Photo by Star Sabroso I Shot on location at Discovery Primea’s 1824 Whisky and Cigar Bar and Edge
Cristhel ‘Cri’ Molina
Senior Brand Manager – Global Travel Retail, NPD I Bleeding Heart Rum Company
Cri Molina has been in the spirits industry for eight years, but she was on track to becoming a doctor and was studying medicine for a year and a half before realizing that it wasn’t her calling. After being exposed to the world of spirits by working for the biggest nightclub in the country, she got the brand manager position for Bleeding Heart Rum Company, makers of Don Papa Rum. She’s been making her way up ever since. She now manages the new product development for Don Papa Rum and will be relocating to the UK to head Global Travel Retail.
“What I love the most is being able to keep innovating and creating flavors and textures that are unique and complex,” she declares. “Creating and developing brands and products has become my passion over the years. I also love meeting different kinds of people in this industry, from bartenders to bar owners, decision-makers, producers, innovators, and even consumers. It’s all about stories that they share that enrich my experience as a professional in this industry.“
She finds being a woman in the alcohol industry very empowering. “I’m able to show what I am capable of achieving in a male-dominated world,” Cri says. Starting in the industry had its challenges as well. “People had a hard time taking me seriously because I was so young and petite. I started working for the industry when I was 23,” she recounts. “I remember my very first wine and spirits trade show. I was behind our booth, passionately talking about our product and people were automatic to assume that I was a promo girl.”
Working hard and being educated in everything that revolves around the business helped her develop confidence. “I studied MBA, I took a distilling class in Scotland, and I continue to familiarize myself with what is out there and what else can I learn from,” she shares.
Having a more diverse spirits industry is a great thing. “More female bartenders or master blenders or spirits makers always provide a different perspective into something that already exists,” Cri adds. “I’m not saying women are better than men, but I think together, we can always enrich this industry and what we’re giving to our customer’s experience.
What can you advise aspiring women who would like to pursue a career in the drink world?
Confidence and persistence are key. In this day and age, gender is something that shouldn’t be considered an obstacle in pursuing your passion.
What do you like to drink?
I’m deeply rooted in whisky and rum. So for me, it’s always a choice of a very peated single malt whisky or a good sipping rum that makes my day. But of course, it’s a case to case basis.
Where do you go for decent drinks in the Philippines, or abroad?
My favorite bars in the Philippines include ABV, Curator, Oto, and the Riedel Room. These bars have a great selection of spirits, great ambiance, and, of course, amazing cocktails! Overseas, I’m a big fan of Japanese bars like Bar Tram, Bar High Five, and this tiny Jazz bar called Shinya +1 out in Golden Gai, Shinjuku. My favorite has to be the Shinya +1 because the owner is the bartender himself. It only seats eight people maximum, and he has a collection of vintage spirits ranging from the 1920s up to the 1980s.
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