Erik van Beek is one of the most influential names in the international mixology scene. After starting out at the age of 25, he quickly established himself, culminating in co-founding the Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City, which won the title of World's Best Bar by 50Best in 2024.
Erik van Beek was born in Amsterdam, and although his entry into the world of mixology is relatively late, his rise has been meteoric. He started working as a bartender in the Netherlands, and in 2018 he won the prestigious Bacardi Legacy award for his cocktail "Cariño", an innovative mix of Bacardi Reserva Ocho, yellow Chartreuse, Greek yogurt, vanilla syrup, and lemon juice that reflects his personal and original approach.
Driven by the desire to explore new cultures, he moved to Mexico City in 2019. Here, he opened Brujas, a bar that quickly gained recognition, but it was with the opening of Handshake Speakeasy in 2021, in collaboration with Marcos Di Battista and Rodrigo Urraca, that he achieved international success, distinguishing himself with a molecular drinks menu, thanks in part to an in-house laboratory where custom-made ingredients and infusions are created. The venue's fresh approach and Art Déco atmosphere led the bar to climb the global rankings.
In 2024, it reached the top spot on the World's 50 Best Bars list, the first bar in Mexico to achieve this recognition. Van Beek, proud of his success in a country so rich in culture and hospitality, sees this victory as a unique opportunity.
