The bartending scene, historically dominated by men, has changed in recent years with many women taking to top posts in some of the most renowned bars in the world and winning bartending competitions, both locally and abroad.
The latest entry in the growing list of champions is Melody Joy Lim who recently took first place in the Philippines’ Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC). Lim is one of the main mixologists of Baccarat Room and Bar in Solaire Resort and Casino.
A graduate of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde –Manila with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Institutional Management, Lim shared that it was during her internship in the United States that making cocktails piqued her interest. This led her to a career as a bartender, spending years honing her skills and techniques behind the counter while developing signature cocktails.
It was this technical mastery that helped her clinch the top spot in the UBC cocktail competition where the contest focused mainly on the fundamental skills of a bartender such as pour accuracy and consistency, classic cocktail building, and the like.
“Monkey Shoulder is doing UBC for us not only to unearth new talent in the Philippines but also to have a great time. We’re breaking conventions by not having the traditional cocktail competition involving a whole story and signature drink, but instead testing skills bartenders would use in their day-to-day work. And I believe we’ve found that in Melody, who emerged as the Philippines’ Ultimate Bartender Champion. She showed us she has the skills to pay the bills,” said Brendon Khoo, Monkey Shoulder Southeast Asia brand ambassador.
Lim said that while she enjoyed making bespoke and signature cocktails, having the basics down pat is essential for any bartender. “Having good technique will allow you to move faster. It will make the cocktail making process smoother, and being accurate in one’s pours helps ensure that you maintain the consistency and quality of the cocktails being served, especially during busy hours,” she shared.
Aside from the fundamental skills, Lim also highlighted cocktail and spirit knowledge as some of the skills a bartender must possess. “When you’re in a bar and you talk to customers and guests, you should have the knowledge on how you made the drink. You need to be able to explain to guests what’s in your drink and how you came up with it,” she explained.
This spirit knowledge also played a crucial role in the competition during the nosing section. During this part of the competition, contestants need to be able to identify the spirit using only their sense of smell. “It was blind nosing, no color was seen, and you had to fully trust your instincts and how much you know the spirit,” she added.
Lim now joins a growing number of role models for women who work behind the bar counter. Her win shows that gender plays no role whatsoever when making and serving cocktails. With all things being equal, only skills and technique matter to make a good cocktail.
