Mr. Doan Minh Chau is the Founder and CEO of Geminii Distillery Co., Ltd., the company behind the development of Mangline Hills Whiskey in Da Lat. Growing up in Warsaw, Poland, and having lived in California, USA, he studied Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). This background helped shape his systematic approach to R&D. At Mangline Hills, he directly leads the R&D process, from selecting Vietnamese rice, malt, and Lang Biang water sources to experimenting with recipes, distillation, maturation, and commercialization. For him, making Vietnamese whiskey is not about replicating countries with long-established traditions, but about discovering a distinctive flavor profile and telling the story of local ingredients, climate, and culture.

At HORECFEX 2026, he shares practical lessons from the R&D journey, the challenges of building a Vietnamese whiskey brand, and opportunities to collaborate with restaurants, hotels, bars, and distribution partners to elevate the experience of Vietnamese beverages.