Tobias Schwingshackl has been a bartender for eight years. "I fell in love with this profession early on," says the man with the muscular build. He quickly started taking part in small competitions at bar contests. The Swiss Nullpromille Trophy was his first participation in six years. He says he wasn't thrilled at first when he drew the last number for his performance at the contest. But, he adds, "as the cocktail is an after-dinner drink, it was a great fit."
Honey and camomile
Some Barkeeper add a message to their drinks, others see it as a drop of luck. How does Tobias Schwingshackl see his creations? He says: "The aim is for the guest to go home and think in bed afterwards: Wow, I had a cool drink today!" This is also the philosophy of his team at the Clouds Bar. And what's more: "I want to offer my guests a special experience with my creations. One that appeals to all the senses". His winning drink "Sleepy Martini " consists of Rebel's Botanical Gin, lemon juice from Zamba and orange foam. There are also two special ingredients: One is homemade honey water. Something, as he says, that you don't normally find in a drink. Even more unusual is the addition of homemade chamomile infusion. "I've been drinking chamomile tea with honey for colds since I was a child," he says. He adds: "It's a challenge to create a cocktail with these ingredients that doesn't taste like sickness, but like enjoyment."
Irreversible trend
It was only a year ago that he started working on zero alcohol drinks. Now he is also working intensively on non-alcoholic wines. The Barkeeper is convinced that there will be as many non-alcoholic wines as normal wines by 2050. For Tobias Schwingshackl, the trend towards alcohol-free spirits is irreversible. He summarizes: "In contrast to the past, it is not only acceptable today, but almost cool not to consume alcohol."
