Holly Graham, Tokyo Confidential

| Bar Convent Berlin
Chaos is Holly Graham’s favourite word. That’s plain to see if you’ve ever attended one of her takeovers around the world, where you might find her wielding a tequila-filled Pikachu water blaster, or smashing a row of cocktail-filled sugar glasses.
Holly Graham - Tokyo Confidential

But it’s just as essential when operating a diverse space like Tokyo Confidential; and generally maintaining a serious commitment to bringing some levity back to cocktail bars. It’s, ultimately, an indispensable competent of Graham’s approach to hospitality

“I think somewhere along the way, we lost the art of fun,” she says, although there’s a considered side to the chaos too. “When I do guest shifts I always respectfully say to people, ‘Can I jump on top of your bar? Can I use my water blaster to blast tequila in people’s faces?’ Don’t think, when there are pictures of me getting on top of bars, I’m just like, ‘Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.’ Yes, I’ll put Rage Against the Machine on, but I’ve asked if I can be on top of that bar,” she says.

Continue reading: Bar Convent Berlin

Next:

A Bee's Knees cocktail

The story of the Bee's Knees

Class
With all apologies to the Unsinkable Molly Brown, it’s unlikely, despite prominent claims to the contrary, that she invented the Bee’s Knees.
Del Maguey Mezcal bottles

Behind the Bottle: Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal

Club Oenologique
It’s difficult to imagine nowadays, given mezcal’s recent rise in popularity and the sheer number of brands and expressions available today, but in 1995, Del Maguey was the first of its kind.