The alcohol industry is often associated with men, so it’s really refreshing to find a successful woman taking authority behind a bar. We got the opportunity to sit down and chat (over a dry martini, of course) with Ali Dedianko – a pro ‘mixologist’ AND the Global Brand Ambassador for Belvedere Vodka.
GLAMOUR: How did you get started in the beverage industry?
Ali: I started working as a cocktail waitress in my first year at university, and then quickly moved behind the bar. I ended up having so much fun working as a bartender that I kept it up for 7 years, until I finally joined Belvedere Vodka in early 2011.
GLAMOUR: What exactly is mixology?
Ali: It’s just a fancy word for ‘bartending,’ but personally I’m not a fan of it. I much prefer ‘bartender’ to ‘mixologist.’
GLAMOUR: What kind of response do you get from people when you tell them what your job is?
Ali: Generally they are quite intrigued and eager to know more! I often chat with taxi drivers and officers at passport control about my unique job, which gives me the perfect opportunity to give them a short vodka education.
GLAMOUR: What do you love most about what you do?
Ali: I like that my job is flexible, dynamic and definitely never boring! This role has allowed me to see the world and meet lots of interesting people along the way. I’ve been doing this job for almost 5 years now and let’s just say it’s been a wild ride!
GLAMOUR: What is the one mixology tool you can’t live without?
Ali: It’s not really a tool so much as an ingredient, but good ice! Nothing ruins a great drink like bad ice. Look for ice that has a large surface area in order to chill your drink without over-diluting it.
GLAMOUR: What is your signature cocktail/favourite drink to make?
Ali: I’m a martini gal. I like mine with 6 parts Belvedere Vodka to 1 part Lillet Blanc, stirred and served up with a pink grapefruit twist.
GLAMOUR: Where do you get inspiration from when creating a new cocktail?
Ali: Gastronomy! Most bar trends follow culinary trends so I always look to chefs for inspiration when it comes to new techniques or interesting flavors.
GLAMOUR: What is your process when creating a new cocktail?
Ali: The best way to start thinking about a new drink is to let these seasonal ingredients guide you and work with flavors that complement each other. There is a lot of trial and error involved.
GLAMOUR: What should every woman keep in her fridge/cupboard in case she needs to whip up an easy cocktail?
Ali: Fresh citrus! Lemons and limes are good, but bergamot and kalamansi are best if you want to impress. And a bottle of Belvedere of course!
GLAMOUR: What is the most unusual ingredient you’ve used or been asked to use in a cocktail?
Ali: At Belvedere we have recently been playing around with ‘better’ cocktails, meaning low ABV (alcohol by volume) and fructose free, which has given me the opportunity to experiment with unique ingredients such as vegetable juice and natural sugar alternatives. My favorite one that we’ve used so far is kale juice. We’ve got a delicious cocktail called the Piña Kale-ada, get it?!
GLAMOUR: What is your most memorable cocktail moment/moment of your career?
Ali: I guess that would have to be the night I got my job. I competed in the Belvedere Dream Job in December 2010 and won! The prize was a one year contract as Global Brand Ambassador and 5 years later I’m still in the role, I can’t think of anything more memorable than that.
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