Ventsislav Trenchev

When I opened my bar, Hangout, in one of Bulgaria's largest university cities, I noticed a significant issue: although our guests, primarily students, are social and curious, they lack the understanding of drinking cocktails. They enjoy drinking but don't know what or how to drink, and they rarely appreciate the work of our bartenders.

To address this, I launched the Ketel One initiative called "Garnished With Education" by hosting six workshops to educate our guests on bar hospitality, attracting 180 participants. I designed a cocktail, Bonsai Garden, inspired by Japan's educational traditions and Ketel One's vision of passing down knowledge through generations. This cocktail symbolises learning and was promoted as a special drink, served with an illustration of Ketel One's bottle and a QR code for more information.

Due to the strong interest from our guests, we will continue hosting these workshops. We've also partnered with the Bulgarian Bar Academy, which provided a lecture on the same topic and pledged future support for our mission.

By educating our guests, we help them better understand and appreciate cocktails, fostering a deeper connection with the craft. This initiative aims to create a community where bar culture is widely recognised and appreciated. In times of staff shortages, it could also inspire young people to become passionate about bartending, enhancing guest experiences and promoting long-term industry growth. I believe that involving bartenders from various bars can spark positive change within our community and beyond.
Learn more, see the recipe, and find out about our next event here.

Bonsai Garden

Recipe:
45 ml Ketel One Vodka
10 ml umeshu
10 ml yuzu puree
22.5 ml genmaicha cordial
Top with pomegranate and black cumin soda.

Garnish: Bambo leaf
Method: Shaken, topped with soda.