On Air With Adrian

Adrian Abraham speaks to Pankaj Balachandran, Founder and CEO, Countertop India and Brand Director, Short Story Spirits about Countertop Lab's new home, the group's successful mentorship portfolio and his unique sneaker collection.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Diganta Chakraborty, Head of Brand at Soul Company about attracting some of South East Asia's biggest F&B talents to India, the growth of bars in Tier two cities and the art of networking within the industry.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Mel Chavez, Bar Manager at Smoke & Mirrors about the experiences that shaped him for his current role, what he can recall from the his most memorable and the origins of his go to drink at a bar.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Sathya Selan, Senior Mixologist at Artyzen Singapore about why he ventured into the world of cocktails, the process of coming up with the beverage program and some of the must try drinks at the venue.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Shallum John, Brand Ambassador for Codigo 1530 about how he's settling into his role, what his biggest dream in life is and how his passion for flair bartending made it to National Television in Singapore.

Laut is a cocktail bar in Singapore that focuses on regional produce, creating experiences reflective of the season. Adrian Abraham speaks to Leon Tan, Co-owner at the bar about why he refused to let the Laut dream fade away, how he's making the smaller space work and how he finds time to crack the work life balance conundrum.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Nash D, Resident DJ at Marquee Singapore and Avenue about his earliest memories of being in the industry, superstitions before he gets on stage and the evolving landscape of Singapore's nightlife scene.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Jack Ng, a Bartender at Argo about how a working holiday in the UK led him to his current profession, how his mentors inspired him along the way and how the legendary welcome drink at the bar came to be.

Don Ranasinghe, Co Owner at Smoke and Bitters talks about why he left London to open a bar in Sri Lanka, how individuals and establishments have contributed to his journey and how the nation's cocktail narrative has evolved.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Norman Tan, Head Bartender at Sago House about how individuals in the bar industry have inspired his journey, what makes NTUC FairPrice therapeutic and how the 'Ninja Disguise' was born.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Jeeivan, Senior Bartender at The Elephant Room about how he ventured into the bar industry, his most memorable guest shift and what makes the local bartending community so special.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Grace Nirmalan, Assistant Bar Manager at MO Bar about how she ended up in the F&B industry, the role models that inspired her along the way and how she's adjusting to her new leadership role.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Poh Chuan, Head Bartender at Night Hawk about working under the guidance of industry legend Peter Chua, how he unwinds during his time off and how he deals with added pressure now that the bar has claimed multiple accolades.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Jesse Vida, Co-Owner at Cat Bite Club about what inspired him to set up the establishment, his biggest takeaway from working in Singapore and why accolades should be the last thing on your mind when opening a new bar.

JiaWei is the brains behind White Shades, a venue he describes as a cocktail playground with four different floors to explore. Adrian Abraham speaks to JiaWei about the inspiration behind his cocktail programme, why he keeps pushing himself and how he unwinds when he's not at the bar.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Shelley Tai, Group Operations Director at Nutmeg Collective about why she left her comfort zone and moved to Singapore, the reason she decided not to quit the industry eight years ago and why representation matters.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Chanel Adams, Bar Manager at The Bamboo Bar, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok about her empowering message for fellow women in the bar industry. She also talks about the inspiration behind the venue's innovative cocktail menu and her biggest takeaway from being on the Business Education Committee at Tales of the Cocktail.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Germaine Woon who set up The Foundry, a creative marketing firm after once managing 17 restaurants. Germaine talks about pivotal moments that shaped her vision, the crucial role of a supportive network in sustaining her drive and the driving force that pushed her into this industry.

Giselle Lee AKA Giselle Bonifacio is not only known for being an Apprentice at Employees Only Singapore but also for her signature sunglasses. Adrian Abraham speaks to Giselle about inspirational role models she looks up to in the industry, how she manages to make time for herself while working in a fast paced environment and the ultimate goal for 2024.

In this episode, Adrian Abraham speaks to Christine Wong, a part-time DJ who is making a name for herself on Singapore's nightlife scene. Find out about what inspired her to step into the music industry, how she finds the time to juggle three different professions and what she's doing to make a difference.

If you've ever been to Sago House, you'll definitely bump into Darryl Ng, the charismatic floor host at the venue. He's quite a character, one that will not only tell you facts as they are but inspire you to take that leap of that faith, no matter where you find yourself in life.

In this special series of seven Singaporean bar personalities to watch out for in 2024, Adrian Abraham speaks to Mary Teoh, Head of Ops and Service at Stay Gold Flamingo. From her earliest memories behind the bar to the invaluable life lessons learned along the way. Get ready to sip on some unforgettable stories, glean insights, and maybe even pick up a few cocktail tips from the one who keeps the drinks flowing and the good times rolling.

Every bar that makes it onto the 50 Best List gets their name on the famed red scarf. For Apoorva Kohli, she knew it would take something special to have her own name replace that of a bar. On 17 October 2023, that dream became a reality as she came out on top in the 50 Best Bars The Blend Scholarship. Adrian Abraham speaks to Apoorva about how her role models inspired her journey, her most memorable guest shift and why she never let go of the red scarf on that memorable night in Singapore.

