If we were a bit sharper, we would have published this post in the fifth month of the year in honour of Metinee Kongsrivilai’s pseudonym, ‘May’. Mind you, that would have been obvious. Much better we think to share the particular ray of sunshine she brings with her, wherever she goes, in the winter months. What better tonic to warm your heart and cure whatever ails you?
It certainly works for us. In fact, we’d go as far as saying that she’s one of the brightest, bubbliest, most brilliant Brand Ambassadors around. Don’t take our word for it: just ask any of the UK Bacardí Legacy finalists that she’s mentored (or more precisely, ‘mothered’) over the years and they’ll be just as effusive. So, as an early Christmas gift, we bring you a little May Magic. Just mix yourself up a Bacardi Daiquiri, sit back and enjoy!
So, May, what were you like growing up? Set up a scene that best describes your teenage self?
Me and my best friend Kila headed off to the Wandle Leisure centre to our mates birthday party and tried to seduce all the sexy boys, with our choreographed dance moves whilst also wearing the most ridiculous and revealing outfits that we’d rather not recall. Safe to say, the ‘pick-up-the-telephone-and-play-golf’ dance move worked its charm – not so much today, unfortunately.
Above: Young May with friend
Okay, got it. Is there a particular song that reminds you of this period in your life?
What about a drink?
MD 20/20 Kiwi and Lime.
Classy! Moving swiftly on, tell us about your first bar job. Where was it and what do you remember most about it?
I entered the bar scene in the vibrant ends of Fulham Broadway in London, at a bar/club called Chateau 6. My uniform was a skin-tight, satin black, Baby Doll dress and I wore heels behind the bar. With no pockets. I kept my bar blade in my bra! The tips were good and my drinks were awful but my banter was god-damn amazing! This was when I came out of my shell and realised that I had a knack for tending a bar.
Is there a particular song that you equate with this time?
And the drink?
B52.
Edinburgh features prominently in your career, what are your memories of this period in your life?
After university, I decided to avoid London and moved to the bright lights of Edinburgh. I rebelled against my parents wishes to work nine-to-five in an office and continued to enjoy my life behind the bar. This was my first stint at smashing out Mojitos with no ice crushed. I cleaned gross boys toilets and excelled at Excel with rota planning; I also danced a lot… Like A LOT! – ‘D-fly’ as we called it – offered great parties, great cocktail puns and great friends. Rock on!
May with her treasured Bacardi Legacy finalists trophy. Photographed for Issue 12 of The Cocktail Lovers magazine
What’s the one tune that best sums up your Edinburgh adventures?
What were you drinking at this time?
Raspberry Ripple
15ml Chambord
50ml Vanilla Vodka
5ml maple syrup
50ml cranberry juice
Raspberry to garnish
Method:
Shake first four ingredients over ice. Strain into a chilled Martini/Coupe glass. Garnish with a fresh raspberry.
Other than your time in Edinburgh, what would you say has the most pivotal time in your career and why?
The Bacardí Legacy Cocktail Competition has been a very important element of my life – it encouraged me to enter cocktail competitions at a time when I hated doing them. When I was announced as one of the three cocktail finalists in 2010, it made me realise that I am capable. My work has taken me to amazing destinations like Miami, Puerto Rico, Moscow, Sydney, San Fransisco, Berlin and Amsterdam, where I’ve met life-long friends and people I’d call my family, from all around the world. It’s also provided this life changing career as as Bacardí Brand Ambassador for the last six years.
Is there one stand out song that sums up your six years as Bacardí Brand Ambassador?
What about a drink?
The Matinee
[Created by Metinee for Bacardí Legacy in 2010]
50ml Bacardi Carta Blanca rum
12.5ml Martini Rosso vermouth
12.5ml freshly-squeezed lemon juice
15ml vanilla sugar syrup
15ml egg white
2 kaffir lime leaves
Method:
Dry shake all ingredients to emulsify the egg white, then shake hard over ice. Double strain into a chilled Coupe glass. Garnish with a fresh kaffir lime leaf.
On stage with the UK Bacardí Legacy Three Most Promising, 2016
Moving on to the present.
If you could only have one spirit that you had to have while stranded on a desert island what would it be?
BACARDÍ Carta Blanca (obvs)
If you could only have one cocktail that you could have on your desert island what would it be?
Mismo with BACARDÍ Carta Blanca
What would be the one song that you would pick to accompany you on your desert island. It doesn’t necessarily have to be one of the previous songs?
Blind – Hercules and LoveAaffair
What luxury item would you take with you on your desert island?
My spotify playlists, including the tracks below:
True Blue – Madonna (I won a talent contest singing this… with hand gestures and everything!)
Maneater – Nelly Furtado
Body Rock – Shimon & Andy C
Wile Out – DJ Zinc ft Ms. Dynamite
Ghostwriter – RJD2
Gabriel – Joe Goddard
Daddy Cool – Boney M
Yes sir, I can boogie – Baccara
I think I like it – Fake Blood
Light it up – Major Lazer
Somebody to love me – Mark Ronson
Check out May’s Desert Island Discs playlist below
One Response
Yyyyyyeeeeesssss May! ?