Grey Goose’s “House of Change” entered its final round of mentorship in Singapore

Grey Goose’s “House of Change” entered its final round of mentorship in Singapore

November, New Delhi, India Grey Goose House of Change is a specially curated multi-faceted series that focuses on providing expertise to bartenders to help them go beyond their bartending skill sets and aims to set bartenders on a journey to discover a clear, defined and purposeful career in mixology. In its effort to give back to the community that has been supporting the brand for so long, Grey Goose revisited another series of scouting and celebrating India’s Behind-The-Bar talent in collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board entering its fourth edition.

With over 80 bartenders enrolling across the country to attend the specially curated masterclasses and mentorship sessions, eight winners were selected in the second phase for a trip to Singapore to further hone their skills with an immersion program with Singapore’s celebrated bars including Jigger and Pony, Smoke and Mirrors & more.

From a series of masterclasses to visiting Singapore’s top-tier bars and understanding its vibrant nightlife and bar culture, the eight winners will embark on an exciting mentorship journey that is sure to elevate their skillset. The 8 winners are Monik Mistry from Koko (Mumbai), Dharambir Chhetri from Copitas (Bangalore), Pankaj Bhatt from The Quorum Club (Gurugram), Shabaz – Saz and Deepak Rawat from Villa 259 (Goa), Umesh Gupta from PCO (Mumbai), Virendra Singh from Chirmi Palace (Jaipur) and Manoj Nandakumar from Byg Brewski Brewing Company (Bangalore). The winners also got a chance to experience some of Singapore’s newest and best destination offerings.

Spanning across several modules, the masterclasses in Singapore were hosted by Tarun Sibal (Chef Entrepreneur and Co-Owner of Title, Goa) who took the bartenders through a session on Entrepreneurship on 7th November,  Ayesha Nigam (Celebrity stylist) and imparted her expertise on Styling and Grooming on 8th November; Khanijo (Fashion Designer) took the bar talent through some Fashion Insights, and Sameer Bawa (Content Creator and Influencer) showed the bartenders what it takes to make compelling and engaging content through his masterclass on 10th November.

Adtnu Tiwari, Senior Brand Manager, Premium White Spirits, Bacardi India, said, “Grey Goose’s House of Change initiative has come a long way. From a nascent stage to now entering its fourth edition, the program saw eight bartenders take over some of Singapore’s top-tier bars. The last phase of House of Change has been a very engaging series for the bartenders and the mentors alike. With The Singapore Tourism Board coming on board as a collaborator, the experience has been endearing.”

Singapore boasts some of the top-tier bars that have been on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars. The partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board scaled up this year’s edition, making it bigger than before. With some of the best bartenders in India enrolling for the program, Grey Goose had appointed mentors across industries who specialized in the trade of Entrepreneurship, Content Creation, Grooming and Styling, Travel, and Luxury.

Profiles of the 8 selected Indian bartenders 

Monik Mistry – KoKo, Mumbai

With a versatile experience of around 10 years in the Hospitality industry, Monik Mistry started from a steward to being a Senior BarTender for KOKOa-Mumbai. He completed Higher education from London, UK & received a specialized Diploma in Bar & Beverage management from Mumbai.

Owing to his flair for guest interaction and proficient communication as his core strengths, Monik’s evolution in his profession has led him to work with many Bollywood celebrities & businessmen.

His strong moral reforms within the Hospitality industry in India set an example for employee-management relations and his love for cooking up a storm in the kitchen can only ever be overshadowed by Mixology.

Dharambir Chhetri – Copitas, Bangalore

Hailing from a small town nestled in the Himalayan Foothills in West Bengal is Dharambir Chhetri AKA Veer. When he is not concocting a mean Southside tipple, you will find Dharambir spiritedly playing basketball and shooting hoops while ensuring his phone camera captures his distinct skillset!

His four-year long bartending career gave him the opportunity to work with an array of bars all over India, seeking and gaining expertise in what he truly enjoys and loves to do, all while learning from the people he has met along the journey who played an integral role in his evolution, personally and professionally.

His favorite city happens to be Bangalore and working with Copitas has had a huge impact on his career and life.

Driven, determined, and extremely hospitable, Dharmabir strives to ensure he delivers an unforgettable experience to his audience by expressing himself creatively through his cocktails.

Pankaj Bhatt – The Quorum Club, Gurugram

Pankaj Bhatt comes from a land of wildlife, culture, and a melting pot of flavorful delicacies that is Uttarakhand. It was only natural for him to cross the threshold of hospitality and bartending.

Pankaj began his journey as a bartender at Tres, Lodhi where he delved deep into the bar culture and industry. From retrieving knowledge of how food is paired with drinks to a deep understanding of the nuances of flavors, Pankaj has come a long way and has now moved on to a world of innovation and creativity with The Quorum Club, Gurugram. Together with his team of enthusiastic and zestful bartenders, The Quorum Club’s tipples are made in a unique fashion, replete with in-house syrups, bitters, cordial, and saccharum.

If you don’t catch Pankaj behind a bar, you will surely find him behind a lens, capturing his creations and sipping on his classic favorite Cuba Libre.

Shabaz – Saz

From a stint at The Oberoi New Delhi as a food and beverages assistant to being a senior bartender at the Four Seasons hotel in Bengaluru, and finally, from Mixologist to his present role as Bar Manager for the fine dining establishment SAZ in Calcutta by PCO, Shabaz is a master of mixology with significant industry experience and a full bag of skills to his name. A jack of all trades, Shabaz has dealt with everything from the procurement and management of bar supplies to carefully crafting ingredients and beverages for much-loved menus, besides designing bar menus and their pricing. The Monin Cup follows Shabaz on a journey studded with stars. His certifications from the Wines and Spirits Education Trust and being the national finalist in 2022’s World-Class India by Diageo and a Bacardi Mojito Maestro are just a few more feathers that have been added to his cap.

Deepak Rawat – Villa 259, Goa

From the northern part of India, all the way to the southern land of Goa, Deepak’s observation of witnessing cultures transition, have had a profound impact on his mastery of mixology. From liqueurs, syrups, shrubs, his concoctions portray the diversity and distinctiveness of India through flavors and ingredients made in-house.

Nestled within the by-lanes of Assagao in Anjuna, Deepak’s cocktails can easily be considered one of Goa’s hidden gems that need to be explored.

Umesh Gupta – PCO Mumbai

Having started out as an assistant bartender, Umesh Gupta has come a long way. From working with some of the 50 Best Bars such as Little Red Door in Paris, Handshake in Mexico, Bee’s Knees in Japan, Manhattan in Singapore, and Smoke and Bitter in Sri Lanka, Umesh has found sanctuary in creating some of the most delectable cocktails in town at PCO Mumbai. 

Virendra Singh – Chirmi Palace, Jaipur

With extensive experience as a food and beverage manager, Virendra has mastered the art of designing unique menus and creating interesting cocktails. His vast knowledge in mixology and his ability to understand palates with ease has helped him craft his own syrups, tinctures, bitters, and shrubs, thus keeping his signature style of creating cocktails intact.

Manoj Nandakumar – Byg Brewski brewing company, Bangalore

Meet the man behind mixing up Milano Torino. Manoj Kumar, known for his extraordinary Bar Flair skills with a knack for endearing customers with his amiable spirit, is a master in mixology you will find at Byg Brewski Brewing Company in Bangalore. With many accolades under his belt, it is Manoj’s unrelenting attitude that makes his bartending skillset stands a class apart.

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