Note: this is a very, very early draft of an idea I hope to build on and expand with the help of a few friends. Please don’t take offence at anything I put here, if I misrepresent or fail to represent anyone it is purely by accident. I am simply trying to approach a topic I feel incredibly passionate about using my experience and knowledge, which is obviously limited by the fact they are my experiences and knowledge. I hope, with time, to make this more collaborative and inclusive, so I ask a little patience and forgiveness, and above all, I ask if I’m wrong on anything, please let me know.
Thanks
Neil
There’s one massive problem, at least over here with the bar trade. Well, several, but I hope to tackle them in a fairly cohesive way within this. Part one is the one I have a lot of grievance about- the sausagefest that is the cocktail world.
Take keen note of two names here, because I’m going to be using them again and again throughout this blog. We’ve all got inspirations and heroes in our job, at least those of us with a real passion for our work.
First, Jillian Vose.
Bit of background- one of the most accomplished and creative forces in the modern cocktail world. NY cocktail standards are so high by and large because of this woman. I will go into greater detail in a few personal blogs highlighting heroes of the trade, but as Head Bartender at Death & Co, she built a legacy and standard that is yet to be beat. Being approached by those incredibly clever lads (and seeing the shape of things to come), the Dead Rabbit Boys took Jillian on as Head of Drinks Operations for DR itself and later for the group itself, including Blacktail. Her work, her accomplishment, her creativity is incredibly strong and she is a remarkably humble soul for someone with such massive talent. I’ve been impressed, in awe and maybe a little in love with her since reading my first article on Tales of The Cocktail many, many years ago.
She’s bloody brilliant she is. I wish she were my best friend. Someday.
(I’m not wholly sure if I can actually use these photos, guess we’ll find out)
Side note: Dead Rabbit has made a very clever and relevant at the mo by pushing a predominately female-led bar team. The incredible talent within their company proves that you don’t have to have a male-led or even predominantly male team behind the stick to be the Best Bar in the world. Take note, this will be incredibly relevant later on.
Second, Alex Jump. Absolute BAMF*, classicist in her approach to cocktails (which I bloody LOVE), and tattoo enthusiast.
Bar Manager of Death & Co. (my favourite bar and go to cocktail book for everything) Denver.
Very outspoken, incredibly confident and skilled, incredibly open and honest on social media, one of the strongest creative forces in the trade at this point. My new hero for 2019. More details in her upcoming bio too.
*BAMF - Bad Ass Motherfucker. Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Bobbi Morse, Arya Stark, Vin, Christina Scabbia, Caitlin Moran, DFW, and many, many more. Women who kick ass in more ways than one. It’ll end up in the Bar Dictionary too, it’s an important term.
Right, onto the point at hand. I’ve done a fair few competitions, and trained far, far more staff than that. Maybe it’s my teaching method or how I interact with females (not to sound dickish), but 90% of the most talented and strongest bar staff I’ve ever worked with and trained have been female. A big part of that is I have little time for big male egos or that know-it-all already approach I’ve experienced with most of the guys I’ve trained. There are some big fucking egos in this city, and they all come with a Y chromosome. There are notable exceptions, there’s a handful of guys over the years who’ve kept that humility, but by and large they’re the ones who have more to be doing outside the trade- musicians, dads, students. You boys know who you are, I’m not gonna name you and give you those cursed egos. Except for Tree- I bloody love you man.😘
So, yeah, most of my best staff have been female, proved to be the most creative, show the best leadership skills and generally get on better with everyone, both sides of the bar. They’ve gone on to accomplish more, become more successful in the trade than most of the guys.
And yet.
Every single time I push one of them to competition level, I always hear the exact same thing afterwards.
‘I was the only girl there’
Every. Single. Time.
I’ve repeatedly had suppliers and trade people complain about the lack of female talent in competition level Bartending. Yet, when pressed about who they invited and approached to come, they draw blanks. I’ve recently had my attention drawn that the same is true at competition level coffee workshops to by a good friend, who I’ll allow to pick up here, so here’s AJ with a few thoughts and ideas. Their approach to this, incredibly impressively, is to change the game, and make workshops specifically to be more accessible and inclusive, pushing true equity (and also no wankiness, but that’s a whole different ballgame we’ll talk about later). They’re Incredibly talented, accomplished in both the bar and barista trades, and I’m proud to say one of my dearest friends.
Without further ado, AJ-
Comments by AJ to follow shortly.
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