Sorcerer of the Hazy World: Rashid K Mixologist from Karimganj is now a top bartender in Bangalore

Those who are familiar with the clubbing scene of big cities know that there’s no party without a ‘cocktail’. Sure you can buy your preferred brands of liquors but what makes a party complete is the colourful tinge of a variety of cocktail flavours that many people associate with. For beginners, ‘Cocktail’ is an alcoholic mixed drink having a variety of combinations and recipes whose popularity is enjoyed throughout the world. This form of alcoholic beverage is popular among all age groups who like experimenting with the taste of alcohol. Mojito, Martini, Cuba Libre or Rum Punch, are some of the most popular cocktail drinks enjoyed all over the world.

But Barak Valley is a region, albeit being proud of its fascination for cultural heritage, that is mostly deprived of such clubbing scene. Although there are a few bars available in this region, it has got little to do with the glam and high voltage party atmosphere that we’re so used to seeing on TV screens or might’ve heard from our friends staying in big cities. Naturally, a proper clubbing scene where bartenders or mixologists are seen making delicious and jaw-dropping cocktail drinks are not available here. But Rashid Ahmed, originally hailing from the Karimganj district of Assam, has made a name for himself as being one of the most sought-after mixologists in India in the past few years. Popularly known as ‘The Alcohol Professor’ among his clients, ‘Rashid K Mixologist’ is the owner of a bartending/mixology consultancy services called AARC Enterprise Pvt Ltd.

While talking to Barak Bulletin, Rashid said that unlike the popular belief surrounding this profession, it is indeed a well-paying profession if you’re good at what you do. “When I came to Bangalore back in 2004, I had just completed my HSLC from Karimganj, so I had to basically start from scratch. Initially, I started out with housekeeping jobs, then also did work at various clubs and pubs as well. It was in Goa I think that I first got inspired to learn the tricks of making cocktail drinks,” said Rashid about his nascent stages of being a mixologist.

Rashid completed his Hotel Management course in the meantime, while he was already working there. Then after completing his formal education, he kept on learning and refining his mixology skillset, while also providing consultancy on this form of art. He said, “I gradually realised that this profession has every scope of growth and development, especially in places where the clubbing or party scene is prevalent. I also kept on working as independent bartenders in private parties for all kinds of people right from the entertainment industry to even high profile politicians as well.” Rashid claims that till now he been able to come up with more than a thousand recipes of cocktail drinks, which gives you an idea about his experimental and ‘mixing’ skills.

Talking about the perks of being in this profession, Rashid K Mixologist said that this job gives him the opportunity to meet all kinds of people and visit various places as well. “Usually, I also get to visit other cities to cater my service in parties apart from managing my consultancy service. Over the years, I had the privilege to work in parties of personalities like Yash from KGF and Kumaraswamy (Former CM, Karnataka), among many such big names. So it’s a great experience for me, personally belonging from a remote place of the Karimganj district. My cultural and religious roots might have prevented me from pursuing this profession if I had chosen to stay there, but here they don’t really care about where you come from, only what you can do”, said Rashid Ahmed. He has already been talked about in the Karnataka media circle on numerous occasions with many interviewing him as well.

But he hasn’t given up hope on his people back home and wishes that more youth should opt for such exciting job opportunities as this gives them the platform to experience different cultures and places and laid the foundation of one’s personal growth. And about the pay factor, Rashid K Mixologist now earns over Rs 2 lakhs per month (including consultancy) on a usual day, meaning one can rely on this mixology profession to make a good and cosy living if one is creative and dedicated enough. He even wishes to open a bartending school in Assam to educate and spread awareness about mixology and the overall ‘sorcery’ of bartending.

Rashid K Mixologist also says that in this profession, women have better chances of succeeding and earning more than their male counterparts. He said, “Usually, in our job of bartending/mixology, men get around Rs 30,000 per job on an average, whereas for women bartenders, it could go up to well beyond Rs 50,000. And from my personal experience as well, women are quick learners when it comes to communicating as well as learning the craft of mixology, with many women these days from the North-eastern states like Nagaland, Meghalaya, coming out in search of such profession.” Over the years, he has amassed many awards and accolades like the ‘Food Hospitality World’ award that he won consecutively in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Among his innumerable recipes, some of his most popular cocktail recipes are ‘Babu Rangeela’ – which is a cocktail of 5 types of white spirit, a dash of tobacco sauce, homemade rosemary syrup Sweet & sour and 2 types of fresh juice, then served with child glass. Another one is called ‘The Open Arms’ which is prepared out of Kiwi fresh Gin, Vodka, Thyme syrup, Coconut water sweet & sour, served with lots of ice. The ‘Coocking Cocktail’ is a much recent recipe of his which had gone viral in 2017.

The 19th-century British poet Lord Byron had once said, – “Man, being reasonable, must get drunk; the best of life is but intoxication.” And for Rashid K Mixologist, his tipsy world of bartending has seen him rise to such a level of fame and success, that he now attracts the attention of powerful people just for the quality of bartending and experimentation with cocktails that he oozes. A Sorcerer indeed of the hazy world!