Loreta Toska

Originally from: Athens
Profession: Bartender
At: Athens

The Greek winner of Bacardi Legacy 2017 shares her thoughts for the competition, her cocktail recipe and her future plans until the Global Finals.

Q: How was the experience from the semifinals in Madrid?
A: It was a great experience since I got the chance to meet with the rest of the competitors and share our passion for great cocktails and bartending. The high level of Greek bartending was something that stood out from all the Greek finalists, and we all presented great cocktails the proved our strong bartending scene.

Q:Is there a moment that you will not forget throughout the whole experience of the competition?
A: I will never forget the 23 days of promoting my drink.

Q: Can you share some of your marketing ideas throughout your promotion period?
A: I tried concentrating on strategic moves. I needed a visual identity of my campaign, I did 35 guest shifts, I used social media and created videos that went viral and I also promoted my drink through media and various trade events such as the Athens Bar Show, the Athens Rum Festival, the Ho.Re.Ca exhibition etc. At the end, I also created a ‘Silver Lining Perfume’!

Q: Which of your promotional steps you do you think that really made a difference and allowed you to win?
A: I think that Silver Lining had an even and strategic identity through it’s whole promotional period. It took a lot of work to pre schedule every single step and to keep up with the concept.

Q: What do we expect from your presentation at the Global Finals?
A: It’s always better to know that your work can also affect or help others. With this on mind, I am presenting a charity event which I will present at the Global Finals.

Q: Besides as a bartender has the competition also affected you as a person?
A: I haven’t really had the time to think about this, but yes, I do believe stronger and more confident after the past months.

Q: Lately we see more and more women working behind the bar. Why do you think it’s still difficult for a woman to work as a bartender?
A: I think it makes sense. A bartender’s schedule is really tough and if a woman wants to create her own family it’s not easy to keep up with the late night shifts. On the other hand we see women working as part time bartenders more and more lately.

Q: What would you say to someone who wants to participate to the competition next year?
A: In order to succeed to the competition you wave to make steps that you feel proud of. You never know whether you will win or not, so your main focus should be on what you gain through the competition, and not on what happens at the end.

Q: Talk to us about your Silver Lining Cocktail
A: Silver lining is the way I live. And what I really want it to represent is that hope is everywhere, even at the most difficult times.

Silver Lining
Garnish: Coupe
Garnish: Black pepper & fresh rosemary sprig
Method: SHAKE first 3 ingredients with ice and strain back into shaker. DRY FROST SHAKE with ice-cream and pour into chilled glass.
45 ml Bacardi Carta Blanca
20 ml Freshly squeezed lime juice
15 ml Orange liqueur
15 ml Flower honey syrup
1 oz Madagascar vanilla ice-cream