Private mixologists for perfect cocktail shake up in New Year

“Mostly, they are looking for signature cocktails which can be prepared fast and don’t need a lot of ingredients. Most people who reach out are hosting events at their houses, and they want advice on the drinks to buy and want me to come in during dinner, to serve the cocktails,” Peter says.

At a private event, a mixologist is also an entertainer.

“Sometimes some guests want you to teach them how to make drinks,” he says.

The mixologists also advise what cocktail to drink and when.

“If it’s daytime, I serve light drinks, a refreshing cocktail that is not harsh on the palate and won’t make them very drunk. For instance, they can have the Tequila Sunrise. In the evening, you can bring in heavy cocktails such as Negroni and Dry Martini,” he says, adding for home visits, he must carry his cocktail kit.

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“I do not want to get there, and the client doesn’t have what I need to prepare the cocktails. The cocktail kit often has two Boston shakers, a bar spoon, strainers, a sieve, a mixing glass and a cooler box to store ice.”

Samia Joan, a bartender at ArtCaffe, says the first question she asks her customers is, ‘are you buying the alcohol or will I bring the alcohol’?

“That way we agree on what should be on the cocktail menu,” she tells BD Life.

The next important thing for Samia is getting the number of guests to ensure that the client buys enough alcohol.

So what cocktails are Kenyans asking for in their homes? Samia says a majority as for the usual classic cocktails.

“Many people prefer the classic cocktails,” she says, adding that it is important to make mocktails too for guests who do not take alcohol.

“To get it right with mocktails you must ensure that they are tasty. Mocktails are often a combination of flavours, so a client needs to invest in the different types of flavours,” says Samia, who has over 15 years of experience in mixology.

However, private mixologists being a relatively new concept, Samia says, some people undervalue them.

“Some people think that all a mixologist does is just mix drinks, so they tend to undervalue us. You find someone who wants you to come to cater for 50 guests, only pays you Sh5,000,” she says.

Demand for private mixologists has grown over the years fuelled by alcohol and food pairing trends and Sammy Craft, who works at Mawimbi Sea Food Restaurant, says he noted an increase in hirings during the Covid-19 period when the hospitality industry shut down.

“People now prefer having a private mixologist rather than being out in social gatherings. Since then, there has been a growing increase in the hiring of mixologists as freelancers to entertain in private functions. Most of the clients who reach out to me are looking for someone who can curate recipes or someone who can pair food and cocktails. Some clients who understand cocktails come with their menus and only need a mixologist to bring their expertise in mixing and blending the drinks to make them beautiful and balanced. For many of the clients, they come to me with a budget and ask me what I can come up with for their cocktail menu,” he says.

Pairing cocktails

Just like wines and whiskies, cocktails must be paired right to complement different foods.

“White spirits go well with easy meals, while dark spirits blend in with heavy meals. With white spirits, I am talking about vodka, white rum, gins, and liqueurs. For the dark spirits, I mean whiskies, brandies, and cognacs,” he said.

Sammy adds that a host must include mocktails in the menu. “It is important for a client to have non-alcoholic drinks in the festive menu because there are people who only want to enjoy the theme of the night without getting drunk,” he says.

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