Elena Key / Staff Writer
An FIU student-led organization has students mixing drinks as a pastime.
The Bartenders Guild is a pillar of the Bacardi Center of Excellence Program at FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The club teaches members how to make drinks, their history and hospitality etiquette.
“We go over different bar techniques, different drinks, how to make them [step-by-step], bar etiquette and different styles of shaking,” said Cindy Zahnd, FIU senior pursuing a Master of Science in Hospitality Management, and is also the president of the guild.
The guild was established in January 2020 by Cristina Moguel, an FIU hospitality instructor. Her interest in the program grew while working behind the bar at her family’s bakery, El Brazo Fuerte with two locations located in South Florida.
Moguel was inspired to create this club when she realized the school has a beverage management program discussing tea, coffee, and other beverages, except for alcohol.
“We were missing one component… spirits, and we were launching the Bacardi Center of Excellence at the same time… it’s the new Spirits Management track,” said Moguel. “I figured why not connect the dots by starting a student organization and already getting them involved in that aspect.”
Prior to the pandemic, the guild would meet every Tuesday in the Wine Spectator Restaurant Management Laboratory at the Biscayne Bay Campus. Their weekly meetings have been in-person since April 6.
To prepare for the meetings, an ingredient list is emailed to members in advance, to make two to three concoctions or a mixture of drinks.
Rebecca Bohigas, former vice president of the organization, offered alternative ingredients with the same results if members lack intended necessities for the drink.
“If we’re using the jigger, it’s our measuring tool, it has ounces on either side,” said Bohigas. “We give our members suggestions, if they don’t have a jigger, you can use a tablespoon.”
The guild also invites special guests including brand ambassadors of Bacardi USA and industry leaders.
Some prior special guests were Marco Balza, David Riera, and Helena Jose. All of these people have important insight into the industry.
The organization raised one hundred thousand dollars for the United Way Campaign, a campaign which supports members of Miami-Dade County through education, jobs and good health.
After only a year and a half of membership, the guild won Best New Organization by the FIU Student Organization Council Leadership Awards last year.
“This award is presented to a current BBC student or a BBC student group, which created an innovative, creative or traditional idea or program that has established a new standard at BBC,” said Zahnd.
Moguel explained she was already interested in hospitality, but wanted to learn more about the beverage industry.
“I really didn’t see this becoming as large as it did, or taking off as fast as it did, but I’m really happy that it did,” said Moguel.
The club now holds 61 members, but some including Savannah Bass, a hospitality management major, did not expect to find a passion for bartending when they first joined.
That changed since joining the guild. She is now the marketing and social media coordinator.
Bass attended one meeting after her classmate Bohigas mentioned the guild to her. A few meetings later, Bass built connections with special guests and others with a passion for bartending.
“Honestly, I really didn’t find any interest in food and beverage before joining the Bartenders Guild,” said Bass. “But now I have a real deep interest in the spirit side of food and beverage.”
Last weekend, on May 24 the guild was nominated by the SOBE Wine and Food Festival with the award title The People’s Champion: The Bartenders Guild at FIU.
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