SPECIAL REPORT
SPIRITS
BEHIND THE BAR SCENE We asked a group of bartenders, bar managers and beverage experts to share their insights on the latest bar trends, which spirits are in demand, which new accessories are making waves and the key ingredients a bartender needs to succeed in the industry.
JAD BALLOUT Bar co-owner Dead End Paradise Beirut jad_ballout
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Bar essentials
In each corner of the world, there’s a different cocktail that’s trending. For example, the gin basil smash has been popular in Lebanon for over a decade, whereas in London, dry martinis are in demand.
Shakers, strainers and jiggers are the basics behind the bar. As we are now in the golden age of bartending, new accessories are constantly being introduced to help elevate cocktail menus, such as the flavor blaster, which helps incorporate smoke with an aesthetically pleasing bubble, and carbonation kits that help to artificially incorporate carbon dioxide into otherwise still liquids.
Gin maintains a strong following. While it is a white spirit, it is sophisticated in terms of flavor profile; it's versatile and accessible all over the world. Each producer uses local ingredients that create a different character to this spirit, which generally doesn’t require aging. This in itself makes it easier to produce than other spirits. Vodka, mezcal, tequila, gin, rum and whisky are the most popular and recognized spirits in the world. However, location matters, so in Oslo, for instance, every bar is expected to have aquavit in stock.
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HOSPITALITY NEWS ME | DEC 2022-JAN 2023
Some of my favorite tools include the Brix meter, which enables us to check on the sugar levels in syrups, and the sous vide, which we use to cook ingredients at low temperatures, thereby preserving the flavor of our fresh products.
