Three women mix friendship, cocktails to create the city's hot mobile bar

You know those mobile bars at your friends’ debuts or at work events, set up to get the otherwise tense atmosphere going; those mobile bars where the alcohol is a little less than stellar, chockfull of sugar to mask that all-too-familiar cheap buzz that leaves you with nasty hangover the next day. No offense to those services though—while I was in college, those drinks were my lifeline on nights-out after exams. Sometimes, you just want something that gets the job done and not fuss—which is absolutely fair.

But for those who want a much more upscale experience, we found an option, Nightcap Manila.

Founders Jamille Chua, Aira So, and Klaire Chua

Aira So, Jamille Chua and Klaire Chua began this endeavor doing wine and whiskey activities, but they soon graduated to creating their own cocktails. Seeing the distinct lack of quality cocktails in mobile bars, they produced their own cocktail kits that included pre-measured ingredients and detailed instructions for mixing. They began selling the kits to give others a chance to enjoy the cocktail-making experience at home without having to invest in a home bar.

With the uptick in face-to-face events, the three women saw a gap in the market of upscale, quality mobile bars. Nightcap Manila was born out of their love of cocktails and the desire to rev up the mobile bar experience in the Philippines.

: Bespoke cocktails

I had the opportunity to (responsibly) taste some of their bespoke cocktails at two events before their two-year anniversary celebration. The first was at a dermatology launch party, and the other in a wellness and lifestyle event. Both times, I was treated to drinks that were not only aligned with the brands and the themes they were working with, but also were really good—at the end of the day, what’s the point of having a drink that didn’t taste good, right?.

Their mobile bar always blended well with the brand and the event, and the bar’s attention to detail amazed me both times. During the skincare event, the bar had three options for non-alcoholic drinks that were meant to remedy skin concerns during the consultation activity. In the lifestyle and wellness event, their drinks were completely different from those I had in the previous event.

In both events, experiencing the Nightcap Manila mobile bar felt like you were rolling the dice—and always ending up a winner.

In their two-year anniversary event last November 14 at The Residences at Westin, the founders explained to me how drinks are created for an event. Clients requesting for bespoke cocktails are invited to Nightcap Manila’s Tasting Room for a session of mixing and tasting the drinks whipped up by their head mixologist. Whether for special occasions like weddings or big brand parties, the devil is in the detail, so to speak. Clients fill out forms about their flavor preferences, alcohol base choices, event details. The founders also look into the brand decks to make sure that the final output is a one-of-a-kind blend that is on-brand.

What interested me about Nightcap Manila, beyond its offerings and services, was the business dynamic among the three women. In our chat that night, it was their shared history that drew my interest. The founders have always been friends before they went into business. I asked, “So, how do you make it work?” As the maxim goes, never start a business or work with friends if you want the friendship to last. This was what impressed me—how simple their system worked.

Each co-founder oversees a specific part of the business: Jamille, operations; Klaire, logistics and client relations; Aira, marketing. But when the going gets rough, as it often does in the lives of modern working women, each of them steps up. When one, for instance, handles the opening of another business—surprise! Nightcap Manila isn’t their only business!—the others step in to help in the workload.

Also, meetings are delineated between “fun chika” and “work-mode,” and any professional disagreements are left behind in Zoom.

In short, beyond talented, business-minded women (girl power!), I also just met a group of friends who loved what they did and were passionate about it.

And they made time to chat with TheDiarist.ph, amid the hustle of that night and the number of guests needing their attention. I was generously given a Korean hangover jelly for my stomach by co-founder Aira, after I casually mentioned not able to handle much alcohol (ironic, I know!). It was a sweet “girlhood” moment as she searched her bag for the sachet. It felt like those girlhood moments when you’d be in the bathroom of a bar and, as women do, you’d pipe up and ask if anyone had a powder with them. Then all the women at the restroom sink not only would offer theirs, but also would give recommendations—and it suddenly would feel like a beauty convention going in the bathroom.

As the night went on and the program went in full swing, I listened intently as the founders chatted and celebrated their achievements the last two years. Seeing a group of friends turn an idea into a beautiful event, that atmosphere, I was inspired! It’s one thing to have great ideas, but another to execute these ideas successfully, it is a whole other ordeal.

I look forward to seeing where Nightcap Manila and its founders go, moving forward.