Meet The Team

Sydney

Charlie Ainsbury stands as one of Australia’s most awarded and admired bartenders. He is considered a native legend of bartending in Australia. With 15 years under his belt, Charlie has worked and run some of the world’s best cocktail bars including multi-award-winning bar This Must Be the Place. Shortlisted for ‘International Bartender of the Year’ at the Spirited Awards and twice Diageo World Class Global Finalist, Charlie is a world class bartender, manager and mentor and is now the Spirits Evangelist for Proof & Company in Australia. As JERRY Professor, Charlie’s expertise lies in service, hospitality and the broader role of the modern bartender.

Hong Kong

After 3 years of law school, Lorenzo, started his career in the hospitality industry in Rome, at the Hotel De Russie, one of the “Leading Hotels of the World”. After experiences in Australia and Mexico, in 2011, Lorenzo moved to London, where he joint the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, best Hotel Bar at TOTC 2011, working under the wing of his mentor, Erik Lorincz. Now Beverage Manager at Four Seasons Hong Kong, Lorenzo has worked in such notable establishments as the Charles H.

Singapore

Joe Alessandroni hails from San Francisco, where he earned a degree in Business & Entrepreneurship and worked for the largest hospitality company in the Bay Area, winning ‘Best High Volume American Cocktail Bar’ at the 2011 Spirited Awards. Joe moved to Asia in 2013 to become GM at 28 HongKong Street, winning ‘Best International Cocktail Bar’ in 2014. Now a Spirits Evangelist on the Proof Creative Team, Joe concepts remarkable bars and maintains a bartender residency at Singapore’s 28 HongKong Street. Guest professor at the Culinary Institute of America and with 23 years experience, Joe specializes in cocktail creation and bar operations as a JERRY Professor.

Bangkok

Born in Berlin, Germany, Philip’s first foray into bartending came at the age of 23. He began learning mixology at catering events, then honed his craft behind the bar at nightclubs. By the age of 27 Philip was turning out cocktails at Le Lion –Bar de Paris, which was awarded the Best New International Bar at Tales of the Cocktail. He was also at the helm of Amano in Berlin when it earned the prestigious title of Best Hotel Bar and Bar Team at the Mixology Bar Awards in 2013. In 2015, Philip joined the award-winning Manhattan, currently #3 in the Worlds 50 Best Bar list and #1 in Asia’s 50 Best Bar List, at Regent Singapore (formerly a Four Seasons hotel), as Bar Manager. Now Beverage Manager at Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Bangkok Chao Phraya River.

Singapore

Trained in New York and San Francisco, Michael is one of Asia’s leading bartenders. An expert in independent spirits and American craft cocktails with 25 years experience, Michael is the founding bartender and part owner of 28 HongKong Street, currently Creative Director at Employees Only, Singapore and Managing Director for The Compound Collective – a consulting company for beverage programs across the globe. Previously, Michael was a Spirit Evangelist for Proof & Company, the ‘Vice President’ of the United States Bartenders’ Guild for Northern California, and a lecturer at the City College of San Francisco. As a JERRY Professor, Michael specializes in cocktails and bartender training.

Singapore

Born and raised in Singapore, Jeremy Chua (aka “Jem”) is one of the city-state’s most talented bartenders. After working as a bartender in several other establishments, he was scouted by Michael Callahan to join the opening bar team of 28 HongKong Street. After three years he took the helm of this World’s 50 Best Bar as head bartender. In 2015 he took a year off to travel through Asia, Europe, and Australia before returning to join Proof & Company as a Spirits Evangelist, bringing with him inspirations from the sights, sounds and tastes that he gathered on his trip across several continents. The youngest of the JERRY Professors with seven years experience, Jem specializes in beverage preparation and hospitality.

New York

Philip fell in love with bartending and cocktails from a young age, and even the temptations of a marketing degree weren't enough to sway him; he bartended at both fine and dodgy bars in his native Ireland, then England, the US, the Cayman Islands, and Holland. Along the way he became an award-winning spirits, bartending and cocktail educator, started a consulting firm he still runs (Liquid Solutions), opened Europe's largest bartender school, founded Holland's first speakeasy cocktail bar in Amsterdam (door 74), and amassed a client list of liquor firms eager for his on-trade marketing expertise. He's a judge for the World's 50 Best Bars and Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards and past Director of Education at Tales of the Cocktail.

