Bartender's Choice Joe Mitchell, Supervisor, Revolution, Vodka Sunrise

The stars behind the bars reveal their favourite drinks

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Quick quiz question: what are the seven wonders of the world? Go on, have a go. It might be a few years since I attended a geography lesson, but last time I read about the seven wonders of the world I definitely don’t remember the Strawberry Woo Woo being on the list. I don’t think the Vodka Sunrise was there either. But step into the parallel world of a Revolution vodka bar, and you’ll find those two cocktails, along with five others, listed under the seven vodka wonders of the world. Geography has never been so much fun.

“For the seven wonders theme, we’ve taken classic cocktails from seven different countries and put our Revolution mark on them,” Joe says. “I’ve decided to make you the Vodka Sunrise, which is one of the popular ones, and is obviously the Tequila Sunrise but with a vodka twist. Strawberry Woo Woo is the top seller since Christmas, and the normal Woo Woo on the menu is very popular as well, but I think this one looks good. The shot of grenadine bled through it at the end gives it that layered effect.”

And this man should know his stuff, as he’s become something of a resident vodka cocktail expert since joining the team at Revolution. One part of his job is to run cocktail master classes with visiting hen parties - it’s a tough life. “We get about a dozen of them behind the bar making cocktails, so that’s really good and we get nice feedback from that,” he says, adding that the master classes seem to end up being a lot more about drinking drinks than making them, despite his best efforts.

So how did Joe find himself at Revolution in the first place?

“I’m from Warrington originally, I came over to Leeds to do a sport degree, graduated and took up work here full-time. A lot of my friends are bartenders. I’ve worked here for about two years now, and it was last summer I decided to try and work my way up. I’m going on a manager’s course in June, which I’m really looking forward to. Revolution just came in the list of top 100 places to work in the Times, and everyone enjoys it here - even though bar work is long hours, working till 5 in the morning. It’s almost like being in Spain, having siestas most days!”

Joe’s fruity drink of choice not only looks the part but goes down very easily, which is probably why Revolution’s happy customers get through so many of them every weekend.

Ingredients One shot Stolichnaya orange vodka; one shot Jose Cuervo Especial tequila; one shot peach puree; shaken with orange juice, and one shot of Grenadine bled through to finish
Price £5.25

Posted on Wednesday 29th April 2009
SO'H

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