Kovic Rai

Kovic Rai has worked in many different venues, but to finally get the chance to work in a professional cocktail bar, Mr. & Mrs. Fox, was a dream come true. Here, Kovic developed his knowledge and honed his skills, so much so that he placed top eight in one of the world’s top bartending competitions.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY. I have been in the industry for around six years. I started bartending at a local bar in Wan Chai where I aquired basic cocktail skills. I also worked in other bars, but all of them were pretty much the same until I met Neil Rivington. He gave me a chance to work behind a cocktail bar, where I got to learn about the real art of mixing cocktails.

TELL US ABOUT THE LIQUID USED IN YOUR COCKTAIL AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR DRINK. For this cocktail, I have used Bulleit Rye Bourbon as the base spirit followed by apple juice, lemon juice, sprite reduction, lager, herbsaint and crushed lemon sugar salt. I am a big fan of rye whiskey. Bulleit Rye is an award-winning, straight rye whiskey and has unparalleled spice and complexity. The inspiration behind my creation comes from the Boilermaker Beer cocktail. In America, the drink consists of a glass of beer and a shot of whiskey. THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB? Getting a chance to be part of various competitions at the same time as developing skills in each and every way. I also like meeting people from the industry and exchanging ideas.

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN THE INDUSTRY? My ex-manager Neil Rivington, without him I wouldn’t be where I am right now. It was Neil who gave me the opportunity to be a part of this industry. Working with Neil, I’ve gained so much. I have never been so thankful in life that I got the opportunity to work with him.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT BEHIND THE BAR? When I made the finals for Bacardi Legacy this year. It’s an honor to be in the top 8 for such a big and tough competition.

IF YOU COULD DO ONE GUEST SHIFT WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHO WOULD IT BE WITH? I would say, Hidetsugu Ueno, probably in his bar, ‘Bar High Five,’ which is located in Ginza, Tokyo.

Rye or Dye

INGREDIENTS: • 50ml Bulleit Rye Bourbon • 20ml Fresh apple juice • 20ml Fresh lemon juice • 15ml Sprite reduction • 75ml Beer lager • 10ml Herbsaint (to rinse the glass)

METHOD: Coat half the rim of a chilled glass with crushed sugar, salt and lemon. Shake all ingredients apart from lager and double strain. Top up with lager

GARNISH: Lemon zest

GLASSWARE: Sherry glass