TOP FIVE: Ultimate classic cocktails

We asked five top bar industry professionals to tell us what they thought was the ultimate classic cocktail and why...

Tihomir Gergov, brand ambassador and beverage chef, Monin MEI:

“I have two: one is the Martini, and the other, going more to my bartender side, is a Rob Roy.

“I have chosen the Martini because this is a drink a bartender must be able to make in all its variations — it’s the symbol of the cocktail world.”

Sasha Milovanovic, beverage manager, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates:

“An Old Fashioned. It’s very simple ingredient-wise, but there are a lot of steps in the preparation, so it gives you a great opportunity to chat to your customer.

“There is skill involved in preparing it though — and that’s actually how I assess bartenders applying for a job; get them to make me an Old Fashioned!”

Nick Hancock, bar development manager — licensed division, Emirates Leisure Retail:

“For me, it has to be an Old Fashioned as well.

“When I try a new Chinese restaurant that I’ve never been to, I always have the hot and sour soup and I judge how good the restaurant is on that soup — and I do exactly the same with a bar, judging them by their Old Fashioned.”

Felix Hartmann, bar manager, Skyview Bar, Burj Al Arab:

“For Dubai, I’d say the best-selling cocktail by far is the Mojito, so if I go to a new bar in Dubai I do often check their Mojitos.

“But on the international scene I’d say an Old Fashioned — and I’d mention Sazerac as well.

“Both these drinks have long stories about how to make them and how to get the best flavours. And these two drinks are basic knowledge for every barman.”

Simone Hopman, The Exchange Floor manager, Fairmont Dubai:

“At Fairmont, what we do is take the classic cocktails and we put our own spin on it; so you take something well-known, like a Bloody Mary, and we turned it into a Famous Mary, which has added secret ingredients that only the bartenders know.

“That not only elevates it to a higher level; it’s a point of discussion to chat about with the customer as well.

“Obviously we will make the well-known cocktails for anyone, but they are not on our list — for example if someone wants a Strawberry Daiquiri of course we’ll make it.

“But it’s not on the menu. Our menu consists of cocktails that are unique to us, that our guests will not find anywhere else.”

“I couldn’t just mention one great cocktail, as I feel there are so many worthy of the title.

“A classic made properly by an enthusiastic bartender who shows great passion and knowledge is good enough for me.”


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