Ace mixologist Caitlin Hill, who is in Goa currently to host The Botanist Wild 22, spoke to TG Life of her fascinating journey from a waitress to a bar tender to a brand ambassador
BHARATI PAWASKAR
Popularly known as South Africa’s Gin Queen, Caitlin Hill with her extreme passion for foraging and sustainability, smiles when asked if she enjoys the title and how it feels to be in a profession that was and to some extend still is, a man’s bastion. “Yes, I enjoyed every bit of it when I was first given the title, which I still retain, though, now I must say, I have gone beyond gin and experimented with many more things. True, my journey has really been fascinating in what was supposed to be a man’s job until some time ago. I can now say that more women are opting to be bartenders as the world is looking at them with respect in their eyes. It’s gaining prestige across the globe,” shares Hill, who has been a globe trotter.
It is her second visit to India, and the first to Goa. She was in India last year for the first time. This ace mixologist from Cape Town has travelled to Scotland, Dubai, Germany, Portugal, France, England, Greece – you name it. Each country has a peculiar liking for some taste of its own, she has found out in her journeys. Citing examples, she says, “India is known to have a liking for strong spicy flavours like ginger while UK may want a balancing, savory taste. Coming back to South Africa, the palate there is sweetish. It’s a never ending story when you work with cocktails.”
The Botanist has its presence in over 70 countries including India when it made entry in 2018 and saw a good response. “The age to have alcohol in India is 21 and in Goa beer is allowed at 18. Our target clientele in India is of 25 plus and above,” mentions Hill who likes to be experimental when it comes to mixing, pairing and foraging. She underlines that as an expert bartender, one has to hone many skills.
“You have to be friendly, hospitable and experimental. You have to read the mind of the person before you, judge what his or her likings would be and depending upon the occasion, mix the drink accordingly. You have to make every person feel at home, and extend a warm welcome. And you have to treat all as equals. Sometimes there’s an interaction, of the preferred flavour. Two things are important – the person for whom the drink is being made and the occasion, whether it’s a birthday or a wedding or some festival. Once you judge that, creating the texture in the drink is easy,” she explains.
But the job is sometimes taxing and exhausting, too. Too much of your time is being spent with the people and knowing their tastes. So one has to try and find the right balance – in the professional and personal life. After long hours on work, Hill likes to have ‘me time’ and ‘me space’ where she keeps herself away from people. “You have to give time to yourself, your family, your friends and take good care of your physical and psychological health, as well,” she advises.
Looking forward to the third day of the competition that’s concluding on August 21 at Firefly in South Goa, with participating bartenders inventing their signature gin cocktail featuring one locally foraged ingredient, Hill exclaims, “The participants are all leading bartenders in India, who know the cocktail but not the foraging ingredients. So it would be interesting to see how, for the first time they would be experimenting with a local ingredient in Goa. I am too eager to share my own experiences with them.”
The winner of the competition will be awarded the title of ‘The Botanist Wild One’ by a four-member panel including Caitlin Hill herself and Matt Whiley, celebrity chef Vicky Ratnani and the Goan based artisanal bread-maker Sujit Sumitran.
The winner would get a chance to visit Scotland to be the part of a unique experience at the birthplace of ‘The Botanist’, in the wild Hebridean island of Islay, in March 2020. The number 22 in the competition is significant as the gin represents the 22 hand-picked local botanicals from this island.
