Before the competition this Sunday, we speak to the 22 ladies taking part in this year’s Speed Rack Asia 2017. Click on the images of the respective bartenders for more on their careers so far, and plans for the competition.
Ana Souza, The Pontiac, Hong Kong
Angel Ng, PS150, Kuala Lumpur
Bannie Kang, Anti:dote at The Fairmont Singapore
Bomin Kim, Southside Parlour, Seoul
Charmaine Ann Thio, 28 Hongkong Street, Singapore
Cheryl Cherry Choe, Kilo Lounge, Singapore
Christyne Lee, Highball, Singapore
Debbie Gabriella Raymond, Gibson, Singapore
Demitria Dana Paramita, Bonfire Restaurant & Bar, Kuala Lumpur
Faye Fernando, The Curator Coffee & Cocktails, Manila
Jayden Ong, Sugarhall, Singapore
Kim Ji Won, Alice, Seoul
Kino Soh, Highball, Singapore
Linnea Stenberg, Crackerjack, Singapore
Luc Yong, Crackerjack, Singapore
Monica Koo, Club Street Social, Singapore
Reena Rivera, Crackerjack, Singapore
Sky Huo, The Baxter Inn, Sydney
Sophia Kang, Manhattan, Singapore
Stella Conselho, Southside Parlour, Seoul
Symphony Loo, Neon Pigeon, Singapore
Tasha-Marie Nakazawa, Highball, Singapore
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Ana Souza, The Pontiac, Hong Kong
How did you get into bartending? How long have you been bartending for, and what are your goals for the future?
I have bartended on and off since I turned 18. But for a while, I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my professional life. I worked in IT and marketing, until I realised bartending was my calling. I’ve been dedicated to it for two-and-a-half years and look forward to doing it for many years to come.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
I have been following the competition in the US for a while now and I always wanted to be part of it. I love speed rounds, and being an all-female competition supporting breast cancer awareness just puts the cherry on top.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
To be completely honest, I haven’t had as much time as I would like to get down and dirty with training. Jumping into uncharted territory here, but so were all the best adventures I ever got myself into.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
One night, as she was preparing to leave work, a lightning bolt shatters a case full of chemicals and spills all over Ana. As a result, Ana finds that she can move at SUPERHUMAN SPEEDS and has matching reflexes. She dons a set of red tights sporting a lightning bolt, names herself the Flash, and becomes a costumed crimefighter. #truestory
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Angel Ng, PS150, Kuala Lumpur
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
I've been bartending for a total of eight years, on and off, so far – I started professionally in 2012. My story is a textbook Asian family, plus societal/peer pressure one, where a mother forces her daughter to get a degree in a 'prestige' industry and the daughter does it to please the family. Halfway through, I found something that I liked doing – bartending – but my mother said no, because it 'suitable for a female' and that 'people will talk'. I caved in, did what the mother wanted but was unhappy. I moved to KL to find myself, and stumbled back into the industry and fell deeply in love with it.
My mom is still trying to manipulate me back into the corporate life, because I believe passion trumps over security. She's happy now though, because I have my own business. When I came back to bartending, I got the right person to teach me the right things and the rest was history. It wasn't just shaking up a balanced drink or making sure the guests are happy. Bartending is an art, an all rounded career that is very challenging and fulfilling at the same time.
My goal is to share and educate the Malaysian bar community, and help Kuala Lumpur's cocktail scene rise to another level by creating awareness through events. As for myself, my goals are simple – I want to learn and venture into every department of the bar and beverage scene, from brewing to import and export. I'm a curious kid who gets bored easily.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
It's not everyday that you come across an all-female bar competition, plus it's for a cause which I believe in. I like the format of this competition. You've got to be fast, and make cocktails really well, which is basically what bartending is about.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
In the first two weeks of my preparation, I worked on the theory of the competition. In order to memorise all 45 cocktails, I created two excel sheet tests. One spec sheet with ingredients blanked out, and the other with measurements blanked out – they're 11 pages each, and I test myself daily. After each test, I marked and worked on improving my memory of the recipes. I also got someone to test me verbally on the recipes.
