Time Out Bar Awards 2020 winner: Rising Star

Head Bartender 

A former bartender at Tiffany's New York Bar in InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, where she took home the first runner-up win at the 2019 Italicus Cocktail Competition. Currently, Jade Lau is taking the reins at the newly opened coffee shop by day and bar at night, Doubleshot by Cupping Room and has been making noise in the local drink scene mixing up for numerous pop-ups and events in collaboration with various brands in the industry. 

Senior Bartender

Jake Mendoza first started his career in the hospitality industry as a cook at JW Marriot before he was captivated to hone his skills behind the stick. He then moved to various local bars in the city, mixing up behind the bar for Olive, FAB, Lily & Bloom, Old Man Hong Kong, and eventually became part of the opening team for The Sea by the Old Man in 2019. Today, you'll see him happily shaking up behind the bar at newly opened Caribbean bar, The Daily Tot. 

Bartender

Jo Lo graduated with a hotel management major and spent some time working in the hotel industry before starting her career behind the bar. She then went to European Bartender School in Sydney and worked as a bartender in Brisbane before coming back to Hong Kong to work at Room 309 under the mentorship of Antonio Lai. Still new to the industry, Jo Lo has been making her mark in Room 309 by crafting cocktails for seasonal menus that have been well received by the crowds. 

Bartender 

Relatively new to the bartending world, Grace Kim is a business school student by day and bartender by night at Michelin-starred Italian restaurant 8 ¹⁄₂ Otto e Mezzo Bombana. Under the leadership of bar manager Devender Kumar, Grace is honing her skills behind the bar at one of the most respected bars in Asia. Her friendly, personalised approach to service, and passion for mixology easily makes her a patron favourite.  

Head Bartender

Mandeep Ghale started his career in mixology when he worked at now-defunct Armani/Privé as a barback and eventually started working at global F&B group Maximal Concepts where he sharpened his skills behind the bar for two years. He is currently the head bartender at the award-winning The Old Man Hong Kong where he is continuously experimenting and pushing the boundaries of his craft.