Visit to Sofia
This month I (Marc Pieplenbosch, co-founder) travelled to Sofia and Plovdiv for an inspiring visit, meeting with our distribution partner Drink Plus and their Brand Manager Dimitar Borisov. Together we explored the cities vibrant cocktail cultures and introduced Bandoeng’22 to a new group of bartenders and industry friends.
On Wednesday we hosted our Pandan masterclass at Phi Cocktail Bar, bringing together bartenders from across Sofia. It was a deep dive into the heritage and flavor of pandan, exploring its culinary history, its role in modern cocktails, and its connection to our Dutch Indonesian roots. The session included tastings, discussions, and an interactive sampling of pandan-based cocktails, with a lot of curiosity and excitement in the room.
Bar Take-over at Phi
In the evening, head bartender Kiril Hadjiev and the Phi team took over the bar with a full Bandoeng’22 menu. Cocktails included: Ice Ice Baby (vodka, pistachio milk foam),
Into the Green (bourbon, fig leaf syrup) and Emerald Fizz (green tea soda)
The atmosphere was warm, energetic and fun. Guests loved the menu and were genuinely surprised by the taste of pandan.
About bar Phi
Located on Sofia’s iconic Shishman Street, Phi Cocktail Bar blends timeless elegance with modern design. The space is filled with contemporary art, giving the bar a distinct creative feel. Every cocktail is carefully balanced, pairing the familiar with the unexpected to create drinks that tell a story in every glass.
Visit to Plovdiv
On Thursday we travelled to Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest cities, and hosted a second masterclass and bar take-over, this time at Bar Wow, located in the vibrant Kapana Creative District.
About bar Wow
Kapana is known for its artistic energy, craft culture and culinary diversity.
Bar Wow is a fresh addition to the neighborhood, a cocktail bar serving both classic and contemporary drinks, alongside burgers, wraps and fries, in a relaxed and modern setting.
Masterclass & Take-over
We held the same Pandan masterclass as in Sofia, introducing more bartenders to pandan’s flavor and heritage. In the evening, bartender Petar Bozhinov and his team served a Bandoeng’22 menu featuring: Pandan Negroni, Pandan Mule and Pandan Margarita.
The night was lively, full of flavor, fun conversations and (many) cocktails and shots. It was also a great opportunity to meet Dimitar’s wider team and strengthen our partnership.
Reflections
The next day I flew back home, proud and grateful. My visit to Bulgaria was a success, full of warm hospitality, skilled bartenders, flavorful experiences and growing enthusiasm for pandan.
We look forward to expanding our presence in Bulgaria together with Drinks Plus, and to many more visits in the future.
