Behind the Bar: Bartending 101 with Thi Nguyen

In this hands-on class, Thi Nguyen (she/her/hers) will guide you through making a vibrant Vietnamese-inspired cocktail using her own handcrafted syrups from Trăm Phần Trăm. As a driving force in the DMV’s Asian cocktail movement, Thi combines her Vietnamese roots, creativity, and deep industry experience to showcase bold, culturally rich, and unique flavors. You’ll step behind the bar, pick up tips and techniques, and shake up something truly special with us.

About our Instructor, Thi Nguyen

Born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam, Thi Nguyen, is the Bar Director at Moon Rabbit. Thi is passionate about translating Vietnamese heritage and culture into the language of cocktails. She has participated in numerous cocktail competitions since 2018 and has earned accolades across the country, including 2nd Place for Bartender of the Year (2019 and 2020 West Region), Finalist for Woodford Reserve's Manhattan Experience competition (2022, D.C.), and National Finalist in Speed Rack Season 11. In 2024, Thi received the Michelin Exceptional Cocktail Award, was recognized as Punch Drink’s Best New Bartender, and was nominated as a 2025 RAMMYs Finalist for Cocktail Program of the Year. Beyond her passion for bartending, Thi also works in public health. Her journey as a bartender and her multifaceted contributions to public health embody her commitment to creativity, culture, and community. Thi is also the co-founder of AAPI Cocktail Week in D.C. and the founder of Trăm Phần Trăm, the first Asian-inspired syrups in the DMV.

IG: @thi.ng26

Event Accomodations:

We value inclusion and access for all participants and are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations for this event upon request. We will have an ASL interpreter availble for those who require accomodations. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. Thanks!

Tickets:

KAMA DC is a volunteer-run nonprofit that operates entirely on individual donations. Your $50 ticket includes all materials needed to learn how to craft one cocktail. Any additional funds raised through this event will help support future KAMA DC programming. We appreciate your generosity—thank you for supporting our mission!

About the organizer:

KAMA DC is a volunteer-run non-profit that seeks to build community through immigrant-led cultural experiences. We provide a platform for immigrants to share their skills and stories with the DC community.

It's important to us that our events are accessible to everyone. Please email us at info@kamadc.org if the ticket price is a barrier for you!