2 days ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
'I want people to sip something distinctly Filipino': How Pinoy Liquido Maestro pours pride, culture, and native ingredients into every bottle
Demetrio is a visionary mixologist and the creative force behind Destileria Barako, the Filipino craft distillery known for bold, proudly local spirits like Ube Cream Liqueur, Kanto, and Agimat.
As a passionate advocate of the Slow Food Movement in the Philippines, he works closely with communities to rediscover and celebrate native botanicals, foraged herbs, and forgotten flavours.
While visiting Australia, he shared his curiosity for local bush tucker and Indigenous fruits — hoping to find common ground between Filipino and Australian native ingredients.
The Philippines is home to a treasure trove of native botanicals, many of which remain unknown to the world. But a growing movement led by artisans like Kalel Demetrio, also known as the Liquido Maestro, is changing that.
Kalel Demetrio distilling Lambanog in Quezon Province. Source: Supplied From sampaguita to ylang-ylang, from wild ginger to rare citrus, Kalel brings forgotten local ingredients to the global stage, one cocktail at a time.
Rooted in heritage and driven by innovation, Kalel Demetrio and Siggy Bacani are are working in parallel to make Filipino flavours part of the global palate, and the global conversation. Source: Supplied Dive deep into the world of Philippine craft spirits with Kalel Demetrio and Siggy Bacani. Listen to the podcast for the full conversation. 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
