Bar veteran initiates British Bartenders Association

Former bartender Steph DiCamillo has launched the British Bartenders Association (BBA), aimed at educating and bringing together the bartending community in the UK.

The BBA’s monthly meetings feature talks by leading professionals in the trade

The group was created this year when DiCamillo noticed there was a gap for a “centralised” group tailored towards bar industry professionals to meet monthly and experience industry events and projects.

Based on the principals of community, development and education, the BBA aims to provide the tools and training to help bartenders advance their careers.

The informal gatherings are free to attend and held in association with a drinks brand with talks held by leading professionals in the trade.

Previous speakers have included Kelsey Ramage of sustainable cocktail concept Trash Tiki, Elliot Ball of The Cocktail Trading Company and Fabiano Latham, Reyka vodka UK brand ambassador.

At the most recent meeting held yesterday (19 June) at Dandelyan, Drambuie global brand ambassador Freddy May spoke about eggs in cocktails and its viable substitutes, and explored the truth behind honey. Global head of ambassador advocacy at William Grant & Sons, Ludo Ducrocq discussed the role of the brand ambassador, past, present and future.

The tipping culture, homemade ingredients and bartenders’ health and well-being are amongst some of the next topics DiCamillo would like to see discussed.

The August meeting will be held with Belthasar Vermouth, with Tabara N’Diaye of Cocktails in the City discussing the low ABV cocktail trend, while September’s meeting will be hosted by Our/London distillery.

The next monthly meeting will be held on 10 July at Hixter, Bankside, in association with birch spirit brand Freya.