Erik Lorincz is a known name in the bartending business. The winner of the World Class Bartender of the Year 2010, he was the face of the American Bar at The Savoy for eight glorious years before opening his own bar Kwant in London in 2019 – a big move for someone who started his journey in his native Slovakia, which did not have a bar culture back then. Lorincz was in the country for the recently-concluded India Bartender Week by Diageo Bar Academy, where he spoke about his journey and also did a bar takeover at the popular Lair in Gurugram. We caught up with him for a quick chat about his experiences.
Excerpts from the interview
How has your India experience been?
This is my second time in India. I had seen a very different India when I had come in 2011. That was more than a decade ago and there were no bars such as Sidecar and Lair. I was so impressed that this community and culture has really grown into something huge.
You did a bar takeover as part of the event. How was it and what was the drink of the night?
It was really good. My guest shift was the first one that started the night and the bar was packed. The Green Park Margarita was a hit. It has Don Julio Blanco, with fresh avocado, yuzu, lime and agave.
Till a few years ago, bartending would not have even been considered a career…
It was the same in Slovakia where I’m from. We had no cocktail culture. The first cocktail bar opened 24 years ago, but there was nothing prior to that. There was no cocktail history, as compared to New York or London, where people were drinking cocktails as early as the 1930s. It takes a lot of courage for a few individuals with a lot of passion to invest their time, energy and money into opening a bar and serving cocktails.
With no cocktail culture in Slovakia, how did you stay dedicated to your goal of becoming a bartender?
I was always doing my research about bars in other cities. I love travelling. At a very early stage, I went to New Orleans, New York and LA and visited their legendary bars. I went to Japan which has an amazing bar culture. Those travels really opened my eyes. I kept researching and realised there is so much out there. It just takes a little bit of effort because nothing comes your way without hard work. Travelling, reading and researching helped me in my journey.
How did things change for you post 2010 when you won the World Class Bartender of the Year?
It’s not in jest when I say that the hard work really paid off. There was a time I was working at the bar for 300-400 hours in a month while my friends were off enjoying themselves at music concerts. It paid off when I won the award because many opportunities came my way, including consulting on the James Bond movies.
You worked at the American bar for eight years before you opened your own. What learnings did you take back?
Those eight years were a great exercise in management skills. I learnt how to plan things in a calm way and manage guest relations and to go above and beyond what was expected of me.
Name a cocktail which you think will never go out of style.
A Martini, a Negroni or an Old-Fashioned. These drinks have been here forever because they are so good and have proved the test of time.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on a new menu, but I think the main thing is to really focus on the bar and to make sure it’s running smoothly and efficiently. There’s always space for improvement.
