BarTalkbyGOTR — Turning casual conversations into vibrant stories of drinks and experiences.
BarTalk by GOTR is a professional yet fun interview series where drink enthusiasts and industry experts share insights, stories, and experiences from the world of beverages, hospitality, and bartending.
On this episode of BarTalk, we caught up with the Lamborghini Mixologist, a master of craft cocktails and expert in hospitality. He took us through his exciting journey, from crafting drinks for fun to building a name that resonates with Lagos’ vibrant nightlife. He shared insights on navigating the fast-paced world of mixology, managing high-pressure environments, curating memorable drink experiences, and what it takes to stand out in the bartending world!
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you realize mixology was your calling?
Yes, I realized it’s my calling the moment my goal was no longer the money that comes with cocktail making but the joy and happiness I get whenever I satisfy the taste buds of my clients.
Lagos is a dynamic city—what role has it played in shaping your journey as a mixologist?
As a mixologist, Lagos has really helped in shaping my journey in several ways, one of which is the fact that it developed my speed on the job as I constantly have large crowds to serve at the same time. It has also taught me to work under pressure.
Lamborghini Mixologist is such a standout name! What’s the story behind that?
The name Lamborghini mixologist was given to me years back when I was working as an in house mixologist.
According to my colleagues, they claimed I was the biggest mixologist they have seen live, so they needed to give me a name that aligns well with what I was doing.
Doings!
It was all a joke though, but they kept calling me Lamborghini. After a little time the name became popular, so I decided to go by the name since it wasn’t for a bad reason.
We want to know, what was the biggest challenge you faced starting out in Lagos, and how did you push through to build your brand?
The biggest challenge was starting up my bartending academy.
I had the dream a couple of years back, it was never easy, the cost that comes with it, the determination alone was challenging because I had to stop a lot of things I love doing just to ensure the academy was no longer a dream but reality.
If you could craft a drink that captures the energy and vibrancy of Lagos, what would it be?
Wow, this is the part I love the most, crafting drinks. First of all Lagos is a place where the energy is high. At the same time we still have others who like it cool. I have crafted different cocktails that go well with every energy.
What’s your creative process when inventing cocktail recipes?
When inventing cocktails, I have studied and understood how to marry ingredients in order to get a great taste. I know what and what gives a good taste if mixed together so I explore the knowledge whenever I’m about to event a cocktail.
What drink do you feel best represents your personality, and why?
Alcoholic drinks best represent my personality, this is because a larger part of what I do involves alcohol.
Cheers to that!
What’s the craziest or most memorable thing that’s happened while you were bartending at an event or club?
The craziest thing that has happened to me while bartending was when my former boss, the owner of where I was working had a bet on me with his friend.
The bet was for his friend to come ask me questions on cocktails and alcoholic beverages, if I fail any of the questions the friend wins, but if I answer correctly, my boss wins.I never knew it was a planned work.
When the friend came to the bar, I thought he was just a guest, so he began to ask me questions, while he was asking those deep questions, I was giving him answers, I didn’t know my boss had CCTV camera on me and was watching me and his friend, it was after the whole questions and answers I got to know what was happening.
We trust you won the bet. But if you could mix a ‘Lamborghini Special’ what ingredients would go into it?
I already have a cocktail I named after me, and it’s currently the best selling cocktail at a restaurant called Pelican at Ikate.
Wow.
I call it TONY HOUR, that’s because my real name is Tony. It’s a strawberry flavored cocktail, I promise you will love it.
In such a competitive industry, how do you keep your creativity fresh and engaging?
I never stop learning. I don’t feel too relaxed or comfortable. I’m always wanting to do better, and that has really helped me a lot.
What do you see as the future of bartending, both in Lagos and internationally?
Bartending is currently doing great especially in the area of cocktail publicity. People now talk highly of cocktails and want to have some whenever they go out, if it continues this way, in a few years, the industry will be bigger and better.
It definitely will!
What’s the secret to becoming a bartender that crowds love and request by name?
For me, the secret is learning more as learning never ends, pushing your limits and willingness to adapt to new developments.
For someone eager to break into the bartending or mixology scene, what advice would you offer?
Humility plays a big role during learning process. Patience can’t be overemphasized as well hard work. These are the essentials.