In the two weeks before the competition, I practiced speed pouring – I'm rusty because I'm so used to using a jigger now. My right hand is for sweet and sour agents, while the left hand is strictly for pouring spirits. Liqueurs vary between hands, depending on the cocktails we'll have to make. Having the glassware and garnishes in front of the tins helps me to not pour into the wrong section. I'll make the shaken cocktails first, followed by stirred, then build them all.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
Yes, it's call a tequila shot each time I step onto the stage.
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Bannie Kang, Anti:dote at The Fairmont Singapore
Tell us about yourself. How did you get into bartending? How long have you been bartending for, and what are your goals for the future?
My journey towards bartending started unexpectedly. After graduating in hotel management at Jin Ju University in Seoul, South Korea, I had the opportunity to move to Singapore to learn English. It was this move that I discovered my passion for bartending as a waitress in City Space back in 2010. I then returned to Seoul to pursue bartending courses at the renowned Johnnie Walker Academy and Korean International Bartending Academy. Upon completion of the courses, I returned to Singapore and continued to work at City Space with hands-on training to be a bartender before joining the Craftsman team of Anti:dote in 2013. In total, I have been bartending for 4 years now.
In future, I would like to open a café back home in Korea with a space selling cocktails in a casual environment.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
I have always been a firm supporter of charitable causes and allowing me to contribute to a worthy cause in my line of work only makes it more meaningful.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
I have been practising every day after my shift, timing myself to make four cocktails in the fastest time possible. The catch here is to not only make the cocktails fast, but they need to be well executed as well.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
I may be petite in size but I have a lot of determination to showcase the female pride in this male-dominated industry.
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Bomin Kim, Southside Parlour, Seoul
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Charmaine Ann Thio, 28 Hongkong Street, Singapore
Tell us about yourself and your bartending career so far.
I'm Charmaine but some people call me Charms. I'm slightly socially awkward – I used to play competitive Scrabble, I have a pet Venus flytrap named Rex (that's a 10 point word in Scrabble) and I'm currently tending bar at 28 Hongkong Street. I consider myself somewhat of an accidental bartender. I spent a lot of my time writing my thesis in Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall during my final semester of college. I submitted the paper, travelled around Europe for two months, then came back to the real life to look for a job, which proved to be more of a struggle than expected.
A month or so of unsuccessful job hunting later, I half jokingly asked if Ah Sam was hiring. The day after my graduation ceremony, I started working in Ah Sam's kitchen frying Hokkien mee and marinating prawn paste chicken. However, having been an almost daily regular at the bar prior to working there I’d subconsciously developed an interest in the world of craft cocktails so one day I plucked up the courage and asked to learn how to bartend.
I remember reading Cocktail Techniques by Kazuo Uyeda when I was waiting for the timer on my deep fryer to go off. Eventually, I moved out of the kitchen and into the bar and after six months of searching for a full-time job I decided I'd had enough, and why not take a chance on an industry that was willing to take a chance on me? 28 Hongkong Street took me in in 2014 and 2 years later, here I am about to compete in Speed Rack. My goal is to grow to be a well-travelled, well-exposed, well-read and well-connected industry professional so that I may help build up future generations of aspiring bartenders.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
I wanted to be a part of something that was for women by women in support of women. I really respect Ivy and Lynnette for what they have done in establishing Speed Rack and am really honoured to have been chosen to be a part of it.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
So far I’ve just been trying to figure out how to grab two bottles in one hand and open two shakers at once.Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
Coffee.
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Cheryl Cherry Choe, Kilo Lounge, Singapore
Tell us about yourself. How did you get into bartending? How long have you been bartending for, and what are your goals for the future?
Hello! Im Cheryl, from Singapore, turning 27 this year. I'm a very fun and active person. Since starting in the hospitality industry as a waitress, I've always had an interest to become a bartender one day. I got the opportunity when I moved to Perth in 2012 for my degree – I wanted to get a part-time job as a waitress at the local alehouse, but they only needed bartenders. After leaving the suburbs a few months later, I got a job in a nightclub, and that officially started my bartending career. My goal is to keep improving on what I'm doing, and I hope to eventually run my own team one day!
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a female in the industry?
Pretty much the only challenge that I've faced in the industry is that the beer kegs are too heavy and the back shelves are too high for me. I'm tiny. Probably because of my loud personality, I've never faced any gender-issues. I'm considered as one of the bros with my guy friends, be it in or out of the industry.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
I've never seen or taken part in such a competition before. And its for a good cause. Why not!
