VENUE: The Victoria Room
ADDRESS: Level 1, 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, NSW
PHONE: 02 9357 4488
WEB: www.thevictoriaroom.com
CAREER
How long have you been bartending?
Since the summer of ’01-’02
Where have you worked previously?
Kit & Kaboodle, The Rum Diaries, Lotus, The Loft, Hemmesphere, Hugo’s Bar Pizza, Pier 26, Cargo, Hotel Bondi. Also I’ve worked many a cowboy shift around town.
What is your proudest moment behind the bar?
Holding the inaugural “Coney Island Bartender Bumfight” just before Barshow 09 at The Victoria Room and having so many leading lights of the bar community both nationally and internationally see how much fun us Australian bartenders have and how strong our community is. And then making Top 10 the next day, awesome!
And most embarrassing?
Having my girlfriend first introduced to me via my picture in Cosmopolitan.
FAVOURITES
What’s been your favourite bar to work in?
The Victoria Room. I’ve never worked with so many interesting, passionate people and had so much fun entertaining cocktail curious guests and helping them discover their new favourite libation.
What’s your favourite bar gadget?
The tip tray and the cocktail shaker. That’s really all you need.
What’s your favourite song?
Notorious Thugs – Biggie & Bone Thugs; pure genius.
Do you have a favourite joke? What is it?
What do you call a man in the ocean with no arms and no legs? Bob.
DRINK
What is your favourite product to work with at the moment and why?
I love the diversity of Rum. No other spirit has such a diverse range of products, means of production, and flavour profiles.
What products do you think will be hot over the coming year?
Applejack, Rye Whiskey, Mezcal and Rhum Agricole (hopefully).
What do you drink to…
Quench your thirst?
Cider and the occasional Spritz or Sbagliato.
Impress a lady?
Water
Unwind after a long shift?
A beer and a shot of Rye, thankyou.
Can you tell us some of your favourite bars to visit?
Low 302, I love the place, Aref’s music selection and David’s drinks, top notch. The Black Pearl, doesn’t everyone? The usual Sydney suspects, Lotus, The ‘Bayz, Café Pacifico. And the North Bondi RSL, a cold beer, cricket, and the beach right in front of you. Can summer get any better?
If you had to choose between a blue drink or a blended drink which would you choose and why?
This is too hard. Can’t I have a blue, blended drink?
OTHER STUFF
Can you juggle, perform any magic tricks or have any other unusual talents?
I can tie a bow tie without a mirror, that’s about it.
What was the last book you bought?
Nerding it up on Rum: Sugar, The Grass that Changed the World by Sanjida O’Connell
If you could be any super-hero you wanted who would you choose to be?
Batman.
If you were to be something other than a bartender, what would it be and why?
Working on social policy somewhere in the Government or sailing round the world as a travel writer.