Double Dutch reveals scholarship recipients

Premium mixer and tonic brand Double Dutch has chosen the 12 bartenders for its 2024 Female Bartending Programme.

Compared to 2023, this year’s edition of the programme has gone up from 10 to 12 bartenders, and applications were open to women aged 18 and over, at any stage in their career.

The scholars selected account for a variety of hospitality venues around the UK and include; Nepheli Akrivopoulou (Bacchanalia), Nikki-Marie Brooks (Tobacco Factory Enterprises), Helena Collins O’Connor (Soho Whiskey Club), Luana De Jesus Correa Luiz (Nightjar Shoreditch), Lydia Graham (The Common Room), Millie Melanaphy (The Haven), Mila Michalikova (Tutto), Guneev Sachdeva (Le Bab), Megan Sargent-Brown (Graduate Hotel), Hannah Staples (Rockwater), Lucinda Whiteman (Eve Kensington) and Jazz Yorke (The Domino Club).

The scholars will now take part in an eight-week mentoring scheme, led by mentors Shannon Tebay (beverage director at Outernet venues); Emma Stokes (gin expert); Natalia Ribbe (founder of Ladies of Restaurants) and Jon Gray (Beefeater Gin’s global brand ambassador).

The scholars will have ample opportunity to engage with the mentors in both one-on-one and group training settings, while the scheme will also cover a wide range of topics – from drinks education to personal growth – as well as give scholars the chance to take part in in-person experiences such as distillery visits and learning how to craft spirits.

Raissa de Haas, co-founder of Double Dutch, named last week as a B Corp-certified brand, commented: “We have a fantastic line-up of female bartending talent joining the programme this year and we can’t wait to see how they develop and grow over the next few months.

“Our Female Bartending Scholarship Programme aims to provide more than just enhancing people’s skills, but is a platform designed to really propel women further into their hospitality careers.

“We have always been committed to celebrating and empowering women in the drinks industry and our scholarship programme is our way of doing what we can to help mentor women in the sector to flourish and unlock their potential .”

The scholarship, now in its fourth year, was created to combat gender inequality in the drinks sector and give women the means to forge a successful career – in bartending and other areas – in the industry.

Successful candidates spoke of what they hoped to achieve from the scholarship.

Jazz Yorke, head bartender at The Domino Club in Leeds, said she wanted to “grow her connections with other women in the hospitality”, “develop her knowledge of the industry” and develop her “ability to lead a team”.

Luana De Jesus Correa Luiz, of NightJar Shoreditch, meanwhile, added: “Engaging with diverse minds, industry experts, and innovative ideas will shape not just my knowledge but my outlook on the world.

“The networking, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge concepts will be invaluable. This scholarship is more than an academic pursuit; it’s a catalyst for personal and professional evolution.”