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
We've only been told the four cocktails to make for the preliminary rounds. I'm gonna use empty bottles and fill them with water and just treat it as I'm making a real drink, and do that over and over again.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
Don't stress. Do your best. Be yourself, have fun.
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Christyne Lee, Highball, Singapore
Tell us about yourself, and your bartending career so far.
I am Christyne Lee, I was born in Malaysia and I'm 29 this year. I started working as a service staff when I first joined Jigger & Pony, and I faced a lot of challenges in recommending drinks to our guests. That's when I decided to expand my abilities by getting trained behind the bar. I've loved it from then on because I not only get to make drinks, but get to create my own recipes and serve my guests better with the knowledge I've gained. I've been bartending for nearly three years now, and my goal in the future is to become a brand ambassador, which will allow me to share my knowledge with everyone, as well as travel to meet more people.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
I would like to have fun, get to know more female bartenders, and see how much we can achieve at Speed Rack with raising funds for breast cancer charities.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
For now, I'm trying to memorise all the recipes that have been given to us. I'm also training my speed and accuracy at work, seeing how fast I can be with a jigger. I'm also visualising in my mind how the competition on the day will go.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
Haha, I don't have a secret power, but I have faith and I will have fun! -
Debbie Gabriella Raymond, Gibson, Singapore
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
After a three year wait and countless times that I've been turned away, I was finally given the opportunity to pick up bartending at Gibson. While I'm still very new to the craft, I hope to learn a thing or two from all the other bartenders, as well as people in the scene. Everyone has a different approach and their own strengths.
What are some of the challenges you've faced as a female in the industry?
Being turned away for your interests, or having your ideas get shot down just because you're female. Our scene is slowly getting better at accepting ladies, which is great! A few years back, when our cocktail kingdom just started, we probably only have five female bartenders in the scene – look at Singapore now!
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
I wanted to take part in something with the beautiful ladies of our story because everyone has a story – it could be theirs, their friends' or their families'. Maybe it was breast cancer, or another type of cancer, but if bartending can raise awareness for it, why not?
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far?
Gibson has a good mix of bartenders who have both flair and speed, and the boys have been tremendous mentors to me. They've given me pointers and tips based on their experiences locally and globally, and I've been working on them tirelessly before and after shifts. Not forgetting Cristobal too, who has been guiding me as well while I was in Panama.
Is there a secret power that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
The support and love of the familiar faces I see at Gibson almost every week – not just my team, but our guests as well. It's funny because sometimes they're more excited we are, and check up on us whenever they know we've got a competition or event coming up!
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Demitria Dana Paramita, Bonfire Restaurant & Bar, Kuala Lumpur
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
I came to Malaysia for my culinary arts education, but I fell in love with the art of mixing cocktails after representing my college in a beverage competition. I've been bartending for almost 2 and a half years now – freelancing for a year, and working full-time for one and a half years. My goal in the future is to open my own bar in my hometown, Medan in Indonesia. I want to introducing cooking and baking techniques in cocktails, and educate people there about spirits and drinks.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
I'd like to push myself past my current speed limit, while maintaining my drinks' quality. Every racer strives to break their own record, and I want to take this chance to break my own record. I would also like to meet more female bartenders from around Asia, then come back to Malaysia and inspire and motivate more Malaysian females to join this beautiful industry. Knowing that the competition is also aimed at raising awareness around breast cancer also makes it more worthwhile to join.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
For me, mise-en-place and the arrangement of my items matters a lot to me for effective and quick cocktail making. I'm working on repetition to get my body into the competition's rhythm, and also to develop my muscle memory for my routine. I will put in 110 per cent in this competition, and it doesn't matter whether I win or lose. I know that I will have fun, and I won't be going home empty handed. Experience and having fun matters more than winning.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
I am laying it all bare! My secret is to have fun. If you're enjoying yourself, you won't feel mentally stressed, so your movements will be more fluid, you'll be more in tune with yourself, and focused.
