Inspiration

Dhananjai Subramaniam is a bartender from India whose journey into hospitality began long before he ever stepped behind a bar. With a background rooted in family, formal training, and hands-on service, his path reflects a steady, considered commitment to growth. Now representing India as a Campari Red Hands APAC 2025 finalist, Dhananjai approaches the craft […]

Dennis Thurner is a Thailand-based bartender whose journey has taken him from hotel service to some of the country’s most formative cocktail spaces. Shaped by mentors, travel, and a steady curiosity for culture and flavor, his approach to hospitality is grounded in learning, generosity, and incremental growth. Today, as the Campari Red Hands APAC 2025 […]

The Five Senses of the Bar explores the bar experience through sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. In this chapter, the focus is on smell, often the first and most immediate sense guests engage with. Long before a menu is opened or a drink is poured, scent shapes expectation the moment a door opens, quietly […]

The Five Senses of the Bar explores the bar experience through sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. In this chapter, the focus is on sound, often the first sense guests engage with. Long before taste or aroma, music sets the tone the moment a door opens, signaling what kind of space it is, how to […]

Wahyu Aditya is the Campari Red Hands APAC 2025 finalist for Indonesia, a Bar Captain at Numero Quattro by Project Black Hospitality in Bali whose journey into bartending is deeply rooted in family legacy. Raised within the culture of the bar through his father and siblings, he approaches his craft with a strong sense of […]

Josiah is the Campari Red Hands APAC 2025 finalist for Singapore, whose journey into hospitality began behind a café counter before evolving into the energy of the night scene. Drawn to the culture and creative freedom of the bar world, he approaches his craft with intention, reflection, and a strong sense of community. A little […]

Explore Osaka with Hiro Nakayama, where humor and flavor collide in crowded alleyways, food and drinks are never separated, and the city’s restless energy reveals itself one conversation at a time. Osaka is often described as Japan’s most approachable city, but that simplicity hides a complex rhythm shaped by food, laughter, and constant human exchange. […]

Explore Bengaluru with Rajib, uncovering a city where innovation thrives beside nature, where bar culture evolves every year, and where food traditions run deep. Wander through tree-lined neighborhoods, taste the city’s legendary comfort dishes, and experience a nightlife shaped by creativity, craft, and community. Set on the elevated Deccan Plateau, Bengaluru, India’s Garden City, is […]

Discover Hanoi through Công’s eyes, a city where nostalgia and creativity intertwine, where mornings hum with the clatter of coffee cups and evenings glow with the warmth of shared laughter over bia hơi and cocktails alike. Born and raised in Hanoi, Công Nguyễn has spent over a decade behind the bar, shaping not only his […]

Explore Johor Bahru with Joe, to uncover a city where coastal calm meets electric energy, where late-night food stalls glow beside modern bars, and every corner hums with the warmth of Malaysian hospitality. Discover the easy rhythm of local life, taste the flavors that define its streets, and experience the city’s growing cocktail culture through […]

Teo Park is a Seoul-based bartender who finds meaning in sharing everyday life with his guests, one drink, one conversation at a time. As he prepares to open his new bar Hand in Hand, Teo reflects on his quiet perseverance, romantic approach to bartending, and what it meant to represent Korea on the international Red […]

Joel Poon is a seasoned hospitality professional and creative force behind Reka:Bar in Kuala Lumpur. With a background in Hospitality Management and a passion for taking care of people, Joel blends technical precision with heartfelt storytelling in every drink he creates. Known for his curiosity, mentorship, and drive to constantly evolve, he’s a respected voice […]