Clint Amos

Around The Block with

AMOS

From NRL player to Bacardí-Martini Australia sales representative, Clint Amos has shown he’s up for a challenge. Over the last few months he’s taken on his toughest challenge yet, as a contestant on the current season of the hit reality TV show, The Block. explore DRINKS caught up with Clint for a couple of cocktails recently to hear about his time on the show and how the lessons he’s learnt have helped him in the sales world.

PHOTOGRAPHY ARSINEH HOUSPIAN

explore DRINKS: What was it like being a contestant on The Block?

Clint Amos: Crazy and surreal! For many years my wife and I sat on the couch watching the show, thinking, “I wonder if that part is set up. Do you think it’s really that hard? We could do that!” I remember driving The Block cars one day, and Hannah and I turned to each other and said, “We’re on The Block!” and laughed out loud. It’s a surreal feeling.

eD: Why did you decide to enter the show?

CA: We are massive fans of the show and had always wanted to renovate a property. We didn’t get our application in until the last day before entries closed, but we definitely had a lot of fun with the audition video.

eD: Did you or Hannah have any industry experience in home renovations before entering the show?

CA: Hannah and I had no renovating experience. Unless you call me going down to the local hardware store on the weekends for snags on bread and picking up random tools ‘experience’. That was it!

“THE CAMARADERIE OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE A COMMON GOAL TO DELIVER A FINISHED PRODUCT, IN THIS CASE A ROOM REVEAL. THE SAME APPLIES TO OUR BACARDI VIC/TAS SALES TEAM. WE ALL WANT TO DO WELL IN SERVICING OUR CUSTOMERS AND DELIVERING A GREAT OUTCOME TO THE VENUES THAT SUPPORT US.”

eD: What’s one thing you’ve taken away from this experience that you can apply in your dayto-day role as a Bacardí-Martini Australia sales representative?

CA: The camaraderie of people that have a common goal to deliver a finished product, in this case a room reveal. The same applies to our Bacardi VIC/TAS sales team. We all want to do well in servicing our customers and delivering a great outcome to the venues that support us.

eD: You’ve mentioned that there are similarities in your role at Bacardí-Martini Australia and your time on the show. Can you give us a little insight as to what they are?

CA: This camaraderie between the tradies was the most significant similarity. Our Bacardi VIC/ TAS sales team has a great balance of ontrade experienced representatives who have lived and breathed the bar scene for years and off-trade representatives, who have 20 years industry experience collectively. So with any challenge, we definitely have it covered.

eD: What was your favourite room to renovate and why? CA: My favourite room is our winning ‘Whisky Room’. Hannah and I love hosting and entertaining people and this room provides a gathering point to start your evening, whatever the occasion. Its design promotes conversation, and everyone on the show enjoyed spending their downtime in there. Oh, if those walls could talk! (Laughs)

eD: Home renovations can add pressure to any relationship. Has this made you and Hannah a stronger unit?

CA: What bigger challenge could there be than to renovate a house with your partner? Oh yeah, and let’s do it on the highest rating renovating show on national TV! (Laughs) We had a lot of fun on the show, but we knew we were in the deep end from the start so we made sure we stuck by each other. I couldn’t have done it without Hannah.

eD: We heard you whipped up a few cocktails during the show, was there a crowd favourite among the contestants?

CA: My espresso martinis were a favourite, as were the mojitos. Hannah and I love to entertain, and I think the theatre of making a cocktail makes people feel relaxed and comfortable. On The Block, when you can relax, it’s a refreshing feeling.

eD: Would you ever consider doing home renovations again?

CA: I loved my time on The Block and learnt so many new skills, so I’ll definitely renovate another home. Just not in 12 weeks!

eD: For our readers looking to do home renovations, what three pieces of advice you can offer?

CA: Firstly, do your homework. Consider hiring an architect to draft your plans and ideas, as they’ll also know a number of quality tradies you can use to begin your works. Secondly, when engaging your tradies, ask to see their past jobs. The people they’ve already conducted work for will have honest feedback about their work. Lastly, get in there and do it. It’s amazing what the end result can, and hopefully, will turn out like.

ABOVE: (Bacardi Sales Team) Adam Jones, Nick Selvadurai, Clint Amos, Jack Gibson

LE GRAND FIZZ

GLASS: Wine glass

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Grey Goose® Vodka 20ml St-Germain® Elderflower Liqueur 2 x Wedges of freshly squeezed limes (approx. half a lime) Top with chilled soda water

METHOD: Build in a wine glass with ice.

GARNISH: Lime wedge.

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE LEMON & THYME TWIST

GLASS: Wine glass

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Bombay Sapphire Gin 90ml Premium tonic water 2 x Lemon wedges squeezed

METHOD: Fill a wine glass with ice. Add ingredients and gently stir.

GARNISH: Lemon peel and a sprig of thyme.

MOJITO

GLASS: Highball

INGREDIENTS: 45ml BACARDÍ Carta Blanca Rum 4 x Lime wedges 12 x Fresh mint leaves 2 x Tsp. Caster sugar 1 x Part soda water

METHOD: Put four lime wedges into a glass, then add sugar and muddle to release the lime juice. Put the mint leaves in one hand and clap. Half fill the glass with crushed ice and pour in BACARDÍ Carta Blanca. Stir the mix together until the sugar dissolves. Top with crushed ice and a splash of soda water.

GARNISH: Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.