Mixmaster Mike: Mike Canlas Mixes Cocktails at The Stock Market
Posted by Jayvee at April 6th, 2009
Blame Sex and the City if you must—but whatever the reason, cocktails are popular as ever among women.
They may be the gayest drinks in the world, but knowing a few tips and tricks may just help you get social with them ladies. Read on as cocktail connoisseur Mike Canlas helps us through this whole drink-mixing business.
“I love working in the bar, and I’d often hog the station so that I would prepare everything the whole shift,” Mike Canlas tells us about his experience working at a local restaurant and café. He worked there for about six years as a barista, learning the ropes of mixology. But it was after an old friend and mentor introduced him to a salesperson from Torani flavored syrups that his fascination turned into a full-blown addiction. “They had a lot of flavor varieties and I’ve never stopped experimenting on their wide selection of flavors since then,” says Mike.
SPICY MANGO MARGARITA a.k.a THE ULTIMATE ORGASMIC EXPERIENCE
Rating: 10 MARTINI GLASSES
“This is my favorite. I’d give it a 20! But Liz told me the highest is just 10. It’s really innovative, daring and refreshing. I love the surprising kick you get from the chili, complemented by the soothing mango flavors.”
According to Mike, cocktails are actually very easy to make. He adds that you can get tips and recipes online and through books about mixology, plus it does help if you have a Blendeq commercial blender, which sells for about 60 grand. During the interview, Mike prepared three cocktail drinks he thinks the ladies would like: a frozen margarita, a mojito type and a frozen daiquiri variety.
PINEAPPLE-LYCHEE DAIQUIRI
Rating: 9 MARTINI GLASSES
“It’s my second favorite! It’s really refreshing, although I could barely taste the pineapple. The lychee was awesome and the taste seems rather comforting and smooth, which is opposite to the spicy mango’s effect.”
“Let’s call it the ‘Ultimate Orgasmic Experience’ for now,” Mike says when asked what his first concoction was called. For this drink, which Mike invented himself, he put together blended fresh mangoes, lime juice, tequila and a piece of chili. “The spice of the chili and the sweetness of the mango blend perfectly together and mask the unwanted alcohol taste. You can actually add more tequila and you won’t notice it. So, I guess this will get her drunk the fastest,” warns Mike. The second drink he made for us was a Pineapple Mojito. Composed of pineapple juice, mint leaves, a slice of lemon, light rum and soda water, this refreshing drink is actually perfect for the summer heat. Lastly, he made a Pineapple-Lychee Daiquiri, which is also refreshing, smooth and light. Mike describes this as “almost drinking a healthy shake by the beach,” but with a little buzz I suppose.
PINEAPPLE MOJITO
Rating: 7 MARTINI GLASSES
“It’s good, but I’m still not over the spicy mango margarita! This one’s really refreshing and the flavors mask the taste of the alcohol.”
Mike currently works as a bar consultant at the moment. So while most of us slave away in front of our computers from 10 to 7, Mike trains baristas, make the beverage menu and apparently gets to drink on the job. One time, Mike shares that two models came up to him and asked him to make them cocktails. Mike ended up having a threesome with them. Okay, so I’m just kidding you with the whole threesome thing, but they did spend the whole night chatting with him by the bar. I say, this job is not bad at all.
Words by Liz Anne Bautista
Photography by Mitch Mauricio
Shot on location at The Stock Market Restaurant, The Fort
Makeup artist and cocktail lover Joelle Tanchanco taste-tests Mike’s concoctions (captions and rating all belong to Joelle!)
