Three bartenders, three nights, one playful comeback to stir up your favorite memories
Don Papa Rum invites you to flip through time not by scrolling old photos or cueing a playlist, but by raising a glass. Tres Papas, the brand’s signature bartender series, is back with three can’t-miss nights of cocktails, craft, and stories that linger long after the last sip.
This year’s theme, Nostalgia, asks how flavor can unlock treasured moments, recasting the past with the cheeky, flavorful spirit that defines Don Papa Rum.
First launched in 2019, Tres Papas gathers standout bartenders from around the region for one-night-only shifts that showcase Don Papa’s versatility beside each guest’s signature touch. The 2025 run expands the idea, turning the bar into a time capsule where every pour becomes a gateway to something worth remembering… childhood treats, first tastes of freedom, or the warm comfort of flavors that feel like home.
“Don Papa has always been about joy, storytelling, and a hint of cheekiness,” shares Don Papa APAC Marketing Manager, Angeline Manahan. “This year, we wanted to play with the idea of nostalgia… how a sip can bring you back to moments you thought you’d forgotten, but in a way that’s fresh, fun, and uniquely Don Papa.”
With nostalgia as the cue, Tres Papas 2025 opened on October 24 at The Curator in Manila, the first chapter in a three-stop swing through Asia’s cocktail scene.
For the kickoff, the team behind the stick featured host Vince Uy of The Curator, Audrey Gustilo of Don Papa Rum, and guest bartender Bas “Pek” Suppawat Nitsanga from Bangkok’s famed Teens of Thailand. Known for bold creativity and playful twists, they poured drinks designed to spark memory and deliver joy.
Vince set the tone with two homegrown nods to Filipino comfort. Taho de Presa is a postcard from Baguio and from the childhood dessert many of us grew up loving. It’s sweet, a touch mischievous, and wrapped in that comforting feeling of home… simple moments reframed as something special, elevated by Don Papa’s vanilla and honey. His second, Pandan sa Galo Street, was a bright, nostalgic wink you can sip, lifted by the rum’s fruit-forward character.
From Bangkok, Pek brought daring, no-rules energy to Manila with two pours that balanced memory and mischief. Rum Sawa riffed on his Chinatown recollections, giving them a bold adult spin with Don Papa’s depth. Wabi Sabi bridged Bangkok’s street sensibility with the rum’s playful cheekiness.
Finally, Audrey threaded the evening with two signature Don Papa builds. Dino Don highlighted citrus and candied fruit, inspired by Milo memories that live in countless Filipino homes. Butter Coconut Martini leaned into the rum’s rich warmth, inviting a quiet, reflective sip meant to evoke and linger.
More than a guest shift, the night felt like a sensory time machine where every cocktail told a story and reminded everyone that the most indelible flavors are both tasted and felt. Episode 1 declared the series’ intent: Tres Papas is not only about what’s in the glass, it’s about bringing memories back to life one pour at a time.
The nostalgic tour continues with two more evenings that promise their own unforgettable turns.
Next up is Southbank BGC, with host bartender Tina Tubig joining Audrey Gustilo and Kwan Ponkamon from Bangkok’s Independence, a bar known for weaving E-Sarn flavors into inventive cocktails. Expect bold, soulful drinks pulsing with Bangkok’s late-night energy.
The finale lands at Gaea with David Ong, alongside Audrey and Alex Kharitonkina from Sri Lanka’s Kaiyo, recognized for its farm-to-bar ethos. This closing chapter promises cocktails that bind memory, place, and nature… a fitting end to a nostalgic adventure.
With Tres Papas 2025, Don Papa Rum reminds us that cocktails are never just recipes. They are gatherings of stories, feelings, and shared moments. From Manila to Bangkok to Sri Lanka, this year’s series is ready to serve nostalgia in surprising, flavorful ways… proof that sometimes the sweetest way forward is to savor a sip from the past.
Each night keeps the format simple on paper yet generous in spirit: three bartenders share the rail, trade stories, and build drinks that showcase how Don Papa’s vanilla, honey, and fruit notes can be shaped into entirely different memories. Guests don’t just follow a menu, they follow a thread… from playful nostalgia to quiet reflection and back to celebratory sips.
