Kalel Demetrio makes lambanog, and more. What he does with well-loved Filipino drinks to create superb cocktails that zing and pulse to the beat of the party make him a cut above the rest.
Chef and Mixologist
Kalel's passion to create infusions and dishes that are unique, bringing out the best of the loved tastes of the Filipino heritage, has spurred him to create his own niche. A rising industry leader, he was a resto staff worker, then became a bartender, and is now a chef. He has established his own business, and is the man behind Barik Supremo Lambanog, and is known as the Liquido Maesto because of his expertise at creating new mixed drinks.
Kalel Demetrio at Madrid Fusion Manila
I had the pleasure of meeting Kalel at Madrid Fusion Manila, an international gastronomy event that was recently held at SMX Convention Center.
His unique booth offered free flowing samples of Barik Supremo Lambanog and Barik Supremo Ginger Sour, and a few of his other drink concoctions.
Lambanog is from coconut flowers that have been pruned for the sap to drip, and undergoes a fermentation process. Potent, lambanog can be up to 90% proof.
Barik lambanog is labelled as moonshine.
Lambanog has been called a wine, a liquior, tequila, and vodka and it is a very strong drink, indeed. Typically drank straight, as a shot, it can be added to ice and used as a base for mixed drinks.
The first Barik I tried was the lambanog with ginger. It had a slightly sweet taste and the hint of calamansi, a local, small, sour citrus fruit. The shot went down smoothly. I also tried the pure lambanog, and that too was smooth. The sensation of drinking pure nectar from the coconut was that of that of feeling warmly refreshed, and the kick was elevating.
Kalel and I spoke for a while as he showed me his products. The variety was outstanding, and the bottling is superb, making it worthwhile to place on display at any bar. Handy, the Barik bottle is one that makes it so very interesting to look at and makes an excellent gift.
During our short conversation, we discovered that we had a common friend who was reggae artist, Artstrong Clarion. And as I spent time taking pictures, the booth was buzzing with people, all intent on looking closer at the display, enjoying a sample, and buying.
I was glad to meet such a fine young man, with his cool undercut and thick, long braided hair. He was focused and accommodating - and one who I firmly believe will be able to achieve a lot more upgrading traditional Filipino drinks in the near future.
Learn more about this lambanog by liking the Barik Supremo Lambanog Facebook page.
