Originally from: Finland
Profession: Bar owner
At: Helsinki, Finland
In Timo’s own words, “I was born and raised in Helsinki, Finland. After high school, in year 1999, I moved to London to study B.A. hons degree in Theatre Dance. While studying I ended up working in the bars in London’s West End and became fascinated with the growing cocktail scene and social culture around it. 1999 was also the year the modern cocktail scene bloomed and I happened to be working in the middle of it all.
“I ended up working as a Head Bartender in Atlantic Bar & Grill, Dick’s Bar, maybe one of the most legendary and influential cocktail bars in London. After working and learning from the best it was time to move back to Finland in 2004 and start planning my own bar. Finally, in 2007, A21 Cocktail Lounge opened its door in Helsinki, Finland. It is a modern cocktail lounge, an extension of a living room.
My philosophy to making cocktails is that cocktail is a combination of flavours, usually served in a liquid form in a glass and is wrapped in a story. Using fresh Nordic ingredients to create modern cocktails guaranties authentic and unique concoctions of taste for consumers to experience.
Nowadays, I’m running our own A21 Decades, A21 Dining restaurants and our new venue, Flavour Studio in Helsinki, Finland. Flavour Studio acts as a teaching centre for everything to do with food and drink. I also work as the main cocktail trainer for Pernod Ricard Finland.
“Cherry Heering, the awesome liqueur that makes the Singapore Sling and a sling a Sling”
Timo’s Nordic Sling
Glass: Sling
Garnish: Lingonberries/raspberries & fresh herbs dusted with powdered sugar
Method: Shake first 8 ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass. Float raspberry liqueur.
• 30 ml Helsinki Distilling Company gin
• 10 ml Cherry Heering
• 20 ml Lapponia Lingonberry liqueur
• 10 ml Vanilla sugar syrup
• 10 ml Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3 spoon Cloudberry jam
• 3 cl Pineapple juice
• 3 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters
• Float Raspberry liquer
