- Inaugural APEC-wide mixology competition turns the spotlight on sustainability, showcasing local produce and bringing forgotten ingredients to life.
- Three bartenders representing Australia, Singapore and the Philippines best 11 others from the region, impressing with their creativity, technique and showmanship.
- Winners represent a new generation of young but experienced maverick bartenders, elevating sustainable practices with their creativity, one cocktail at a time.
Singapore, 5 November 2024 – Three young bartenders representing the Marriott International Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC) hotels they are working in emerged victorious as APEC’s Most Sustainable Bartenders.
Niall Mulgrew from W Brisbane in Australia, Chew Qing Ting from Madame Fan Bar at Singapore’s JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach and Gerard Angelo Dela Cruz from Manila Marriott Hotel, won the Grand Finals held in Singapore, a culmination of the six-month long contest which saw more than 500 submissions from mixologists across the APEC region.
To qualify for the Grand Finals, bartenders had to submit an original cocktail designed with sustainability in mind, and were graded based on use of local produce, sustainable practices and their creativity. Sustainable aspects could include using repurposing or upcycling ingredients, and incorporating local produce. Two winning bartenders from each area were chosen to represent their markets in the APEC Grand Finals, where a mystery box challenge saw the 14 finalists whittled to a top five. In the last round, the contestants were challenged to add their personal twist to a classic cocktail. The eventual winners impressed the judges with their creativity, technical skills and showmanship.
“The competition was grueling, designed to test the creativity and skills of the contestants, with sustainability being the main focus especially at the start of the process. Niall, Qing Ting and Gerard Angelo are worthy winners because they stood out at every turn. Their cocktails not only tasted delicious, but also told a story which connected with their personal background and passion for the craft of mixology." said Petr Raba, Marriott International APEC’s Vice President F&B.
A new generation of mixologists raising the bar for sustainability
The three winners come from different countries and backgrounds but they share a strong desire to incorporate sustainable aspects into their profession.
Niall, a 29-year old Irish who has bartended around the world for more than 8 years, was inspired by the fresh produce in Queensland where he is now based. His Pot of Gold submission used every part of the Queensland Gold pineapple: “Most people only use the pineapple’s juice or flesh in drinks and everything else including the skin, leftover pulp and core are discarded, when they’re perfectly fine. Queensland has some of the world’s best fruit and I wanted to do its Gold Pineapple justice. My goal was to make a fairly simple drink that let all parts of this incredible ingredient shine," Niall explains.
Qing Ting and Gerard Angelo, both aged 31, were similarly motivated by reducing food wastage, and believe that with a dose or two of creativity, commonly discarded ingredients can be used to elevate a cocktail to greater heights. Qing Ting’s Alternate Gem creation is a gin-based tribute to unsung heroes like “ugly" kaffir leaves, lacto-fermented mango, strawberry and dragon fruit trimmings and burnt rice-infused wine, while overripe fruits and unused garnishes bring a complex range of flavours to Gerard Angelo’s Padayon cocktail.
Showcasing local produce also allows both bartenders to reflect their personal identities, outside of the competition. “I constantly try to highlight Filipino flavors and make sure that a local component is incorporated into each signature drink I create. I am proud of Filipino product, I think it’s amazing, and I want it to be shared with everyone," says Gerard Angelo.
For Qing Ting, a Chinese-Malaysian now working in Singapore, her craft is a way of sustaining traditions for the future: “I think sustainability is also about passing down our heritage, experiences and memories to the next generation. For me, it’s about incorporating part of my Chinese-Asian identity into the drinks I make. That’s really the motivation behind the cocktails I’ve created for Madame Fan Bar."
Sustainability plays a pivotal role in Marriott International’s operations, and the APEC Sustainable Bartender Championship exemplifies this commitment. Through these initiatives, Marriott translates its sustainability goals into actions that resonate with both guests and associates. To know more about Marriott International’s sustainability and social impact efforts click here. To explore more about Marriott Bonvoy and the portfolio of hotels worldwide click here.
