Latin Heritage Month is a special time in Los Angeles. From September 15th to October 15th, L.A. Weekly highlights the members of the Latinx community and all that they contribute to our amazing city and culture.

This year, we have teamed up with Perrier® to highlight the greatest Latinx bartenders and mixologists, who have created tasty Perrier® cocktail creations that pay homage to their Latin culture and traditions.

Here are some of our favorites:

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Simon Alvarado – Nua

Simon has always been proud to be Mexican! Boyle Heights is a predominately Hispanic neighborhood & throughout his life he was surrounded by the fruits of his community’s labor… from traditional dishes, vibrant street murals, sounds of the bells from the palatero, or the store fronts that smelled like fresh pan dulce and fabuloso. There are so many traditions that are still practiced in Boyle Heights, one of his favorites is ‘Dia De Los Muertos’, where he celebrates his loved ones who’ve passed with Ofrendas. Simon loves how beautiful and artistic everyone makes theirs with vivacious colors, flowers, pan de muerto, calaveras, candles, photographs, & alcohol. He gets a flare of excitement and pride when he speaks of his heritage, it makes him want to share it with everybody he comes across.

Pisco Green Apple
3/4 Tequila Reposado
3/4 Pisco
3/4 Apple Pucker
1/2 Fresh Lemon juice
Top with Perrier® Carbonated Mineral Water, shake & enjoy!!

Rim glass with chamoy, tajin, & garnish with a green apple.

I celebrate Latin Heritage Month because I love that we are very passionate people. It shows in how we pass our traditions down to each generation, the pride we take in making our native dishes, or even the way we belt out when singing corridos. It’s that pride that just flows through our blood. Being Mexican-American myself, it’s the best of both worlds. I’m more than happy to share my culture with others & always open to learn about another.

#Perrier #LatinHeritageMonth #SparkOriginality

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Marvin Sandoval – Bar Hermanito

Raised in Los Angeles, Marvin Sandoval‘s Salvadoran mother and Mexican father helped inspire his career in the restaurant industry, having worked in it themselves. Currently working at Bar Hermanito, Sandoval decided to learn the next step into becoming a manager— learning the coffee station, serving, and bartending which brought out a new passion in Mezcal.

When Marvin isn’t creating new cocktails or dishes, you can find him fishing, taking martial arts classes, or working with his partner Victoria, who is a chef, planning out their future restaurant concept together, one dish and cocktail at a time.

Mi Corazón

2 oz Mezcal
1 oz Blood Orange, Pomegranate, and Guava Purée
1 oz Lime Juice
1 oz Spicy Agave Syrup

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake & strain into a coupe garnished with a black lava salt rim. Top with Perrier® Carbonated Mineral Water or preferred flavor, and garnish with an edible flower to serve.

I celebrate Latin Heritage Month because when I hear the word Latin I hear “family,” a community of loving, hard working people that strive for greatness. Being able to express myself in the form of cocktails was an amazing experience for me. From experimenting with different ingredients, connecting with other mixologists, and trying new ideas that inspire me. Each of the fruits, the mezcal, down to the agave syrup, truly represent the culture I grew up in.

#Perrier #LatinHeritageMonth #SparkOriginality
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Ivan Vasquez – Madre Los Angeles

Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, Ivan Vasquez was raised with the traditional recipes that had been passed down through several generations in his family. In 2017, Ivan opened Madre in Torrance after noticed the lack of traditional Oaxacan cuisine in the South Bay. Vasquez is passionate about educating his guests about Oaxacan culture, as well as Madre’s extensive mezcal offerings. Through extensive research, trips back to Oaxaca, and talks with notable mezcaleros, Vasquez has become an expert on all aspects of mezcal.

