In Bangalore, partying with thumping music while enjoying a drink is not rare. As the partygoer gets more adventurous, the Pub City is also witnessing some creative action at the bar counter.
From mixing drinks to juggling bottles set on fire, bartending has not only opened up as a profession but also as a hobby for many in the city. Recently, 30 young men and women participated in a flair bartending workshop conducted by Culture Trails at Bak Bak Bar in Koramangala.
Flair bartending, the art of entertaining guests or audiences with sensational juggling skills, is performed by bartenders around the world. Today bartending has become more than a profession, it is considered an art. It’s not limited to serving drinks or juggling bottles, but it also involves creatively mixing and matching ingredients to make new cocktails.
The workshop witnessed a group of youngsters learn the art of bartending, mixology and juggling. Victor, one of the participants, said, “I came here to have fun. You get to make your own drink and so no one but you are responsible if the drink doesn’t taste good.”
Ravi and Shiva, instructors at the workshop, taught the participants to mix and make rare cocktails. Interesting custom recipes such as Rasam Martini and Old Monk Coffee, invented by Ravi, were the pick of the day. Apart from mixing drinks, the workshop also showcased Shiva's stylish juggling of bottles set on fire, an art that he has perfected over many years of bartending.
“Some of the alchemy and smooth juggling I observed was wowing indeed,” said Arjun who attended the workshop.
The event was fun-filled with loud dance music and Gangnam style dancing on tables. Inspired participants, who attended the bartending workshop, planned to use their skills at private parties and social gatherings. Shuba Sridhar, CEO of Culture Trails, who organised the workshop, said “We are a holiday learning company. We want to bring out the culture of the city through fun-learning. That’s why we organise such events.”
While most participants enjoyed every bit of the workshop, a few felt that it should have been a little more academic.
“To be honest, the first half was good. It was a good introduction to juggling. The second half, about mixology wasn’t very informative,” said Prachi, who was looking for the context in which one uses such skills.