While Christmas is a time to celebrate and spend time with loved ones, Christopher Menning got the worst news of his life. He was diagnosed with cancer on 25 December 2022. Adrian Abraham speaks to Chris, Brand Ambassador for Rémy Cointreau, Thailand about finding resilience in the face of adversity, how he's mentally coped with all the trauma and why we should always prioritise our health despite multiple temptations around us.

From crafting delicious cocktails, travelling the world as a renowned bartender to putting on his dancing shoes. Keith Motsi does it all. Adrian Abraham speaks to Keith, Head Bartender at VIRTÙ about what makes the concept unique, why he went on of a whim and traded London for China back in 2017 and how he became a certified Umeshu maker. He also offers some valuable advice for aspiring bartenders and why they should make their own path.

Adrian Abraham speaks to DJ Jaz about the events that led her to pursue a career in music, why she doesn't drink on set and how she manages to support herself given the current economic climate.

Eddie Rivera had a comfortable job at Microsoft which even saw him have dinner with Bill Gates. Adrian Abraham speaks to Eddie about why he gave it all up to join APA full-time, the prized possession from his whiskey collection and how the league is shaping up in Singapore.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Devender Sehgal about his passion to share the love of Shochu, Hong Kong's cosmopolitan nightlife and how India's Bar industry is on the rise.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Rakshay Dhariwal, Founder & Managing Director, Maya Pistola Agavepura about the challenges of launching the product in India, what inspired the name and why Singapore holds a special place in his heart.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Arathorn Grey, Head Bartender at Tippling Club about the intriguing story behind his infamous resting bitch face, how past leadership roles have shaped him for his current position and why he feels the Singapore bar community is like a close knit extended family.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Timothy Low about how he balances a full time wrestling career with his passion for cooking up some delicious meals. Tim also talks about what it would mean to have his own restaurant one day and why he would sign with the WWE if they came calling.

Priyanka Blah left home at 16 and navigated through odd jobs fuelled by her passion to sample rare whiskies and cocktails. This journey would lead to The Dram Attic, a spirits and cocktail platform that showcases key bars and talent across the alcohol industry worldwide On this episode Priyanka shares anecdotes from her adventures, documenting the diverse world of cocktails and whiskies, why she remains committed to fight for underdogs in the cocktail industry and how she reacted when the opportunity to be an Academy Chair for Asia's and The World's 50 Best Bars came about.

From the vibrant streets of Seoul to the bustling metropolis of Singapore, Maria Kim's resilience and determination to chase her dream is a true testament of her character. When she landed in Seoul as an English teacher, Maria had no idea she would one day master the art of crafting cocktails at some of the best bars in Asia. Adrian Abraham speaks to Maria about the challenges of adapting to life in South Korea despite being ethnically Korean, how she's getting acquainted to her new role as Trade Ambassador for Bacardi-Martini in Singapore, and how cocktail cultures differ between the two countries.

Discover the art of butchery and the rich flavours that emerge from utilising every part of the animal with Chef Pete Smit, Co-founder, Dirty Supper. Adrian Abraham speaks to Pete about the challenges of being a Chef in Singapore, the most interesting dish he's served at a restaurant and how he's feeling ahead of his inaugural pop-up in India.

Adrian Abraham speaks to Rohan Matmary, Bar Manager at Bar Trigona about how he ventured into bartending and why he moved to Malaysia after four years with Sidecar. Rohan also offers some valuable advice for aspiring bartenders looking to follow in the footsteps of their mentors and legends in the industry.

After successful launches in the United States and Brazil over the last few years, BCB is coming to Singapore! Adrian Abraham speaks to Henry Stonham, Senior Project Manager, BCB Singapore about how participants can benefit from a curated environment to showcase and discover high quality brands, Henry also elaborates on how individuals can learn about the latest trends from the market and meet with like-minded driven professionals.

As the curtain falls on Sago House 1.0, Adrian Abraham speaks to Naz Zurimi, Bar Manager at the venue about his best memories from the place that gave us some of the best nights out. He also talks about how the support from his main peeps helped him become the person he is today and why his cooking slaps.

When Celebrity Chef Gaggan Anand came to Singapore in 2022 to do a residency at Mandala Club, Sheen Leong had no idea that the two of them would open up Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh in Singapore. As the restaurant approaches its one year anniversary, Adrian Abraham speaks to Sheen, Managing Director, Proper Concepts about what it's been like to work with Gaggan, the uniquely crafted cocktail menu at GOHO Kaiseki & Bar and what cocktail enthusiasts can look forward to ahead of the highly anticipated World's 50 Best Bars Awards.

For the first time in the programme’s 15-year history, The World's 50 Best Bars will head to Asia with Singapore hosting the 2023 edition on 17th October. Adrian Abraham speaks to Ethan Chai, Asia Pacific Sales Director, Michter's Whiskey about what the world can expect from Singapore's cocktail culture, some of the must try dishes at local hawker centres and whether multiple guest shifts really propel you to the top.