April 8, 2018
St. Regis Mexico City Introduces New Mixology Program
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
The St. Regis Mexico City has introduced a new mixology program at the hotel's recently renovated King Cole Bar. Additionally, Head Bartender Ricardo Sandoval, who is responsible for overseeing the cocktail menu and exclusive bar concept, will develop cocktails and workshops for group events and weddings.
Following in the footsteps of Mexican chefs who have crossed borders with their culinary creations, mixologists are now transforming the cocktail scene in Mexico, and King Cole Bar is at the epicenter. Held on the first Wednesday of every month, #TheArtOfMixology will gather Sandoval and fellow international-level mixologists at King Cole Bar.
The mixology series began this month with guest mixologists Christine Wiseman and Damon Rosberry from The Broken Shaker, ranked number 16 on the list of 50 Best Bars in the world. Wiseman has worked in renowned bars and restaurants in Los Angeles, including Ink, La Descarga, and No Vacancy, and is currently the head bartender at The Broken Shaker in Los Angeles. Rosberry, a native of El Salvador, studied at the Culinary Institute of America where he developed a special enthusiasm for wine and spirits. After finishing his studies, he began his career as a bartender at the Waldorf Astoria Casa Marina Resort and later led the mixology program at Qualia Resort on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Since 2015, he has held the role of head bartender at The Broken Shaker in Miami Beach.
In the coming months, King Cole Bar will welcome several acclaimed guest mixologists, including Leslie Cofresi and Carlos Irizarry in May, Chris Mendenhall in June, and Giacomo Gianotti in July. In 2012, Cofresi won the World Class Puerto Rico and is currently the founder and head bartender of La Factoria in San Juan de Puerto Rico. Irizarry is an ambassador of Ketel One Puerto Rico and head bartender alongside Cofresi at La Factoria. With over 12 years of experience in the industry, Mendenhall is presently the lead mixologist at Bar Quadrant located in the Ritz Carlton, Washington D.C. For five years, he has not only presented Quadrant's guests with cutting-edge cocktail menus, but also an unparalleled experience that encourages guests to learn and enjoy cocktails in an elegant and refined setting. Gianotti comes from Bar Paradiso in Barcelona, Spain and was the winner of "Best Bartenders of Spain 2014," a World Class competition.
Complementing the new mixologist series, Sandoval, a member of the World Class Club Elite, an annual World Class Competition to search for the world's best bartenders, is introducing seasonal ingredients, ingenious presentations, and sustainable foods on the new menu. The avant-garde mixology concept and the classically-styled cocktails create a perfect match to transform the atmosphere of the bar.
"It is truly a pleasure to introduce a new cocktail program led by the talented Ricardo Sandoval at a unique time when the cocktail scene in Mexico City is increasingly prospering," said Joel Martin, director of food and beverage at the hotel. "We look forward to showcasing Ricardo's innovative menus and artisanal cocktail creations, which will provide guests with magnificent libations that encompass both local ingredients and the most distinguished flavors of Mexico City."
