Mixology in India has only gotten bigger and better

For an industry that barely existed in India even few years ago, today we have world-renowned celebrity bartenders driving change. India is now being recognized as a talent hub with several bartenders from around the world keen to know whats brewing in the country, says Vineeth Krishnan who won the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition 2020 India

Krishnan, who will represent India at the global stage in Miami, speaks more about the competition, his future plans, bartending as a career option and shares his winning recipe.

Excerpts:

How was the journey till you won the title?

It's been a very interesting journey for me as I came back into the competition through an exciting wild card entry. I realized that what my cocktail needed was for it to be crafted better and it was exciting to redesign the same with my mentor Dimitri Lezinska.

Tell us about your life. When and how did you get into the field?

Like every other kid, I did not enjoy mathematics and so after the 12th grade I decided to take on something different. Since my brother was already in the hospitality sector, hotel management seemed like a natural choice.

It was great deal of fun and taught me a lot about the F&B space. In 2014, during our training period, I was selected to work at the Oberoi in Mumbai. Here, I dabbled in every sector, right from the reception and housekeeping to the kitchen and accounts. However, I knew that F&B was my calling. After graduating, I got placed at Aer Bar, Four Seasons, where I saw Varun Sudhakar bartending for the first time. I was so inspired by him that I started working on my recipes and getting better at the craft. That's where my passion for bartending originated.

In between, I moved back to the Oberoi Mumbai, for about a year, where I refined my passion and learnt basics, like engaging with guests and understanding their preferences.

Soon after, the lifetime opportunity to work with Dimitri Lezinska at Koko Mumbai came up and there was no looking back.

What are some of the myths regarding bartending?

One common myth is that all bartenders drink! I know bartenders who have great palates and only choose to taste their drink. Another one is that most people think of bartending as a glamourous profession, however, it actually involves constant research, learning, hard work and a whole lot of patience.

Please share your winning recipe.

The winning cocktail is called the "Alquimia", which is inspired from 'The Alchemist', a philosophical book that inspires you to never lose hope and always follow your dreams. It beautifully narrates how when a person really desires something, the whole universe conspires to help that person realize the dream.

Certain elements of the drink are connected to those mentioned in the book. For example, my use of the elderflower is owing to the fact that floral notes exude positivity, similar to the book's focus.

Another interesting element is that of the neem leaf, which is usually not used in cocktails owing to its bitter notes. The leaf symbolizes difficulties and challenges that everyone faces in their lives. Similar to how the book has inspired millions of people across the world, I can't wait for the drink to bring out the same in them.