Singapore

A bon-vivant and lover of hotel bars, Tom Hogan worked as head barmen at the Waldorf Astoria while earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Chicago. Tom moved to Asia in 2014 to become General Manager at Anti:dote. Winner of ‘Singapore’s Best Bartender’ two times running, Tom has over 12 years of experience in the field of hospitality. Tom is a highly acclaimed trainer, educator and consultant, crafting unique beverage experiences throughout the greater Asia as a Proof & Company Spirits Evangelist. He also maintains a bartender residency at Singapore’s 28 HongKong Street. As a JERRY Professor, Tom specializes in coffee, beverage preparation and leadership.

Singapore

One of the world’s most well-known bartenders, Zdenek Kastanek hails from the Czech Republic. Originally trained as a chef, he has run memorable bars across four continents in his 17 year hospitality career. Zdenek is now General Manager at Proof & Company in Singapore and a Bartender in Residence at 28 HongKong Street. Among his many awards, Zdenek has been shortlisted a remarkable four times for ‘International Bartender of the Year’ at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. As a JERRY Professor, Zdenek specializes in hospitality and bar technique.

Beijing

Born in Beijing, but raised in the United States, Ethan Liu has over 16 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. Since returning to China in 2012, Ethan has become one of the best known names in the Asian cocktail scene, managing two of Beijing’s most renowned cocktail bars, Flamme and d lounge, and placing ‘2nd Overall’ in the 2013 Diageo World Class China Finals. From 2014 to 2016, Ethan worked as a Brand Ambassador for Diageo and later as the APAC Brand Ambassador for Maison Ferrand. Ethan now leads Proof & Company’s Beijing office. Certified in WSET Level 1 and 2 for Spirits, Ethan specializes in spirits knowledge.

Shanghai

A trilingual bartender and manager from Baltimore, Maryland, with more than 10 years of F&B experience working in New York, Seoul and Shanghai, Chris Lowder first travelled to Asia on a scholarship to Beijing to study and translate Mandarin. In 2015, he became the first-ever American bar manager to put two bars in a single hotel on World’s 50 Best Bars list in the same year. Today, Chris helps lead Proof & Company’s creative work in mainland China, including: menu development, bar design, spirits curation, staff training and education, and high profile event bartending. He also maintains a bartender residency at World’s 50 Best Bars, Speak Low. As JERRY Professor, Chris specializes in hospitality and leadership.

Hong Kong

A French American, Jeremy Moreau learned the art of French cuisine from his grandmother and wine working in the finest restaurants in Paris, Berlin and New York as a sommelier. Jeremy moved to Asia to become a GM for La Maison du Whisky and joined Proof & Company at its inception in 2012. With over 12 years experience, Jeremy received the ‘Malt Maniac Awards Gold Medal’ in 2011 (the first ever in Southeast Asia) and the ‘Supreme Award at the Malt Maniac Awards’ in 2012. Jeremy is now Editor in Chief at JERRY. As a JERRY Professor, he specializes in wine, spirits and retail management.

Shanghai

Micaela Piccolo is the Asia Pacific Brand Ambassador for Maison Ferrand, representing a diverse portfolio of award-winning artisanal spirits including Plantation Rum, Citadelle Gin, and Cognac Ferrand. Based in Shanghai, Micaela's scope extends over 12 countries across the Asia Pacific including Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mainland China. In 2018, she also served as an International Co-Chair for The Spirited Awards®, that helps to select and showcase talent found throughout the entire spirits community. Micaela moved to Asia after a successful career in New York City and Miami, where her cocktails were featured in Town & Country Magazine, New York Daily, InStyle.com, and Thrillist. As a JERRY Professor, Micaela specializes in sugarcane spirits and hospitality.

Venezuela

Jeffersont Toyo hails from Venezuela, where he represents local rum brands as a brand ambassador and teaches at the Academia Nacional Bartender de Venezuela. A certified IBA (International Bartender Association) Trainer and B.A. holder, Jeffersont has worked in hospitality for 10 years as a bartender, head bartender, and eventually a bar manager. A rising star, Jefersont has consulted on many bar projects, working hand in hand with local suppliers to source the best available products and tools. If you ever go to Venezuela on a brand tour, you will likely meet the gregarious and ambitious JERRY Professor Jeffersont Toyo.

Singapore

Hailing from a family of pub owners, Jason has managed some of the most successful cocktail bars in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as well as worked as a brand ambassador. He has won Australia’s ‘Bartender of the Year’ and ‘Bar Manager of the Year’ an unprecedented 5 times, and was a finalist for ‘International Bartender of the Year’ in 2014. With 20 years industry experience, Jason is the Creative Director at Proof & Company, managing beverage program development and education activities across Asia Pacific. As a JERRY Professor, Jason specializes in operations and leadership