A bartender has a difficult schedule, demanding customers to deal with, but also a tremendous love for what he does. He always works at night, sacrificing family moments to offer his services to the people who go out to have fun.
The job of a barman is one that you have to love in order to follow it, but above all be ready to make a lot of sacrifices.
But for those who work as bartenders, their profession is their passion.
They want to offer the customer the best tasty drink, a drink that in some cases they consider as their child.
Ioannis Ioannou from Liopetri, is a man who works as a barman and has been involved in beverage mixing for the last five years. With his talent, he raised Cyprus to the top in a mixology competition held in Riga, Latvia, making a drink with anti-cancer messages.
The profession came about by accident
Let's take the things from the beginning. Ioannis started working in the profession, as he liked to try new flavors and aromas through which a cocktail is made.
"More through my travels, I always tried to approach every culture and flavor that accompanied it, constantly discovering delicious combinations and aromas that enchant even the most demanding palate."
In this way, as he says, he began to realize the dynamic and creative art of mixology, as well as the enormous interest that caused him to discover it.
Subsequently, he began to try various flavors and combinations, while he also participated in several domestic competitions, such as the pan-Cypriot "Monin Cup 2016" Competition, where he took 3rd place. In the same year he also took 4th place in the Pancyprian Competition "Diplomatico World Tournament 2016".
The following year, in another pan-Cypriot competition, the IBA 2017, he took first place in the Copenhagen World Championship, IBA World Cocktail Championship Copenhagen 2017, where he took a breather from the medals, finishing 4th. .
A year later at the top of the world!
In 2018 he found Ioannis taking part again in a pan-Cypriot competition, this time in Paralimni, and specifically in the open space of the "Cyprus Bartenders Association Educational Center / Organization". The competition under the name "RIGA BLACK BALSAM GLOBAL COCKTAIL 2018" became the springboard for Ioannis to conquer the top of the world. He took first place and then went to Riga, Latvia for the world competition held on November 29.
"I had to face the 30 best mixologists in the world in a very demanding competition, where the smallest detail counted. During the competition, you are graded on the handling of the tools, the aroma, the taste, the glass, the garnish and in general the whole presentation ".
"INVICTUS" and the Cyprus Cancer Association
Ioannis, for the big competition, chose a drink under the name "INVICTUS", which means invincible. His creation was not only perfect, but he also sent messages against cancer.
"It is a creation that is directly related to cancer prevention, since most of the ingredients have antioxidant properties," said Ioannis.
As he also explained, the award-winning recipe consists of the historic Riga Black Balsam Cherry Liquor, Passionfruit, Fresh Mandarin Juice, Organic Sugarcane Juice (homemade), Fresh Lime Juice & Organic Essential Oils-Cannabis Sativa with CBD.
"For garnish," he continued, "I had added a piece of ice in the shape of a pyramid indicating immortality, and I placed bear grass on the glass in the shape of the symbol of the Anticancer Association."
However, the taste of the ingredients combined is needed according to John and the right glass.
For the competition he had chosen a hard-to-find vintage glass of 1849, "which travels nostalgically to you in ancient authentic times," as John puts it.
"Hard work and we continue"
Despite his success and the joy he received with his award, the world's leading mixologist for 2018 holds a small basket, as he now has to continue the hard work so that he can maintain the level of quality he has achieved.
"I do not hide from you that I am very happy and especially pleased to have been recognized in such a world-class cocktail contest among the most experienced and renowned contestants around the world."
In Cyprus in 2018, Ioannis, being more experienced in the profession and having conquered the top of the world in mixology, observes that our country lacks in all respects knowledge, experience and certainly art, let alone that of mixology.
However, he is not afraid, as he believes that "the new generation of people for the most part began to search and express themselves through more creative art forms, either traveling or coming in contact with different cultures, or because they want to feel this something different in their daily life ".
Regarding the treatment he receives from the world during his work, he states that in no case would he characterize the profession as undervalued. "On the contrary, every time I get in touch with people, I am particularly amazed at their indescribable enthusiasm and satisfaction when I serve them one of my signature cocktails."
The dream for the future
Ioannis, a young man full of appetite for work, dreams of the future, with one of them being a day to open his own cocktail bar, an authentic and alternative place where he will make, his own creative curiosities aiming primarily at quality and the satisfaction of each visitor.
"My goal is to inspire as many people as possible to love tasting and appreciate the creativity that will be generously offered to them."
However, he did not fail to thank those who have supported him so far, both during the competition and before, from the moment he started doing this profession.
Source: Reporter