Mixologist pursues passion in creating cocktails

KUCHING: There are differences between a mixologist and a bartender that many people do not know or may not know, but somehow they do make drinks taste great with their own creativity.

A bartender typically pours drinks that customers order, including beer, wine and mixed drinks.

In contrast, a mixologist focuses more on creating cocktails with an emphasis on creating a unique or new drink rather than making classic ones.

Clare Geena aspires to be a certified mixologist and wanting to make a name for herself one day after discovering her creativity in mixing different drinks.

Although there were challenges ahead of her before, it did not deter the 25-year-old to pursue her passion in creating new drinks for her customers.

“Basically, a mixologist is someone who mixes drinks and let their creativity just runs wild, creating something unique and refreshing for customers to enjoy.

“I took culinary arts class before I become a mixologist. So, because of my background in culinary arts, it’s pretty much similar for me.

“I got to venture more into my creative side to create new things, so I applied that creativity from food to drinks,” said Clare.

For about a year, she took lecturing school in Kuala Lumpur in 2020. However, when COVID-19 hit the country and movement was restricted, she dropped out.

She returned to Kuching and started to work at a bar in the city and from there, she learned more about the bartending world and mixing drinks.

“After I dropped out from school, I just ventured on my own into mixing drinks and that’s when I find out that I like to make and mix drinks.

“When I returned to Kuching, I worked at a bar for a while, and from there, I basically learned everything from scratch about mixing drinks from bartenders and other mixologists.

“Still, during that time, the pandemic was still on and movement was restricted, it was difficult for me because no one was going out, so I just do things on my own creating drinks.

“Though, I am grateful to have experience new things and learn a lot about mixing drinks and test out my creativity, as well as meeting my bartender friends and making new friends,” she said.

Being a young mixologist herself comes with many challenges, especially being in a profession which is usually dominated by men.

She said as a woman in the profession, people do not look up to her as a mixologist to the point that no one believed that she can make good cocktails for customers.

“Nothing comes easy in any profession, especially when you are a woman in the bartending world because they will not look up to you.

“Here at Iced Bar, both my supervisor and my second in-charge are men so people do not look at me as someone who can mix drinks,” she said.

However, she added that most people will look surprised and dumbfounded after finding out that she is the one that mixes the cocktails.

Clare and Aloysius make drinks during the opening of the bar.

“It is challenging, they will tend to look down on me because I’m a woman but I usually let it be.

“You can say its sexism and I need to stand up for myself but in this kind of job line, it’s a bit tiring to fight or argue with people who don’t want to listen to you.”

“I hope that someday people will not look down on someone who is trying their best to do their job and what they are passionate about,” added Clare.

She also shared that her parents initially does not prefer her to work in a bar, but she was able to convince them that mixing drinks was her passion.

“I know it’s not a social norm for women to work in a bar and manage a bar, but I managed to convince them that I love working in a bar and mixing drinks.

“They understood this because it is something that I want to do with my own creativity,” she enthused.

Aside cocktails, the bar also has a variety of alcoholic beverages such as wine, gin, whiskey and brandy.

Back then Clare had no knowledge about mixing drinks until she met a friend that inspired her to venture into the bartending world.

She said, at one time, she watched her friend Sophia mixing up drinks in front of her which sparks her interest to be a mixologist.

“I did not know what she was doing at that time, so I thought she was just doing bartending things.

“Then I watched how she mixes and it tastes very nice. It was really impressive that from there, I learned about it and explore it on my own.

“I go to bars, I watch my friends making drinks, I befriend the bartenders at the bar so I learn a thing or two from them.

“Sometimes, I just sit at the bar and watch them do their crafts and learn from them,” she said.

Clare is also the bar manager of Iced Bar in La Promenande Mall in Kota Samarahan which was opened on December 16.

Together with bartender Aloysius Gugun, they have created 25 local ingredients-led cocktails such as ‘Gin Breezy’, marry gin with farm fresh pineapples and imported cranberries.

Others including ‘Strawberry Brandy Tea’ is made with real fruits, brandy, and tea from the famous Black Bean Coffee & Tea and also ‘Forest Breeze’, a drink inspired by the band At Adau.

“It was an unexpected event when I met Aloysius. We went to the same school before, he was my junior and I was his senior in the past.

“One time I went out drinking and he was out drinking too at the same bar. After we lost contact, we become friends again.

“He also asked if he can work with me as a bartender and here we are. He is like a brother to me, and he knows how to make drinks and he mixes them how I like my drinks.

Technically, Clare said that she is not a certified mixologist but expressed hope that someday she can make a name for herself in the future.

“When I was in school, I dreamed of owning a place, like a library bar or library café, a place where people can relax and read books because I like reading myself.

“I am hopeful for myself in the future. I hope I can gain some sort of recognition from people as someone who can create cocktail drinks.

“Hopefully, with my experience in mixing drinks, that I am good enough to be a certified mixologist,” said Clare.

Iced Bar is located inside La Promenade Mall which was opened last Dec 16.