y Path and What Drives Me

I'd like to tell you about how I went from managing venues to making fancy cocktails, and how this journey has shaped the way I see the bar world and more.

My Start in the Hospitality Game

I've been in hospitality for ages working my way up from different jobs to becoming more of a boss and leader in the field. Even though I'm in charge now, I still like to get my hands dirty. I'll jump behind the bar to mix drinks and help out wherever I can. This hands-on style has been super important for getting the full picture of how to run a place and give customers the best experience possible.

Why Being a Hands-On Boss Matters

Being a hands-on manager involves more than just overseeing operations. It means getting involved and understanding the details of each job. This approach helps run the venue better and builds stronger ties with staff. But not all managers do this. Some focus on paperwork leaving little time to engage with their teams.

Encouraging Creativity Behind the Bar

Managing a venue involves promoting creativity in cocktail creation. I've been part of upscale restaurants where service and management are more polished. I always aim to help staff find their groove and shine in their jobs by using their strong points. This idea extends to the bar where I team up with bartenders to come up with special and interesting drink menus.

Making an Amazing Drink

I give bartenders guidance and push them to play with ingredients. I've always backed using Aussie products in our drinks. Once, I dared a bartender to make a drink list using only Aussie spirits. We spent many nights trying different spirits and tastes until we got the recipes just right.

We made one drink that sticks in my mind. It had fancy ingredients. The result blew us away. It was way better than we thought it'd be. This showed us that using top-notch stuff can take a drink from good to amazing. We even came up with a new take on the cosmopolitan. We used sheep whey vodka and a liquor made from blood oranges. It wasn't like the original at all. Some folks thought it was even better.