This past Wednesday, we had the pleasure of interviewing Rafael Lagunas, who is proudly sponsored by Vallarta Today in the cocktail competition Made With Love.
Rafael Lagunas Ruiz or “Mister Ate,” as his friends call him due to his Michoacan roots is a down to earth and sociable person with an exemplary team vision. Rafael, with his five years of experience behind the bar and two years of experience in premier cocktail preparation, has sacrificed a month’s paycheck to take the best mixology courses and is now more than ready to participate in the 2nd edition of the most prominent cocktail mixology contest in North America.
Rafael’s History
He became a bartender by coincidence. Rafa’s intention was to work at a bar for two months and then study cinematography, but destiny and the environment of the bar culture wouldn’t let him go.
Rafael began his career as a busboy by picking up empty drink glasses, and once he begun to soak in the lifestyle, he couldn’t let it go, as he himself said “the bar is what I enjoy the most,” and that passion and enthusiasm is palpable in him.
Coming from a state with a strong culinary culture and a mother who studied gastronomy, these gastronomic tendencies shifted towards the bar and the difference between a chef or cook and a bartender is that they have direct contact with their customer, they are the therapists. “It gives us the opportunity to be a sort of alchemist,” he said, and finally, all of that trapped Rafa in the mixology world and the bar culture.
Made With Love
This is not the first time that Rafael participates. Last year’s expectations of the event were surpassed; it was expected that each contestant would prepare 350 beverages, however, 600 people arrived and that complicated his participation. Last year, Rafael made a fusion of mezcal with pomegranate, but finding himself having to prepare more than expected, the rush began in the contest, and mixology is very delicate, a single extra drop can destabilize a drink.
This Year’s Preparation
This year he’s expected to make 400 cocktails, but he’s prepared to make 850; having learned from his past experience that he participated with a difficult cocktail. This year, Rafael says “I’m bringing a beverage of better quality, more studied, better prepared and more simple, a classic drink with a touch that is very mine.” It should be noted that things like inventory, organization, sponsors, empathy work and costs are all happening behind the scenes, it’s not only about preparing a good drink. All that Rafa is waiting for now is his uniform.
Rafael is relaxed, having more than 40 tournaments under his sleeve, although he comments that he always gets nervous, just as everyone, and stress has taken a toll on his health in the past. Now, this year, he will enjoy the contest much more beside his colleagues, whom he admires and respects.
The Team
Rafael’s team is formed by Rafael himself from La Regadera Karaoke Bar, and two other excellent bartenders: Cesar Gomez, Chief of Bars at Garza Blanca, and Steve Berry, bartender at Rancho Banderas.
From A Bad Impression of Raicilla to Becoming His Favorite Drink
When asked about his favorite beverage, Rafa without hesitation said: “Raicilla is the best distilled drink that I’ve tasted in my life.” Having been painted a not-so-nice image of this drink, for a long time he avoided it under that misconception, he also explains: “A Mexican distilled is not only Tequila; it’s Charanda, Raicilla, Sotol, Bacanora and Mezcal,” Charanda’s distillation origin being the same as Raicilla’s.
Today, Mexico has a great capacity and quality in distillation to share with the world, and Rafa hopes that in the future, Mexico will have a distinctive cocktail for every distilled of Mexican denomination.
Vallarta Today proudly invites you to support Rafael “Mister Ate” Lagunas on March 3rd at 6:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Bugambilias Hotel in the Made With Love contest.
