Cape mixologist set for Mexico

MANY may beg to differ, but for the bartender who spends hours practising, mixology is an art.

From classic cocktails to curious concoctions, Cape bartender and mixologist Sabrina Traubner has shown she can create a masterpiece.

The 25-year-old is the most recent Patrón Perfectionists winner and will represent South Africa in Mexico next year.

The competition takes entries from around the world, allowing bartenders to showcase their skills.

Traubner said she’d entered the competition three times, the first in 2017.

“I wasn’t serious about entering. I was doing it for the sake of doing it and I wasn’t invested at all,” she said.

“I told myself that this year was the time to pull out all the stops, actively prepare and go all in.”

When her win as the South African finalist was announced, Traubner was in disbelief.

“It’s been a whirlwind of emotions. It’s very surreal and it hasn’t sunk in properly yet,” she said.

Traubner said she cannot wait for Mexico. “I am excited about the experience. I want to represent and bring the crown home.”

The Cape Town-born mixologist is the head instructor at the European Bartender School (EBS) in Cape Town.

She began in the industry after finishing school in 2016. “I started with a one-week course at Thirst, a mobile bar company. I worked as a mobile events bartender for a long time,” she said.

“I took a gap year after school, but I fell in love with feeling like a boss behind the bar,” she added.

She’s worked at bars like Outrage of Modesty (now closed), and Athletic Club and Social.

Traubner said bartending had evolved over the years.

“It is spreading, albeit slowly, and gaining traction in South Africa especially,” she said.

“At EBS, we have an option that matches our students with jobs around the world. Your chances of being employed are impacted by the environment you prefer working in too.

“It’s always better to have the training and to do a course. There is a close network of bars around the world.”

Traubner said a bartender’s salary depended on various factors.

“You can earn around R6 000 a month on the lower end and upwards of R20 000 on the higher end,” she said.

EBS Cape Town director Cassandra Eichhoff said she encouraged staff to always take pride in what they do, and deliver a high standard of hospitality. “Everyone has the opportunity to grow and use the company as a stepping stone to further themselves in their career,” she said.

“Having another winner of Patrón Perfectionist in-house proves that with hard work, spirit and soul, anything is possible.

“I am extremely proud of Sabrina, especially since she’s been under a lot of pressure running the team and operations of the school, whilst balancing additional activities to further invest in herself.”

Eichhoff said while bartending is often seen as a fun part-time activity, the industry has been working intensively on changing that expectation.

“Therefore, doing courses such as wine and mixology opens up people’s minds to the multifaceted opportunities this industry offers.

“There is so much work to go around and to find a permanent position is not difficult. However, to retain the talent is proving that establishments also need to continue building skills for their staff,” she said.