Serving the right mix

At a recent party where two bartenders from Portugal showcased their skills, one guest remarked, "Let's hope these guys teach our bartenders a thing or two about good cocktails."

It's clear that bartending in India is not much of an art and people don't expect a lot.

However, that may soon be a thing of the past. Nowadays, with so many bartending schools opening, the profession is being taken seriously.

You don't drink to get drunk but to enjoy it. And if you want the right cocktail, then you need to have a good bartender serving it to you.

Well, back to the bartenders then. Pericoli Serafino and Andre Gerreiro are from Lisbon's Free Style Bartending Academy, and were in the country to share their bartending talent.

They visited cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai on behalf of Red Bull.

Says Gerreiro, "To be a good bartender, there are five skills which are a must "" attitude, technique, knowledge, flair and dedication." "You might have a knowledge of all cocktails, but if you don't have the right attitude, you can never be a good bartender," adds Serafino (or Kiko, as he is known).

Apart from this, one needs must know the history (and chemistry) of beverages in some depth "" whether origin, production; new and old trends; different styles of drinking; the art of bartending; how to make a heady cocktail; the right blends; presenting and tasting cocktails. (Sounds like a lot of work for someone who looks like he's having a lot of fun behind the counter!)

Both Gerreiro and Serafino took up bartending five years ago and have since been around the globe sharing their knowledge.

Says Gerreiro, "It's very important that you know exactly what the customer wants. A cocktail is not like a dish where you have a margin of error. The customer wants to enjoy his drink "" you have to keep that in mind."

But is a professional course in bartending a must? "Yes," insists Gerreiro, "for the detailed knowledge you will require about the kind of drinks there are."

As a bartender, one serves people from different cultures and backgrounds. Did you know, for instance, that in London martinis are all the rage, and that people prefer their cocktails made with fresh juices?

On their Indian sojourn, the two have helped train bartenders, chefs and bar managers from five-star hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the different styles and techniques of bartending, and also shared with them the latest recipes for popular cocktails.

They also went to nightclubs and entertained guests with their live, interactive performances.

As a bartender at the party remarked,"It was amazing to learn so much about cocktails." Let's hope the guests aren't disappointed next time.