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Hal Smith - Exotic Booze Club

Head Bartender Extra-Ordinaire

Name: Hal Smith

Company: Exotic Booze Club

Job Title: Libation-Creation-Stationist

What's your desert island drink & why?

Amarula is something I rarely see in bars but is tasty as hell! I’d drink it everywhere if I could!

We have many different favourite bars depending on the occasion. What's your favourite for: A. Pornstar Martini & Date Night? B. A Bloody Marry & Brunch? C. Rum Punch & a party?

Obviously Exotic Booze Club hits all these but if I had to answer -

A. Prohibition (great drinks and some sexy dimmed lighting)

B. Bar Lounge (The brunch maaaan, the bruuuunch)

C. Lono Cove (The staff always make you feel like an old friend)

Which drinks industry heros have inspired you & how?

Matthew Biancaniello - His creations mixing food ingredients and drinks are out of this world. It just makes me want to go foraging!

Do you hace a favourite Cocktail Ingredient and why?

Malfy Blood Orange! It fits well in Martinis but it makes a killer Negroni. Switch it out for London Dry gin in different drinks and you’ll be amazed what comes out. Also amazing with Fentimans Seville Orange Jigger.

If you were a cocktail which would you be and why?

Cheeky Vimto - Absolutely no class but I can guarantee a good party

If you could only drink alcohol which orginated in one country where would you choose & why?

Mexico - Tequila, Mezcal, Chicha, Kahlua, and some wine for good measure! They have it all

Which spirit/ingredients has your favourite packaging? How important is this?

Mermaid Gin with their fish scale design! It’s sleek, eyecatching, it’s fits their theme. Packaging is key, if food looked like slop on a menu you wouldn’t order it. The same logic applies on a back bar.

Do you have a preferred mixer / soft drink / non-alcoholic option and why?

Pineapple juice is a saviour! Rum Punches and French Martinis, Hangover cure and “swimmer” flavourer. Frobisher is particularly tasty and they’ve just the right size to grab on the go.

What's your favourite food to pair with drinks?

Olives, I know it’s cliche but a good stuffed olive in herby brine is a perfect bar snack. Plus the brine can be used for a dirty martini or you can dare a mate to drink it. Craft & Company have just that sort.

How did you get into the drinks industry?

By chance, I started in uni and realised I was better at and preferred working in hospitality so I hung around for the party!

What do you love most about your job?

A million things! The love and support from colleagues, enabling a good party, being able to have a laugh, no early morning, and a staff drink to top it all off

And the worst bits?

No weekends and long hours. That’s it, the job is amazing other than that but I love it so it’s worth it.

If you could share a cocktail with anyone who would it be and why?

I’d love to sit with President Roosevelt, apparently he loved a cocktail. I’ve got a suspicion he ended the Prohibition for himself more than anything.

Do you have any recommended reads for booze lovers?

The Curious Bartender - Tristan Stephenson. It’s very nerdy but it’s a one stop guide for all sorts of classic and crazy recipes as well as telling you how it all works. One of the best recommendations I’d ever received.

What are your Exotic Booze goals?

Make sure every customer leaves with a smile and you can always hear laughter in the bar

What advice do you have for aspiring Drinks professionals?

Read, Watch and listen to everything you can find to do with drinks. Dive into the Booze world and you’ll be intoxicated (Pun intended)

What's your pet drinks industry hate?

Men who won’t drink “girly drinks”. Do yourself a favour and have a Strawberry Daquiri or a Blue Hawaiian. They’re yummy.

What's going to be the next big drinks trend?

Rum’s coming back people! Get on the bandwagon!

What have you learnt from lockdown - any positive takeaways?

Not so much learnt but reaffirmed that the people around you are the most valuable thing. And also that drinking Margaritas from 10AM is fiiiine (Sorry Mum)

Any other pearls of wisdom or drinks rants?

If you’re on a date and they’re rude to the person serving you get rid.

Where can we send our readers to find you online?

@calltheking on Instagram. I’m not a heavy hitter on social media so just expect the occasional story of me with a beer. X

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