Goa recognizes and appreciates artisanally-crafted liquor. Right from our local, beloved Feni to the highly refreshing Urrak, we have a number of drinks which bring out Goa’s essence. Even though bartending appears to be a “cool” career option where it’s all fun and games, there is a lot of hard work, persistence and training that goes into mastering the art. Alumni of V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE), Goa-based Sahil Essani, recently won the Diageo World Class India Competition and landed the title of ‘Bartender of the Year 2022’. After months of hard work, persistence and sheer dedication, the young prodigy represented India at the World Class Finals held in Australia.
The story begins all the way back in 2018, when Sahil entered the World Class India Championship just for fun and the feedback received from the judge and preceding winner, Devi Singh, took him a step closer to understanding what bartending is all about. “The more I understood the art of bartending, the more I realised how little I know, and I found myself in a pursuit of knowledge that had me more engaged than any kind of learning I had ever pursued. Since then, I never looked back and found myself in a career that I absolutely adore.” said Sahil.
Although being a part of the World Class Championship was a choice, winning it was more than an achievement for the Goan bartender. Evidently, none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the platform provided by V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education(VMSIIHE), Manora-Raia, Goa from where he attained his Bachelors of Science International Hospitality Management. The institute imbibed in Sahil the skills, confidence and a winning attitude which saw him soar past the other contenders to make it to the top spot of the national competition. From having classmates help him in recording videos till 4 AM to painting personalised glasses for his drinks for over 6 hours, he had the support and guidance from his faculty and colleagues that will forever be memorable.
“I remember looking at YouTube videos of former World Class winners late into the night and dreaming of being on that same stage and once I felt confident in my abilities, I decided to enrol myself. It had a lot of sleepless nights of planning and execution, but my relentless attitude bore me fruit and I found myself in the finals.” Says Sahil.
He definitely had a say when asked what his favourite drink was. “A Martini, definitely a dirty martini! I mean, it’s the one drink that cannot be outshone by the latest trends and there is a specific way to make it too” he shared. Bartending isn’t just about making mainstream drinks and serving them in fancy glasses. It is also about mixing different concoctions and using creativity to put together blends that strike the right chord with the crowd.
When asked about a creation of his own that he is proud of, Sahil went on to tell us about Sohrai, a cocktail named after the celebration of nature by the tribals of Munda, Santhal, Oraon and other tribes of Jharkhand. The art form used to decorate the walls of the homes to celebrate nature is also called Sohrai, a 6000 year old art form that uses coloured soils as hues. “I had the opportunity to visit Jharkhand and work with 19 tribes from across the country on a holistic food and beverage experience along with the CSR team of TATA Steel. This allowed us to explore, understand and document the various unique processes and recipes of the tribes. On one such visit, we were treated to a golden warm tisane or herbal tea with a toasty nutty aroma that made us curious about the same. Sohrai is a tribute to the celebration of nature, and all the tribes that celebrate it.” shares Sahil.
Apart from the fun and glamour, bartending has its hardships, sleepless nights and at times, disappointments too. The career takes unreal levels of dedication and motivation. He is currently back from his fruitful run in the finals held at Sydney, Australia. The king of bartending only has fond memories of his experience at the Finals. He says, “I had a great time meeting so many budding mixologists from all over the world. The crowd was filled with people with similar interests and passions which was so overwhelming yet enlightening at the same time. I got the opportunity of a lifetime to meet my icons in the alcobev industry and everybody was so kind and grounded. I feel privileged to have shared a slice of Goa with the International crowd through my drinks at the finals. It was a challenge indeed but I was able to experiment with different spirits and put together a tequila-based drink which represented the locality of Fontainhas and the legacy of the renowned Joseph Bar. ”
The bright Alumnus is fondly remembered by the faculty, Prof. Irfan Mirza, Director/Principal of VMSIIHE shares “Like every student, Sahil too entered our college with dreams and the desire to learn. Initially, he lacked the basic foundational knowledge about the industry and its workings. He pleasantly surprised us with his organisational and management skills when he was bestowed with the responsibility of handling several mega events on campus like the ‘Go Cheese Indian Chef Awards 2018’ hosted by our Institute. He headed his team with utmost drive and dedication. The internship at the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort in the UAE increased his confidence greatly which is crucial in the hospitality industry. We are glad we were able to provide him with an array of opportunities to aid in his growth. We feel immense pride to have had him as a part of the family at VMSIIHE and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
For Sahil, the desire was to make the country and the Indian bar community proud. The young star still has a long way to go. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. The journey till the finals was everything and it always will be.” adds Essani.
