Her first foray into professional bartending at the age of 23 was with Arsenio ‘Ash’ Mariano Jr, an icon in the bartending industry. She worked under him as his protégé at Sakura Den in Kuala Lumpur for 6 months, studying the ingredients and drinks that go into a delicious cocktail.
Later on, she was taken under the wing of another mentor, Japanese master bartender Osamu ‘Sam’ Kinugawa. He has a different bartending style, focusing on the details of each individual drink and guest in classic Japanese fashion.
Experience Trumps All
However, if you’re looking to go professional, bartending is all about experience and practical creation of drinks, says Raz. It may not have many academic requirements, but the job requires creativity, quick thinking, and passion.