“30% of my body is covered with tattoos about mixology world” – Diego Ferrari
His surname speaks for itself – he is moving through the life full speed ahead. Diego never quits learning and is convinced that knowledge has no limits. He is passionate about mixology and the world of tattoos: a third of his body is tattooed with mixology patterns. But he decided to go further and invented a special tattoo machine to prepare amazing cocktails for the guests. His famous group on Facebook – Cocktail Art – brings together bartenders from all over the world. What’s more, Diego proved that borders are of no hindrance to self-realization and creativity in the bar industry. A well-known Italian bartender with equally famous name Diego Ferrari is coming to BAROMTER 2018 (whose topic this year is BORDERS) in order to dispel the idea that borders can affect work, to tell about his passion for the cocktail world and share his unique experience of making light cocktails.
Ferrari is your real name?
Yes it is! A lot of time people around the world asked me about my name. Actually Ferrari is really important as it’s a Surname!
Why BAROMETER?
Because Barometer is one of the most important Bar Shows in Eastern Europe and I believe the Ukrainian market could be one of the most important scenes in the Bartenders Industry.
Tell us please about your philosophy of Cocktail Low Alcohol.
In the last 5 years our job has found a lot of different new topics. Our customers drink responsibly and their knowledge of cocktails is very high. Our job from 2014 is to make cocktail low alcohol for them creating the best experience in one of the best places in Milan.
Why Max. 21 abv.? How do you manage to achieve that in every drink?
This limit existed from the beginning of our history. The municipality of Milan impose us to use only bottles less 21% abv behind the bar (Rotonda Bistro restaurant is located in a historic building of the 18th century near the Milan Children’s Museum, where there is a ban for strong alcoholic beverages over 21° – author’s note). So we studied a lot our market, our brands, making research with the only purpose – to serve our customers with a different point of view. Thanks to this concept, with our team, we create every recipe in every detail from the glass, garnish, color, and of course ingredients.
When and where did your career start?
I started this job when I was only 17 years old as a waiter, than when I was 21 years old I studied a lot to be a Bartender and now after 25 years I am still studying a lot because there is no limit for the knowledge.
Tell us please about the Tattoo Machine Martini and your tattoos.
I Love tattoos since I was a teenager. 30% of my body is covered with tattoos about mixology world. I studied hundreds books and magazines about this world and I can say it is a true passion. In 2008 one of my dreams was to connect these two worlds, tattoo and mixology. Thanks to my favorite Tattoo Artist we studied the technique which uses the mechanical movement of the tattoo gun through a number of round needles that take drops of a thick liquor and inject them into a cocktail.
What is the funniest cocktail name you ever heard/invented yourself?
For my advice in Dubai for The Artisan by Enoteca Pinchiorri, the Gu-Gu-Basusu cocktail – a wine based cocktail with rum foam and molecular sparkling grapes as a garnish.
What is the most popular cocktail in your bar now?
The French Mule – a twist on classic of the famous Moscow Mule created with St-Germain (a French musician – author’s note).
What is the most unpopular (underestimated) cocktail these days?
In my opinion the Paloma, which is one of my favorite cocktails, but a lot of bartenders don’t know it and even if they do, they don’t make it because the recipe is too easy. To make the Paloma cocktail you need: 45 ml of Tequila blanco or Tequila reposado, 15 ml of lime juice, 90 ml of grapefruit soda, Salt for the rim.
Have you ever heard a really weird/scary story from your guest? If yes, please tell it in brief.
Actually I tell stories of fear to my guests about a child ghost….You have to know where I work in order to understand my story! The Rotonda Bistro is located inside the Rotonda della Besana, a former cemetery and deconsecrated church from the XVII century where more than 150.000 people were buried. Outside the bar, down to the church in the underground, we have our warehouse. It was a Sunday afternoon and I was in the warehouse to bring one bottle and I heard a child’s voice whisper behind me “I’m Sorry….” but I was alone because access to that area is allowed only to the staff. I ran upstairs, I was in shock because I had never had an experience like that in my life.
What you could name a spirit of the future (nearest or far)?
Italian Amaro, because is it already used in different bars as an ingredient in many recipes.
What’s a bad habit you have?
Being…a human being
What superpower would you most like to have? Or what is it if you already have one?
Respect and compassion, I believe, are the greatest superpowers in the world and I think I have both.
If you could trend lives with one person for a day who would it be?
My hero…my father.
What is so special about bartenders?
We do the best job in the world….. To be a bartender means to have knowledge, learn, live, sleep, enjoy the life, travel and meet people.