Mixologists to Watch
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE BEVERAGE NETWORK’S Mixologists To Watch This Year’s 10 Up-and-Coming Bartenders By Cory Jones f you think just anyone can stand behind a bar and sling drinks, then you haven’t experi- Ienced the sophisticated service of a skilled bartender. More of an art form than a job, the craft of mixology requires a multitude of talents. In a demanding, high-stress environment, bartenders are expected to read their customers’ minds, quickly deliver the perfect tipple with a smile, and then concoct trendsetting cocktails in their spare time. It can be a thankless job, so we’d like to give credit to these ten young bartenders who are keeping the art form alive. Jackson Cannon Bar Manager, Eastern Standard Boston, Massachusetts 1. Jackson Cannon 2. BAR MANAGER, EASTERN STANDARD Jacques BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Bezuidenhout BARTENDER, What’s the most popular elegant mouth feel and an HARRY DENTON’S drink at your bar? herbaceous nose. The spir- STARLIGHT ROOM Muddled drinks are very its come together and make SAN FRANCISCO, much in people’s conscious- a very expressive drink. CALIFORNIA ness, but the Whiskey Smash is probably our most What’s the perfect cocktail popular cocktail. It’s made and why? What’s the most popular drink with fresh lemon pieces, The Negroni, because you at your bar? mint and sugar muddled could not like gin, Campari At the Starlight Room the most What’s the perfect cocktail together. Then mix with and sweet vermouth and popular drinks are the Cable Car and why? 90-proof Weller Reserve still like the drink. Its flavor and a drink I created called the A Negroni or a Margarita. over crushed ice and serve is transcendent of its ingre- La Perla. Negroni is the perfect aperitif with a mint sprig. dients, which, in my opin- cocktail; it sets the tone for dinner ion makes it the greatest What’s the secret to being a and the night ahead and is perfect- example of cocktail mixing. What’s the secret to being good bartender? ly balanced. The Margarita is the a good bartender? Knowing what you are working perfect festive cocktail when made A great bartender once What got you into with and your work area. Then, properly with fresh squeezed lime said, “Bartending takes five bartending? being three steps ahead. It’s very juice and 100% Agave Tequila. years to learn: two years to Bartending and drinks in important to keep up with every- learn what to do, two years general came to me from thing you have to do behind the What got you into bartending? to learn what not to do; my family. I remember bar and yet still be attentive and I started working in restaurants and the fifth year to learn being eight years old and listen to your clientele. while at school waiting tables. how to do them both at the having cocktails with my When I moved to London I got a same time and be nice.” uncle (mine was Rose’s Would you rather have starred job in a pub and thought that Drink making is all about Grenadine on the rocks). in Cocktail or Coyote Ugly? this was more fun. Slowly, I start- being empathetic. You’re I’ve been captivated ever Bartend with Tom Cruise or ed to read up on everything bar taking care of someone since by how cocktails the ladies of Coyote Ugly? related and the rest is history. with that drink. I can’t weave history, strong Coyote Ugly! What started out as a means to overstate that. To me, bar- recipes and freshness into make money while at school tending is service. one enjoyable moment. What’s a new ingredient turned into a passion for spirits, everyone will be mixing with wine and cocktails. What’s a new ingredient What would you be doing next year? everyone will be mixing if you weren’t a bartender? Elderflower. You are seeing it in What cocktail have you given My first career was in with next year? some key markets this year but I the world? I think homemade syrups music, but if I had my think its popularity will continue are going to become a sta- options I’d like to write La Perla to grow. (“I won the Sherries of Spain Cocktail ple in a properly stocked about spirits. contest with this one and it has always bar. As far as spirits, tequila been special to me.”) What’s a little known cocktail is finally getting explored 1 1/2 oz Partida Reposado What cocktail have you someone should definitely try more. There’s a lot of fire to 1 1/2 oz Manzanilla Sherry given the world? before they die? the Mexican spirit, but 3/4 oz Mathilde Pear Liqueur The Belle de Jour The Corpse Reviver # 2, which when harnessed properly, 1/2 oz VSOP Brandy is a blend of gin, Cointreau, Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass it’s enchanting. 