Bartenders

Benji Ryde

Type

Bartenders

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Quaint little village of Twyford and for the last 4 years, Reading.

WHERE DO YOU/HAVE YOU WORKED?

Started in The Purple Turtle (smelly dive/metal bar serving pints to literally all sorts of 'wonderful' people), then Las Iguanas (apparently "living Latin life" and developed a fond hatred for Latin music), TGI Fridays (for a month, learnt to flair and left because I couldn't take someone telling me that Jack Daniel's isn't a whiskey), then Mix Cocktail Bar (still at present, the land of hopes and dreams that enabled me to work with some of the greatest bartenders in the country and built me as a professional of my industry).

FAVORITE BARS?

Trailer Happiness because of the bloody excellent service and well crafted drinks. Blues Kitchen because of whiskey, have you seen their backbar!? Raouls because of their brilliant drinks and even better shirt and tie combos. Finally Steam and Rye, went there recently and the drinks were great but serving me a drink in a tin with whipped cream, American flags and a choc ice as a garnish made cry with happiness inside!

FAVOURITE DRINK?

Tennessee Whiskey *coughjackdaniels*/cocktail wise - I'm a sucker for a well made Pina Colada.

Bad ass barman/rock n roll moment?

Flame-throwing 4ft of orange essence from an atomiser over 5 litres of Cosmo / celebrating New Years by saturating a couple of regulars with a bottle of Champagne.

Ever done it on a bar?

I've been told that I'm a gentleman and have been strongly advised that a gentlemen never tells!

What's next for you?

I'll probably have a couple of drinks, try to get over this miserable hangover and call it a day. Would also love to my own bar next.

Best/worst chat up lines you've heard at a bar?

Best: "So... Xbox or Playstation?" Worst (but also fantastic) "Get your coat love, I've got a knife."

Tell us a secret or something we don't know?

My guiltiest pleasure is Martini Asti and I once flared a bottle of JD into my face and gave myself a black eye for a week. Told people I had been in a fight to retain my "Dangerous Ben" reputation.

If you were to make a barchick cocktail, what would you put in it?

The Slut Drop - Archers, Passoa, Cranberry juice and lemon juice. Topped with Lambrini. In my experience, bitches love Lambrini. Garnished with a hoop earring.

How do you like your Martini?

However the bartender thinks best. I especially enjoy it when they shake it. Gives me a license to slap them - I'm not violent, I just appreciate these drinks stirred.

What did you want to be as a kid?

It was a dead heat between a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and the Green Power Ranger. So naturally I became a bartender.