Kazakhstan bartender's champion cocktail

Prizewinner of several international bartenders contests Alibek Dzhaibergenov shared a secret of his special cocktail with Tengrinews.kz. The Drink of Gods won awards at several competitions. “The Drink of Gods is my special cocktail. I make it from shanty cream, mixed with Amaretto liquor and Bacardi rum and a little bit of caramel syrup,” Dzhaibergenov said on the sidelines of bartenders master-class in Almaty. According to Alibek, there is a classical style of preparing alcoholic cocktails, but the classics applies to ingredients and glasses. The way bartender mixes or shakes the drink, makes its taste unique. Men frequently use alcohol to get closer to people. But according to Alibek, there is no cocktail that would work equally well for all women. “If a guy decides to hit on a woman by buying her a cocktail, he needs to tell the bartender about his intentions. Evaluating the woman’s outfit, eyes, lips and mood, bartender will select the drink himself. Just as any dish has its own garnish which supplements it, a cocktail has to supplement a woman,” Dzhaibergenov said. Juggling elements, flaring, are welcome in the bartender’s work, but they are not compulsory. Smoking is forbidden for mixologists (bartenders specializing in mixing). They have to have perfect sense of smell. First of all, a person behind the bar has to be able to listen, to make the guest feel comfortable. “In some sense we help people, help them relax, relieve their feelings and not get dead drunk,” bartender said.