1/2 oz Benedictine Lillet blanc, fresh lemon juice with ice and strain into a chilled 1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice and Pernod. cocktail glass. Garnish with a fresh What’s a little known cock- 1/2 oz Homemade lemon twist. tail someone should defi- Grenadine nitely try before they die? Put all ingredients over ice, The Pink Lady, which is give them a short shake, strain The Margarita is the perfect festive cocktail Applejack, gin, egg white that and top with 5 oz. of and grenadine (and making when made properly with fresh squeezed Champagne. Garnish with a your own is key). It has an lemon twist. lime juice and 100% Agave Tequila. 3. Leo DeGroff CONSULTANT, CONTEMPORARY COCKTAILS AND What got you into bartending? THE BEVERAGE ALCOHOL RESOURCE, NEW YORK CITY I used to be a shark fisherman and I was offered a job in a bar after the season was over. I’ve What’s the most popular drink Would you rather have starred been there ever since. at your bar? in Cocktail or Coyote Ugly? Mojitos and Rum Slings are the I love the movie Cocktail. If I most requested cocktails. were to open a bar it would be What would you be doing if more along the lines of you weren’t a bartender? I’m pretty sure I’d still be What’s the secret to being a “Cocktails and Dreams.” But if somewhere on the water fish- good bartender? you want the truth, I don’t look ing for shark. Keeping the patrons and the good enough in a thong to pull boss happy, which is sometimes off Coyote Ugly. a tricky thing to do. What cocktail have you given the world? What’s a little known cocktail What’s a new ingredient someone should definitely try The Leo Di Janero, which con- everyone will be mixing with before they die? sists of Plymouth or Tanqueray next year? The Ramos Fizz, the gin, pineapple juice and a lot of Agave Nectar seems to be get- Hemingway Daquiri, and a Gin Bitters. Then, combine all ting more popular. Martini made at Pegu Club. ingredients and shake hard. The trend is pushing towards a mixture of Amazonian berries and fruits such as acai and goji berries. What’s the secret to being a good bartender? prepared correctly, my suggestions are a The secret is to make every customer feel that Bloody Mary with brunch, a hot toddy on a they are the number one priority. Eye contact, cold winter night, or a mint julep at the conversation and personal care in preparing Kentucky Derby. each cocktail definitely helps. Speed and cock- tail knowledge will continue to grow with time. What got you into bartending? My desire to become a ski-bum in Whistler, What’s a new ingredient everyone will be BC actually got me into bartending. I needed mixing with next year? a night job that provided cash payment and a Mixologists are going back to primitive fla- social scene that left my days free for skiing. I vors. The trend is pushing towards a mixture tried working in restaurants, but quickly of Amazonian berries and fruits such as acai learned that my place was behind the bar. and goji berries. What would you be doing if you weren’t What’s a little known cocktail someone a bartender? should definitely try before they die? I would most likely be the CEO of a Fortune 4. Cameron Bogue Assuming that everyone has already tried 500 company. the Moscow Mule, I suggest the Sazerac. SMIRNOFF COCKTAIL CONSULTANT The rye whiskey base tends to frighten peo- What cocktail have you given the world? ple off, but the cocktail is completely bal- LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Lost Sailor anced by sugar and bitters. It’s served in a 1 oz Smirnoff Orange Flavored Vodka chilled old fashioned glass washed with What’s the most popular drink in your 1/2 oz Tawny port pastis, and garnished with a lemon peel. establishments? 1/4 oz Simple Syrup I’ve definitely noticed an increase in people 1/4 Plum ordering Caipiroskas (a cocktail made with What’s the perfect cocktail and why? Muddle plum and simple syrup in cocktail shaker. vodka, limes and sugar) and Mojitos, espe- The perfect cocktail can differ based on sea- Add vodka and port; shake with ice and strain cially as the weather has gotten warmer. son, venue or mood. As long as the drink is into martini glass. Garnish with an orange peel. 5. John Kinder The perfect cocktail is a Cuban Daiquiri with Peychaud’s bitters and a dash of BARTENDER, HOP HAUS , CHICAGO, ILLINOIS kosher salt.