Smokey Mule
¾ oz Fresh Lime Juice
¾ oz Ginger Syrup
2oz Mezcal
Top with Perrier® Carbonated Mineral Water

Ginger Syrup Recipe
1 Cup Fresh Ginger Juice
1 Cup Sugar
Combine Ginger & Sugar together until sugar dilutes

In a Tin Shaker add ¾ oz Fresh Lime Juice, ¾ oz Ginger Syrup and 2oz Mezcal Espadin Joven and shake with Ice. Then pour into your favorite glass and top of with a splash of a nice cold Perrier® Carbonated Mineral Water

Me llamo Ivan Vasquez, and I am proud to be from Oaxaca, MX. I celebrate Latin Heritage Month because as my Oaxacan culture is my connection with the past and my inspiration for the future. My heritage is a window into what our ancestors created for future generations. They worked so people like me would be moved and inspired to share our culture and heritage with the world. We are proud to partner with Perrier Original and bring a touch of Oaxaca to your cocktails.

#Perrier #LatinHeritageMonth #SparkOriginality

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Arelene Roldan – The Mermaid

Arelene has always been creative, her love for music, travel, art and community brought her to the bar and restaurant business. In that realm, as her own jefe, she emotionally and professionally thrived bringing people together around food, wine and song. Arelene embarked on a new journey to create a female owned and operated, tropical cocktail inspired, neighborhood watering hole. It would ideally be in an inspiring and historic part of Los Angeles. Little Tokyo was perfect. The Mermaids ethos: all are welcome and diversity shall be celebrated, and respect for staff, guests and the neighborhood, paramount. Oh, and great cocktails, food and service, an absolute must.

After navigating through a historic pandemic and significant social and political shifts to the city and country, Arelene is focused on some of the successful adaptations she’s made as an entrepreneur and business operator, with an eye on additional ventures and opportunities. She’s never satisfied with the status quo; much like the story of the journey of her family to Los Angeles during the Mexican revolution, Arelene’s heart and mind are always on the horizon and the potential for good things to come.

La Sirena – The Mermaid
1.5 cachaca
1oz aloe juice
.75 lime
.25 agave
Top with Perrier® Carbonated Mineral Water, shake and enjoy!

I celebrate Latin Heritage Month because I have a deep appreciation for my family’s story as Mexican American 4th generation Angelenos. It’s the essence of “family”; welcoming neighbors and strangers to build strong bonds and friendships. I have taken the spirit of “family” and created spaces such as The Mermaid in Little Tokyo, to provide Los Angeles with warm friendships, hearty nourishment and cocktails to celebrate the colorful history of our neighborhoods and people.#Perrier #LatinHeritageMonth #SparkOriginality

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Romeo Mendoza – The Paramount

Romeo Mendoza is the Head Bartender at Boyle Heights’ neighborhood pizzeria & cocktail haven, Brooklyn Ave Pizza Co. As a seasoned hospitality pro, Mendoza honed his hospitality skills after a long-term stint at Terroni West Hollywood & Downtown L.A., where he worked his way up from bartender, to Bar lead, and ultimately Bar Director. In 2020, Mendoza joined the Brooklyn Ave. Pizza Co. family where he has transformed the cocktail menu into an elevated bar program, as well as the soon-to-be-re-opened historic Paramount ballroom space in Boyle Heights.

Kalahat Mexicano
3/4 oz lemon
1 oz pina
1/2 oz honey syrup (1:1, honey:water)
1/2 oz St Germain
1 1/2 oz tequila
shake, strain, top with Perrier® Carbonated Mineral Water

I celebrate Latin Heritage Month because I’m half Mexican, half Filipino, and I grew up with my Filipino father in Los Angeles CA. My father was raised in Hawaii, so growing up I identified more with Hawaiian culture. Growing up I wasn’t fully accepted by either my Latino or my Filipino groups of friends, and was a bit of a floater due to my background.When I first started in the hospitality industry, I found a strong Latino presence that has allowed me to connect more with my Mexican culture, and brush up on my Spanish. The people that have impacted me the most in rediscovering my connection to my Latino heritage are my in-laws. My wife is from Oaxaca and her family has always made me feel like part of the family even before we were married. To me, being a Latino means welcoming loved ones no matter their differences and loving them for who they are.

#Perrier #LatinHeritageMonth #SparkOriginality
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Find the recipes throughout the month on the @perrierusa Instagram and for more information, visit Perrier®

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