Nightcap co-founders Klaire Chua, Jamille Chua, and Aira So on their mobile bar’s humble origins, happy mishaps, and handcrafted tales.
En route to its private tasting room, Nightcap co-founder Klaire Chua spoke of the mobile bar’s beginnings at an unlikely time. “It started in the pandemic,” she recalls. Days would drag between quarantines and social distancing measures, and most, in limbo and eager to reconnect with others, were short of things to do.
Klaire, along with her friends and co-founders Jamille Chua and Aira So, had an undeniable proclivity for refined drinks and the nightlife. When they came across lessons on how to blend a variety of specialized apéritifs and fusions, it inadvertently inspired the idea of selling do-it-yourself cocktail kits.
“It was a fun thing to do with friends over Zoom,” the budding business maven would say. As the three saw the growing potential of these kits, they converted their short-term project into a full-time business venture. Hence, Nightcap Manila was born.
As it stands now, Nightcap Manila has ripened into a mobile bartending service for many events. They have made appearances at H&M’s collaboration with Paco Rabanne, Dolce and Gabbana’s furniture line debut in the Philippines, and Chevron’s 25th anniversary where they served as many as 1,800 guests in one night.
The mobile bar has also earned regular spots in intimate get-togethers, grand ballroom birthdays, and even at times, baptism after-parties.
Nightcap Manila has built a name for inventing bespoke creations and uniquely crafted cocktails that spell a delicate balance between creativity and class. But like most startups, it did not rise to success without its fair share of challenges.
Cocktail connoisseur
In between drinks with Klaire and Jamille at Nightcap’s gold and emerald tasting room, the two share their search for Nightcap’s head bartender. “We went through a lot before we came across Jacques,” Klaire explains, alluding to their in-house cocktail connoisseur Jacques Buenviaje.
Jamille would gesture how Jacques’ interview for Nightcap went. “It was raining that day, and he was late for an hour,” she begins, “right when we were about to leave, Jacques came with his own handkerchief and ingredients.” And as soon as he tossed his handkerchief and laid it out, it glued them right back to their seats.
With roughly a decade of experience in the bartending industry, Jacques demonstrates how there are hierarchies and formulas to creating the right mixes. And while aesthetic remains a priority, “for us in Nightcap, flavor always comes first,” he would say.
Inventive beverages
A look into Nightcap’s bar menu speaks of its precise and sophisticated nature. Apart from its variety of color dyes distilled from fresh sources like fruit juices, its golden and silver-lined cups personalized into monogrammed drinkware, and edible wafer toppers that embody different brand personas, at the center of it all, the fledging bar’s inventive beverages serve as its crowning glory, capturing both stories and seasons in every cup.
The Salted Plum Margarita, for one, a combination of tequila, raspberry, and pomelo, lined with Mexican chamoy on the rim and a slice of lime, packs an explosive surprise for gourmands. Equally spellbinding is the Muscat Sour, a blend of gin, white grape, and egg whites, meant to capture summertime in Japan. Another refreshing and restorative take from the bar is the Penicillin, a spiky, smoky, aged drink made of whisky, ginger, honey, and lemon.
Nightcap also brings a twist to classic signature cocktails. Vintage Berry, for one, brings together a mix of bourbon, strawberry, and orange bitters to create a bittersweet tug-and-pull and makes one envision a late evening in a hotel bar.
Love for beer
Harking to the undeniable love of Filipinos for beer, Nightcap elevates the famous brew through Peach Fresco, a bubbly, craft-beer inspired drink, made of dark rum, beer syrup, sonic, and topped with a sweet glazed, grilled peach.
And of course, what’s a party without the quintessential Amaretto Sour? Nightcap’s blend made of amaretto, bourbon, and lemon has a remarkably light and sweet taste, with a hint of nut lingering by the end of each sip.
Beyond its exquisite knack for details, mindfully curated concoctions, and undeniable commitment to flavor, much of Nightcap Manila’s success can be attributed to its passion for having a good time and telling a good story.
With Jacques at the counter devising yet another novel brew, Klaire, Jamille, and Aira actively collaborating with clients, and every space that the bar serves brimming with laughter, it is no surprise that much of what comes out of Nightcap is made in good taste.
Book your next celebration with Nightcap Manila at cheers@nightcapmanila.ph, at +63 917 809 3936, via instagram @nightcapmanila.