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Faye Fernando, The Curator Coffee & Cocktails, Manila
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
I started as a cashier. Before my contract ended at my last job, I applied for bartender jobs and fortunately, The Curator accepted me even though I had no experience. They've trained me for the last three-and-a-half years, and I've had the chance to try some strange things and learn new things. In the future, I would like to teach and share what I've learned and experienced as a good bartender.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
Speed Rack helps breast cancer research and awareness. I'm super proud that this is my first competition, because it's not just about winning but also helping others.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
I'm focusing on my recipes, so they'll be easier to recall when I'm in a rush. I'm also studying some quick drink-making techniques in the last few days of practice.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
It's actually a secret, but I will tell you. First, it's my family, then my team. I'm holding on to their super warm support and converting it into my super secret power to fuel me on the day.
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Jayden Ong, Sugarhall, Singapore
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
I've been bartending for nine months – Sugarhall is my first full-time job since I graduated in marketing. I've always had a passion for the f&b industry, and I've done part-time gigs in restaurants and bars as a waitress since the age of 15. I love to drink and even told my friends about my dream of opening a bar when I was in college, so I thought, why not be a bartender! So here I am, working as a bartender.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
I decided to join Speed Rack because I found its causes meaningful – it's helping to promote breast cancer awareness and research, and empowering ladies behind the bar. I'm also setting a personal goal to become faster and more accurate in making cocktails – it's going to help me become a rock star on busy Friday nights!
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
I've been watching Speed Rack education videos on YouTube, practising how to organise the bottles according to different sets of drinks and also practising techniques everyday like how to free pour, double stir, and so on.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
Probably my bunch of enthusiastic cheerleader friends to pump me up for the occasion!
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Kim Ji Won, Alice, Seoul
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Kino Soh, Highball, Singapore
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
I am Kino Soh and I am the owner of Highball, an all-female crew bar that has the widest range of highballs in Singapore. I tended the bar part time when I was still schooling and its fast pace, delicious concoctions and work satisfaction of bartending got me hooked. In a blink of an eye, its been six years since I’ve been behind the stick. I plan to focus on making Highball a success and open up more avenues for females to enter the industry.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a female in the industry?
In Singapore, it’s really not bad to a female bartender. There is hardly any discrimination and I haven't really faced issues. The worst I've experienced was probably just a misconception that girls are only servers and not bartenders and the guest did not want me to take their order.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
For the love of speed, to have fun with my team and the other female bartenders and lastly, for a good cause!
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
As a bar owner, it has been challenging to find time to prepare for Speed Rack. Thanks to the girls, I have been tuning in to Speed Rack on YouTube to pick up some tricks.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
The nerves never go away and it can really make you fumble, so I'm relying on having fun. When you have fun, the nerves don’t get in the way so bad.
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Linnea Stenberg, Crackerjack, Singapore
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
I guess you could say I married into the industry. My husband is also a bartender and after I met him, my interest for spirits and bartending started. After a few years of sitting in front of the counter, I finally made the decision a couple of months ago to give it a go behind it instead! Before becoming a bartender, I was also in the f&b trade, but either on the supplier side or working the floor. Back in Helsinki, I managed a professional kitchen tools and gourmet food shop called Eiring and worked in a few fine dining restaurants. In Singapore, I worked at Park Bench Deli as their front-of-house manager for a year before moving to Crackerjack.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
The cause is fantastic! It also seems like one of the most fun competitions out there, and what's better than a room filled with awesome ladies making drinks anyway?
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
I have been getting a lot of help from my colleagues and my husband. They have all been great at teaching a newbie like me some tricks and helping me learn my recipes, so a big thank you to all of them for their patience!
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
I speak Finnish, I consider that to be a superpower however useless it might seem. At least it sounds intimidating if nothing else!
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Luc Yong, Crackerjack, Singapore
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
I got into bartending after meeting Shin Gi Tai's Anthony Zhong. He bartends like he's one with his art. He changed my perspective of cocktail drinking and got me really interested to discover the world of cocktails. I've been in the industry for a little less than two years now, and I find inspiration for drink names, taste profiles and textures from books, films, music and just about anything I get in contact with in this world. My background in art also helps me to conceive cocktails like I would a painting.
In the future, I hope to be constantly improving my knowledge of spirits, ingredients, bartending techniques – and hopefully these will lead me to distil my own gin someday.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
I really believe in the cause and the contribution that we're making towards breast cancer research and awareness. And it's nice that all my female team mates from Crackerjack are joining, and we're competing and participating as one team. It's also a great opportunity to meet our other fellow female bartenders and see what they're up to!
