Name: Jesper Høst

Years in the business: 9

Official Job Title: Head Bartender

Born: 15. feb 1984

Currently resides: Oslo, Norway

Current work locations: No. 19, Oslo

How and why did you become a bartender and what other things are you passionate about besides bartending?

– I moved to Oslo to get closer to my girlfriend and continue a dead-end education in musicology. By a series of coincidences and a few white lies, I was lucky enough to land a job at Bar Boca. Bar Boca was one of the pioneer bars in the Norwegian cocktail-scene (and still is), and under the mentorship of Daniel Fouche I discovered that I had the talent and flair for bartending. After a few years behind the stick at Boca, I moved on to work everything from high volume night clubs and restaurants to dive bars for a few years before I finally ended up in No. 19 (Bar of the Year, Oslo Awards 2012). I´m passionate with my work, so a part of me is always working, but when I really need to switch off, I´m a film nerd and I love to read.

Describe your approach to making cocktails in one word and tell us why that defines your style.

– Fun. I like to think that I´m an entertainer when I´m working and I go to great lengths to put a smile on my guests face.

How does a competition like this help you career-wise and on a personal level?

– Competitions are of course a great platform for networking and getting your name and face out there, but you also evolve professionally as you´re forced to be creative within strict boundaries.

You are soon one of finalists competing in the global final. What made your creation stand out at this edition of Diageo Reserve World Class Nordics?

– I try to treat my judges like I treat my guests, and I think they appreciate my unpretencious but also attentive and detail-oriented style of bartending. I also like to play with unexpected flavours and untraditional ingredients, and I try to deliver cocktails that challenges you intellectually as well as taste-wise.

What is your biggest challenge in the competition yet?

. This summer has delivered a few opportunities to further my career (TBA), so juggeling World Class preparations with everything else has been quite a challenge so far.

How do you prepare for the global final?

– Shake, strain, garnish, repeat.

FUN FACTS:

What is the best drink after a f****** hard shift?

– A cold beer and a shot of Bulleit Rye.

Favorite song of all times?

– Guilty pleasure alert! Young Turks – Rod Stewart

In your wardrobe which garment is your favorite?

– My stealth black Adidas Superstars. I always have a fresh pair.

What is the best pick up line that you have heard?

– Well, best I don´t know, but in my bar a few years back, a quite cute girl had been trying to get it on with EVERY last bartender on duty that night before she cries out in desperation: “WHAT DOES A GIRL NEED TO DO TO GET LAID AROUND HERE??”. The bar went dead silent, like when the needle skids off the turntable, everybody turned their heads and looked upon her in shock and disbelief as the poor girl storms out into the night.

If bartenders had superpowers, what would yours be?

– I´d be like Wolverine, but instead of growing steel claws, I´d grow an extra pair of hands. I´d be Quadruple Shake Man!

INSTAGRAM: @cocktailkultur

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