[Bartender Profile] Vijay Mudaliar, Native (Singapore)

Vijay may champion regional spirits — but he’ll tell you straight up that milk punches should disappear and that most modern cocktails all simply look the same.

Vijay is the driving force behind Native, a bar built on a steadfast, sustainability-led philosophy that champions local and regional ingredients. For nearly a decade, he has pushed the boundaries of what a truly rooted cocktail program can be, earning Native repeated recognition for its thoughtful approach to flavor, sourcing, and community.

Every spirit on the back bar reflects the team’s deep respect for craft and the provenance of regional distilleries — a testament to Vijay’s commitment to celebrating Asia’s richness in the most honest, responsible way possible.