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Social and Cocktail bartender: Joe

Social and Cocktail bartender: Joe

We catch up with Joe, one of our talented cocktail bartenders, to speak about the private cocktail events he provides services for, and get hints & tips for the perfect drinks for a cocktail party at home.

What events do you provide services for?

I go to a variety of events and enjoy every single one of them, however, I often mix cocktails at private parties in Edinburgh and have recently been regularly hired for 40th birthday parties, and I find them awesome! I especially love the ones where people dress up, and let me tell you – some of them have very vivid imaginations!

What do you enjoy about working for Social and Cocktail Events?

Without mentioning trying to perfect my cocktail skills at each event, which I obviously enjoy, I think it’s the interacting and socialising with the guests that is the most important. You  can learn a set of skills like cocktail mixing, however it takes a certain kind of person to comfortably walk into a stranger’s house, knowing that they’re in for an amazing laugh, and be able to leave as friends in the space of only a few hours. Keeping professional at all times… Obviously! 😉

What do you think makes a good bartender?

As you can probably tell, I’m not that shy of a person, talk to anyone and everyone, got me into a lot of trouble with my mum! Anyone can learn to pull a good pint but it’s that little extra service, that little laugh with the customer, the capacity to remember what they specifically ordered last time amidst hundreds of others that makes the difference between a good bartender and a great one.

 


Ready to hire a private bartender?

Visit Social and Cocktail Events to find out how we can help you host your perfect party.


Tell me a little about your past bar experience.

Before I was a barman I was a waiter, food running of all things! Always walking past the bar and wishing I could jump on for a shift, the atmosphere, laughs and ethic was completely different. I finally got a shift behind the bar and I was rubbish! The only thing I found I was good at was talking. But I soon learned how to pour a good-ish pint! Nothing too fancy!

After a few months however I was putting together the bar’s first cocktail menu, trying to get the 50+ Regulars to drink ‘bellinis’ instead of ‘best’. I’d say it was… a moderate success! After that I left to go to university and I found a few shifts here and there in a couple of Glasgow bars. As soon as I got an offer from Social and Cocktail however I was interested. So much more interesting than constantly serving endless streams of guests, you actually get to know the clients at the event!

Do you have any funny stories or incidents you would like to share?

I think the first event I ever did with Social and Cocktail was up in a lodge in the north of Scotland, mixing drinks, having a laugh, what I thought would be a sort of usual affair. After only an hour however, and maybe under the effect of a couple of cocktails, one of the clients decided to bring down his collection of masks… Not cheap Halloween ones either, studio quality decorative faces!

Needless to say, it didn’t take us long before all of us, including myself were wearing latex masks of famous people… Nothing too kinky! I like to think of myself as quite an open minded guy but let me tell you, it’s pretty hard to keep cool shaking a Boston Glass full of liquid with one of those on, not to mention you can’t see what you’re even doing!


What our customers say about Joe?

“I just wanted to say how brilliant Joe the bartender was last night. He was very professional and everyone had a ball.”

“The cocktails were excellent and the barman was very entertaining which made for all in all a brilliant night.”

What’s your favourite Cocktail to Make?

Definitely the Toblerone Martini, it’s always the final cocktail I like to make at the end of an event, it’s like a liquid dessert to top the evening off.

What’s your favourite Cocktail to drink?

I prefer Daiquiris over anything if I’m quite honest, especially during the summer, something about the fresh fruit, not to mention the fair glug of rum.

What’s your favourite Cocktail Bar to drink in?

The best cocktail bar I’ve had a drink in was probably Livello in Newcastle, however to have a drink in regularly I’d have to say Dragonfly in Edinburgh. Not a scratch on my little cocktail bar in a suitcase though!


Book your cocktail party now!

Prices start from just £27.50 per person and include:

  • State of the Art Mobile Cocktail Bar
  • Professionally Trained Cocktail Bartender
  • Cocktail Glasses
  • Garnishes
  • 5 Delicious Cocktails per person