- Head Bartender and Operations Supervisor of Food and Beverage
- 1824 Whisky and Cigar Bar, Discovery Primea 6749 Ayala Avenue, Makati City 1226 Metro Manila
Avid Beatles fan Ildefonso ‘Lennon’ Aguilar acquired his nickname when he was in a Beatles cover band in college. He started in the beverage industry as a barista for a major coffee shop. After a few years, he developed and interest in mixing drinks and wanted to level up. The next logical step was, of course, making coffee cocktails.
An industry veteran who has worked in various bars for over a decade (including a six-year stint as head bartender at Bar 180 in Resorts World), he is also the assistant vice president of NEBBA (National Elite Bar and Beverage Association), a bartending organization that does demonstrations in schools and trainings for TESDA. He has been with the Discovery Group for a year. If his enthusiasm for his craft and dedication to improving himself are any indication, we will still see more great things from Lennon.
Favorite bar: ABV, Mandalay, and Bar 180 (Resorts World Manila)
Favorite drinks:
Old Fashioned: I like the sweetness of rye or bourbon and the balance of flavor the Angostura bitters gives to the drink. It is such a classic.
Mint Julep: This is is my fave summer and thirst quencher drink. This cocktail always ends my busy days very nicely
Laphroiag 18 years or Quarter Cask: I love peaty whisky. Laphroaig is at the top of my list—neat with a little touch of water. I like to drink this whisky while playing old classics of the ‘60s on my guitar.
Signature drinks: Black Magic. It’s a Russian vodka with Cherry Heering liqueur, topped with Bacardi 151. A Halloween drink; Floating Tennessee (Jack Daniels with Frangelico, half and half cream and Kahlua); LSG – Lambanog Sago’t Gulaman (a very Filipino cocktail made with vanilla extract, Galliano liqueur and lambanog).
Years in bartending: Around 12 years
Dream customer: James Bond, because one of my specialties is the Vesper Martini. Shaken, not stirred. And Johnny Depp, because I think we would have a great talk about drinking, movies, and music.
Check out the recipe he shared with DrinkManila: Frothy Whisky Sour
