Don Papa Rum, the Philippines’ single island premium rum, is celebrating its Filipino provenance by bringing together some prominent names in the industry in a series of bartender guest shifts called Tres Papas. For each night of the series, three bartenders will take over one of the metro’s top cocktail bars not only to introduce the different flavors of Don Papa Rum and the Philippines but to also showcase the pinnacle of Filipino talent.
The first in the series brings home the original Tres Papas, which includes David Ong, Cedric Mendoza, and Joma Rivera. They first got together in Singapore back in 2017 but last August 9, Don Papa Rum brought them back to their (and Don Papa Rum’s) homeland where they took over OTO, Makati for a one-night-only guest shift aptly called Tres Papas: Homecoming.
Ong is the co-founder and managing partner of The Curator Coffee & Cocktails, currently ranked #34 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
He holds the same position in other coffee and cocktail concepts in Manila such as OTO, EDSA Beverage Design Group, #YKWRoasters at The Grid, and PourHouse Hospitality.
Mendoza was the previous head bartender at Manhattan Bar, who helped put the bar at #1 for two consecutive years on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2017/2018, and helped it climb to the #3 on the World’s 50 Best Bars 2018. He is now a Managing Partner of Pourhouse Hospitality and ReCraft.
Rivera is the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year in 2014 – Philippines, Campari Bartender Competition Asia – 2018 Singapore Champion, and Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge 2020 – Singapore Champion. He is currently Bar Manager at Kafe UTU and Tamba in Singapore.
One of David’s cocktails is called “Enriquez”, an homage to OTO’s street that they call home. Made with tablea-infused Don Papa Rum, sweet vermouth, orange bitters, and sugar, the resulting drink is potent and delicious with that tsokolate bittersweet flavor that Filipinos know and love.
Cedric on the other hand created cocktails that are tributes to the 2 other Tres Papas. One of the cocktails is named “Dong Papa”, playfully named after David Ong’s industry nickname “Dong”. It is a nutty riff on the classic daquiri. Hazelnut and spiced syrup bring out the caramel notes and vibrancy in Don Papa Masskara.
Joma created the cocktail called “Hey-A-Ron”. This one is a tribute to Don Papa Rum’s Global Brand Ambassador, Aaron Goodall, who’s half Filipino and half Australian. The highball style drink mixes fresh granny smith apple, manuka honey, and bee pollen with Don Papa Masskara for a bright, velvety, and refreshing taste.
There are 2 more Tres Papas guest shifts for September. Follow Don Papa Rum on Facebook and Instagram at @donpaparum for updates.
