Today it’s the turn of DIMI SAVVAIDIS The King of Islington in Dundee and DANNY MCMANUS Kelvingrove Cafe, Glasgow .
DIMI SAVVAIDIS The King of Islington Dundee
Dimi, head bartender and GM of the King of Islington bar on Dundee’s Union Street, won last year’s Global Monin Cup cocktail competition in France – the first ever UK winner of the contest. Said the 27-yearold about his future career aspirations, “I’ve always been a bartender and always will be. I envisage that my career will always be in a bar, whether that’s drinks development, cocktail-oriented – anything to do with beverage, minimum standards or training. One day I will own my own place but for now, I’m happy working within the company.” He continued, “ I really admire my bosses and my colleagues (including Sarah Berardi who’s also featured here) because together we have not only developed the bar, but also Dundee as a cocktail destination. Dimi is so immersed in his career as a bartender that he describes being behind the bar as his “playtime”.
DANNY MCMANUS Kelvingrove Cafe Glasgow
Danny, 27, splits his professional self between two jobs. He explained, “I bartend at The Kelvingrove Cafe in Finnieston and work in a consultancy/sales rep role at The Good Spirits Company.” At the time of us going to press, Danny was just about to jet off to Chicago’s Few Rye Distillery after championing in a competition organised by the company. Said Danny, “My winning cocktail was based on the Columbian Exhibition that happened in Chicago in 1893 and I’m really excited about seeing the distillery.” Danny is a bar-focused individual and has definite ideas on his career path. He said, “I’m inspired more by bars than people, and particularly like London’s Three Sheets and The Artesian, but I see myself going down the brand ambassador route eventually. But I still have a lot to learn before I actively pursue this ambition.
This month we profile 10 of the best and today it’s the turn of Jamie Swift of Edinburgh’s Dragonfly and Sarah Berardi of Draffens in Dundee.
Jamie Swift
Dragonfly
Edinburgh
New Zealand-born Jamie Swift grew up in Moffat and got his first bartending job in The Balmoral Hotel in the Dumfries and Galloway town. He’s been a bartender at Edinburgh’s Dragonfly for just over a year and has also worked at The Devil’s Advocate in the city. Said Jamie, “Bartending is a never-ending apprenticeship and I love that about it, as well as every day being different. I am a career bartender, but I haven’t decided yet whether it’s the owner/operator or Brand ambassador route for me as far as the next stage of my career goes.” He continued, “In terms of people I admire in the industry, Kyle Jameson, one third of the guys behind Nauticus in Leith, is someone that I admire, plus he was the main reason I took the job at Devil’s Advocate.” Away from the job Jamie loves checking out bars old and new.
Sarah Berardi
Draffens
Dundee
Sarah, 28, is originally from New Orleans and this self-proclaimed career-bartender moved to Dundee to be with her partner who is a scientist studying at Dundee University. She’s been working in Draffens, a speakeasy bar in Dundee, for roughly two-and-a-half years. Said Sarah, “When I first moved here there wasn’t much of a cocktail scene in Dundee – and people assumed that I knew what I was doing. I have since won The Southern Comfort Patron Perfectionist competition for Scotland and placed second in the UK. I was also nominated for emerging Bartender of the Year at this year’s Class Bar Awards where I made the top 3 finalists.” Who does Sarah admire most in the industry? “My boss AJ Mcmenemy and Phil Donaldson are two people with a creative eye and passion for this industry that I try to emulate in everything I do.”
This month we profile ten of the best, and today it’s the turn of ELLIE RAESIDE of Tonic in Edinburgh and JOHNNY MORRISON of Glasgow’s Blue Dog.
ELLIE RAESIDE Tonic Edinburgh
Ellie, 22, won the William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentice Award at the 2018 Scottish Bar & Pub Awards. At the time she was working at Edinburgh’s Candy Bar but has since moved to the city’s Tonic Bar. Said Ellie, “I fell in love with bartending from my very first job at The Roseburn Bar in Edinburgh which can best be described as a wee old man’s pub.
“Interacting with the customers is definitely one of highlights of the job – as well as being a bit of a challeng sometimes too.”
And it seems that bartending runs in the family.
Explained Ellie, “I learned a lot from, as well as greatly admire, my sister Poppy who has worked in cocktail bars for years. My first manager at The Candy Bar, Neil Bowie, was also a really great support and inspired me to really push myself. He’s now at Malones”
JOHNNY MORRISON Blue Dog Glasgow
Johnny has been working at Blue Dog for four years, as well as running his own cocktail consultancy and events company on the side. At the moment he’s interested in molecular mixology.
He explained, “I’m fascinated with how chemicals and other ingredients can alter the flavour and consistency of the liquid.”
He’s also fresh back from London after winning a cocktail competition organised by Beefeater gin, while Johnny admires an operation a little closer to home and a mixologist a little farther afield. He explained, “I really like what the guys at Glasgow’s Tikki Bar do as well as what a mixologist from the USA, Saeed House (aka Hawk), is doing on social media.”
What does the future hold for Johnny career-wise? “I’d love to have my own bar in Glasgow and I’ve got loads of ideas percolating but that’s about five years or so away from materialising, I’d say.”
Edinburgh will play host to Lidl’s first ever pop-up gin club in November.
Guests at the Lidl House of Hortus will enjoy samples from the budget supermarket’s Hortus Gin range, served by a dedicated team of mixologists who will offer a customised gin and botanical pairing experience. The pop-up gin club is setting up in the city’s Castle Street on November 9th and 10th as part of a UK-wide tour which also includes London and Cardiff.
It will begin in the Pink Gin Liqueur Lounge, where Hortus Gin liqueurs including raspberry, rhubarb and ginger, and rose and pomegranate will be available to sample.
Visitors will then be immersed in a sensory botanical garden where they will learn about gin pairings and enjoy a free-pour serve from the signature range including Hortus Artisan Dry Gin, Oriental Spiced Gin or Citrus Garden Gin. There’s also a Spirits in the Sky bar – featuring a central circular bar and a starry night sky.http://www.lidl.co.uk
Grey Goose is launching “Iconoclasts of Taste” a project which aims to highlight people who defy convention when it comes to finding new tastes. To unearth the next generation of taste visionaries, they have assembled a panel of established Iconoclasts including Mixologist Tony Conigliaro, fashion designer Giles Deacon, curator Carrie Scott and chef Nuno Mendes all of whom understand the skill and determination required to bring revolutionary ideas to life. If you want to get involved in the project check out the Iconoclasts of Taste website – and see if you share their vision.
