The call to bartending comes differently for all bartenders. For Vincent Tran, the inspiration behind his career came from his girlfriend.
“She was a bartender before we met and had a deep and enviable passion for cocktails and the art of mixology," he said. “I attended a short bartending course to understand the foundations of the industry and realised that I too had developed a keen interest and passion for the profession.”
Tran began his bartending career five years ago when he lived in Vietnam. The influence of his life in Vietnam still has trickle-down effects on his craft. He was born in Ho Chi Minh City, also known as ‘Saigon’, which he describes as a “luxurious and mysterious city that never sleeps.” He took those feelings and inspirations and translated it into his signature drink, the ‘Saigoneer Martini’, a cocktail that boasts all sorts of mysterious and luxurious ingredients. Tran makes the drink from vodka, St Germain Elderflower liquor, lime juice, lemongrass infused syrup, ginger, aloe vera juice and foam.
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- Bloombay Highball G&T at The Green Room
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- Cocktail Trio at The Green Room
For a bartender, there is no feeling more satisfying than a customer enjoying one of your creations.
“It fills my heart with pure joy to see guests enjoying their beverages. You can understand more about guest’s characteristics by the way they choose their drink, the way they order, the way they enjoy it or the way they give you a compliment."
Having a clear goal in mind for a drink before researching the right ingredients is vital. Sometimes a visit to the Botanical Gardens can be inspirational for Tran; a lucky discovery of some herbs, leaves or lavender could make all the difference in his drinks. Tran feels a natural bond with the hotel industry and is keen on establishing a strong career with AccorHotels. He is keen to work across the globe and hopes to one day open his own bar.
