what services do you provide?

LG: Liquid Concepts started as a fun way of channelling our creative juices. Our tagline, “Our Ideas. Your Libations,” was actually inspired by Bruce Lee and the Oriental philosophy of “being water” and learning to adapt to all situations. Myself, along with my better half Sharleen manage our start-up company. I’m head consultant and she runs the marketing side and often acts as my guinea pig, drink stylist and barback! We consult for restaurants and bars that need assistance in all aspects of bar design and set-up, menu planning and beverage development, bartender and mixology training, small group and corporate events, product and launch activation. Simply put, anything and everything related to the beverage industry.

DW: And how are you building the local bar scene in the Philippines?

LG: During the last two decades, the bartending craft has been treated unfairly as an underrated job here in the Philippines. People have different, if not negative connotations that if you are a bartender, you are either a drunkard or a person who is too lazy to get a real job. Our travels and experiences abroad, however, made us look at the local bartending scene from an outsider’s perspective, and we thought ‘What more can we do to change people’s minds?’ So apart from being a consultant, we also advocate the Filipino style of bartending and hospitality. We help train a new breed of bartenders by encouraging them to take pride in their chosen craft, and enjoy what they are truly passionate about. We also create awareness among bartenders and consumers about the use of local products. We believe our country is a rich agricultural land that is abundant with a myriad of products that are often neglected. By encouraging bartenders to use more local products, we are also giving back to farmers and supporting their sense of pride. And finally, we channel our advocacy through seminars and workshops at different colleges and universities offering bar management subjects. In fact, I was a part-time teacher at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines for almost two years. This involved drink demonstrations and flair shows.

DW: There are two Manila bars on Asia’s Top 50 Bar list for 2016, which is a great achievement. What’s the next venue to keep an eye on?

LG: The owners and bartenders at ABV and the Curator are all good friends, and these guys have really placed Filipino bartending on the map. I mean the level of craftsmanship and hospitality they provide to their guests is top-notch. Truth be told, there are also lots of underrated cocktail bars that deliver exceptional drinks. I would look out for Bitters Bar, Raging Bull, and Buddha Bar.

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