RYAN CHETIYAWARDENA

BARTENDER

Ryan, aka Mr Lyan, is known for his disruptive, experimental approach to cocktail-making and bartending. He has drawn attention for reverse-engineering wine, trialling cocktail recipes using edible mould, and making Negronis and Manhattans in the microwave.

Ryan is also known as a sustainability pioneer, thanks to his first bar White Lyan: the only cocktail bar in the world to reduce its waste by not using fruit, ice or perishable items. Since then, Ryan has opened bars in London, Washington DC and Amsterdam – and picked up awards for Person Of The Decade, 2 x Innovator Of The Year and Global Bartender Of The Year, among others. He chalks this up to the entrepreneurial influence of his sister Natasha, and choosing to explore interests in fine art, philosophy, biology and cookery before setting up his own bar.
Ryan continues to take a multi-disciplinary approach to his career nowadays. He has written a book on cocktails, teaches people how to mix their own cocktails as a Masterclass co-instructor, and is a headline speaker at food events like Gastronomica, Imbibe and Star Chefs. And through his latest venture,Mr Lyan Studios, he offers out-of-the-box thinking and consultancy for the food and beverage sector.