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far?
I've been trying different techniques, like speed pouring, or using two jiggers at a time, to see what I'm more comfortable with.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
I think it will be the belief that I am running my own race.
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Monica Koo, Club Street Social, Singapore
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
I'm 24 this year and I love playing the piano – that's quite typically Asian. I started in f&b working in the kitchen, and seeing the bar through the pass, I thought it looked so exciting and energetic with plenty of laughter. Working in the kitchen was like fighting a war – you can really feel the brotherhood with your colleagues. It definitely felt different, at least for me. But, I am a talker – I don't know why, I'm mostly good at being sarcastic. I wanted a change, and I wanted to interact with my customers.
I worked in Fulin Bar in Telok Ayer for a month where my head bartender Charmaine Ch'ng taught me my basic bar skills and theories, before I moved to Club Street Social where Min [Chan] and Tomas [Gedjos] took good care of me. In the last year or so, I've been learning more about bartending, and one of my goals in the future is to have my own business.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
I like the idea of Speed Rack and the meaning of this event. Plus, I wanted to test myself and improve.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
Mostly, I've been memorising recipes, I've never known half of the drinks before, please come to Club Street Social and order a cocktail so I could practice more. To help me memorise recipes, I've placed Post-Its filled with recipes on my wall, fridge, shower wall, closet, everywhere.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
I'll just keep memorising and memorising.
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Reena Rivera, Crackerjack, Singapore
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
Attending culinary school was truly eye opening, as I was able to see and experience first hand how chefs turn simple ingredients into something beautiful through the application of art and science. I wanted to do the same with cocktails and make people happy. I was very fortunate to start out behind the stick at Club 39 under Mark Graham Thomas. I've been bartending for almost two years now and I'm still as excited as I was when I started. I seek to develop my skills and grow creatively as a bartender.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a female in the industry?
I wouldn't say that there are any particular disadvantages females face in the industry. It's all about the love and dedication you put into your work to push yourself to excel.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
Speed Rack's going to raise funds for breast cancer research and that would benefit a lot of people. It's also going to be a whole lot of fun!
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
I've been watching speed rack training videos, memorising the drink recipes as well as learning how to free pour accurately.
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
Sssshhhhh. It's a secret.
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Sky Huo, The Baxter Inn, Sydney
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
I've been in the industry for four years. After graduating in Hong Kong, I was doing an office job. I didn't feel like I fit in at all, but I had rent to pay. Long story short, I found a bartending job and was doing all right, so here I am now.
As the possibly oldest contestant, I should have a story of how I 'figured it all out', but I don't. I may or may not want to open a bar in 20 years time next to my favourite bar, and make good drinks for all my regulars and bartender friends for the rest of my life. But life is short, so who knows? Drink whisky. And wine. And tequila. And cognac. And cocktails.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
It's a great event with genuine intentions – raising money for breast cancer education, prevention and research. Everyone is a winner in this competition. Also, I want to dance. I want to win.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
Speed Rack is about making good drinks fast. Good recipes and skills pay great parts to make that happen. How much sugar do you put in an Old Fashioned? How dry do you want your Martini? When do you stop shaking your Daiquiri? Trying to find the best recipe for each drink is what I'm doing to prepare for Speed Rack during each and every shift.
Is there a secret power that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
A cute barback?
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Sophia Kang, Manhattan, Singapore
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
When I transferred to Manhattan Bar from an Italian restaurant, my curiosity to the world of craft bartending expanded; this is where I got my inspiration from. I was working as a floor staff, but I was attached to the bar from time to time. Then last year in November, I was permanently transferred behind that marble table I was dreaming of. As of now, my goals are to gain knowledge and to cherish every bit of bartending.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
Joining Speed Rack has served as a motivation for me to be better at what I'm doing. It will boost my confidence and will help me acquire experience.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
Training for Speed Rack has helped me to gain strength in overcoming the things I once thought I couldn't. That's what keep me going. I'm training as much as I can and collecting feedback from my team – it's helping me a lot.
Is there a secret power that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
The secret always lies beneath yourself. If you want something you should always work hard for it. I will do the best of my ability on March 12 and everything will follow.
