About the drink:
A lot of people ask how I come up with my drink recipes. My answer usually surprises them. (laughs) For example, I created my signature cocktail after having pancakes with blueberries one morning. I love blueberries, so I decided I wanted a blueberry cocktail. Today, we are talking about High Society, and a week ago I realised it had been a while since I had made a shrub. I love shrubs! I have a body lotion at home that smells of almonds and raspberries, so I am currently working on that combination. (laughs) I do not know how other people do it, but I take inspiration from what I eat, what I put on my skin, and things like that…
Tell us something about your beginnings behind the bar…
I started as a waitress at Steps. My only aim was to earn my own money instead of asking my parents for it. My natural interest caught their attention, and eventually they chose me and gave me a chance behind the bar. That is where I began exploring spirits, cocktails and the profession in more depth. I stayed for four years and learned most of what I know today, and I will always be grateful for that.
What is it like to be a woman behind the bar?
Challenging. I enjoy working with people, looking after them and making their evening better. I have always seen my work as going out to have fun with them. But being a woman behind the bar comes with countless disadvantages. I constantly have to prove something to men. Sometimes it almost makes me laugh when I am behind the bar and a gentleman says he needs advice and asks if I would be so kind as to call the bartender… (laughs) At first, I often felt nervous and held back when someone at the bar watched me work. I kept wondering whether I was doing everything right. Today, though, I believe in myself and can be confident.
What does a cocktail bartender like to drink?
I am not really a cocktail girl. If I have one, it will be a classic such as an Old Fashioned or a Sazerac. Otherwise, Jameson. Lots of Jameson! (laughs)
Do you live in the here and now, or do you already know where your next steps will take you?
Working with people makes me happy, so I live in the present. I enjoy what I have and the people around me. Still, there are certainly some goals I hold on to, and I hope they will come to life in the future.
Nikola Žalovičová’s High Society recipe
4 cl Tanqueray No. Ten
2 cl strawberry-infused Campari
5 cl grapefruit and peach shrub