Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management senior Claire Jhoanne Planas won second Runner Up in the Whisky Live Mentoring Program and Competition 2022 held last November 4-5, 2022, at the Grand Ballroom, Shangri-La The Fort, in Taguig. Planas together with fellow student Elijah Gonzales joined the competition as student-apprentices and they were paired with bartending mentors.
Planas worked with Mr. Genrev Paul “The Revolution” Bacasno, General Manager of Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, while Gonzales was mentored by Mr. Errol Khim Barbosa, Bar Consultant of Roof Manila. The FEU students were assigned with Benchmark Bourbon Whisky Brand as the base spirit for their cocktail entry.
Planas eventually made the Final round, which saw her serve two types of cocktails and present the drinks to the crowd and judges within one and a half hours.
The event was organized and hosted by The Spirits Library owned by Mr. Lee Watsons. The Whisky Live Mentorship Program is in its fourth year and aims to introduce the next generation to whiskey. It has also served as an important training ground for many young industry professionals who are now part of some of Manila’s best bars. Other participating schools include Enderun Colleges, University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University and Lyceum of the Philippines.