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Stella Conselho, Southside Parlour, Seoul
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
Bartending has always been something I wanted to get into. Perhaps because my dad set up a small bar in our house, although none of us at home ever understood or grew a rich background in spirits and mixology. However, more than just that, as I grew up and started visiting different bars, I was always amazed and jealous of the skills of bartenders, and that made me eager to join the industry. I'm still at the very beginning of my bartending life – I started in August 2016 at Southside Parlor. Speed Rack is the beginning of me reaching my goals in this industry, and I hope to get the chance to compete more often in the near future.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
Simple. I'm driven by challenges and good causes, and for me, that's Speed Rack. It pushes each and everyone to perform at her best in an enjoyable atmosphere, and for me, that's what life should be about. Also, if raising funds for breast cancer isn't a good cause, then we're all doomed.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far?
My training regime consists of mastering speed pouring, the list of cocktails that we'll be tested on, and preparing four cocktails in the shortest time possible. Since we only open the bar at 6pm for customers, I usually train before my shift begins. The good thing about that is that I also get the chance to get into the rhythm of working under pressure. I have someone time me in a setting similar to what I believe will be the scene at the competition.
What's your secret power that you think will help you win on March 12?
That's a very good question, which unfortunately I have not though about. It will be amazing to win Speed Rack, but at this stage, my head is on developing my skills through the competition.
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Symphony Loo, Neon Pigeon, Singapore
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
My cocktail journey started at my friend's bar in Malaysia when I was 17, before I pursued my further studies in Switzerland, where I also worked in a few bars. In Singapore, I was finally granted the opportunity to receive formal bartending training at One-Ninety Bar by Javier de las Muelas at the Four Seasons Singapore.
I'd love to be a part of more bar openings in the future, and I can also see myself in the hospitality industry. I'd like to use my work to be involved in more charity organisations.
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
To challenge myself. Also, the best thing is that the money raised in the competition will go to breast cancer research, education and prevention. My mother is a breast cancer survivor and I always try to get involved with charities when I can.
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far?
Everyday, I challenge myself to make drinks in the shortest amount of time, and make sure the quality is there.
Is there a secret power that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
Be positive! Enjoy the process!
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Tasha-Marie Nakazawa, Highball, Singapore
Tell us about your bartending career so far.
Hi! My name’s Tasha-Marie Nakazawa. But you can call me Marie, for short! As cheesy as it sounds, my very first encounter into the world of cocktails and bartending was when I was brought on a ‘surprise date’ to NOX - Dine in the Dark. Sitting as a guest at the bar, I was deeply awed by the presence and craft of the bartender there, Thomas, who fixed such aesthetically pleasing drinks with perfect balance. He was cool, poised, and damn, he looked like a rock star – which made me think… I want to be like him.
At that point of time, I was a final year student with plenty of time on my hands. I decided to apply for a part-time job there. From there, I was then introduced to a whole new world - spirits, vermouths, mixers, liqueurs, shaking, stirring, whatever, you name it!
Fast forward to today, I am honoured to be bartending at an all-girls bar, Highball, led by my boss-mentor Kino Soh! Despite only having six months of experience in this trade thus far, Kino has taught me more than I could ever imagine. This has also inspired me to open my own bar in the future!
Why have you decided to take part in Speed Rack?
When I was approached by Hannah and she told me all about this competition, I was literally sold. A competition featuring all-female bartenders? Raising funds for breast cancer? Like, hell yeah! Not only do us girls get to show off how kick-ass we can be, this also helps to raises awareness for breast cancer and eventually eradicate gender biases in bartending!
How have you been preparing for Speed Rack so far? Tell us about your training regime.
Being one of the youngest competitors in terms of experience this industry, it is important for me to take an extra step in order to level the playing field with the other faster and more experienced girls. So far, I’ve been trying to help myself out by studying my classics, practicing my pours and sequencing, and also getting used to the whole bar set-up so I don’t end up knocking things over during the competition itself!
Is there a secret power that you have that you think will help you rise above the competition on March 12?
Well, all I’ll say to this is…I'm doing all I can and hoping for the best! Oh right, I'm also going to wear a comfy bra on the competition day itself so your straps don't fall off while shaking! Teehee.
Speed Rack Asia 2017 is at The Great Escape on March 12, 11am to 5pm.
DRiNK Magazine is the official media partner for Speed Rack Asia.
