INTRODUCING DREW FLEMING, WINNER OF THE 50 BEST BARS THE BLEND SCHOLARSHIP!

Creating Opportunities For Aspiring Bartenders

In May 2022, The World’s 50 Best Bars launched its firstever scholarship for aspiring bartenders in collaboration with The Blend by Beam Suntory. Applications were open from May to June and are now closed. The winner of the first 50 Best Bars

The Blend Scholarship was announced at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 awards ceremony in Barcelona on 4th October as Drew Fleming of Kiki Lounge, Isle of Man – a small self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea.

In this opportunity of a lifetime, Fleming will be invited to complete two bar stages (internships) in some of the world’s most-renowned bars: the legendary Connaught Bar in London, named The World’s

Best Bar in 2021 and 2020, and Katana Kitten in New York, which holds the No.9 position in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022. After completing the stages in early 2023, he will then be hosted by The Blend by Beam Suntory for an experience of a lifetime in Madrid, Spain. The internships take place in 2023 and flights between the destinations are included in the prize. The winner also receives £500 per week in living expenses to enjoy the exciting host cities.

Previous Experiences

At 14, got my first part-time job washing dishes and plating desserts at a cozy pub close to my home. spent 5 years there, eventually graduating to Front of House. Looking back, it truly introduced me to a career in our industry and unlocked the desire I feel to deliver real and warm hospitality.

During my last year of high school, I got a job at a popup nightclub in Douglas, our capital city home to 29,000 of our 85,000 residents. It was safe to say this was the barbed hook that tethered me to a career in hospitality. I loved being around people, helping create experiences, and exceeding their expectations. My role within the company (Extra Fancy Limited) grew whilst I was attending University on-island, studying Event Management and Marketing.

In the midst of the pandemic, a decision was made to pivot half of the nightclub into a more ‘COVID friendly’, tableservice bar, which became Kiki’s Tiki Lounge. It was an exciting change of pace that allowed me to discover and indulge in more

Tell Us About Your Theme

I’d love to use this opportunity to show my home island to the world! Navigating the hospitality landscape in a nation whose population could fit inside Wembley stadium presents remarkable uniqueness, perks, and challenges. I want to share these differences with The Blend community and hopefully provide you guys with some interesting insight! I’ll be covering things like island innovation, sustainability, and seasonality (of both venues and produce) alongside the tightrope of nurturing a strong hospitality community, whilst competing for a finite market share.

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Spending time with my family I’m guilty of bingeing one-toomany Netflix shows! Walking my dog, Georgie. She’s a cross between a Dachshund and Jack Russel. Fishing (weather permitting of course!)

WHAT ARE YOU THE PROUDEST OF?

refined drinks whilst embarking on a crash course in a new style of service. Long story short, I loved the transition to quality drinks over quantity.

Shortly after my studies wrapped up, joined Extra Fancy Limited as a Director, alongside my mentor and now business partner, Jamie Lewis. In 2022, I entered the 50 Best Bars The Blend Scholarship, leaping at an opportunity too good to miss. Diving in wholeheartedly, I managed to secure a place in the top 3 in Barcelona, before being named as the grateful first recipient of the international accolade.

Fast forward to the beginning of this year, I’m about to embark on 3 life-changing stages with equal parts effervescent anticipation and excitement coursing through my veins!

paradises - looking to provide escapism! We also have Moonlight Club, the 80s/90sthemed late-bar that’s geared more towards high volumes of custom! was named as the 2022 recipient of the Isle of Man’s Awards for Excellence award for ‘Young Ambassador of the Year’. Given to individuals under 30, who have made contributions to raising the Island’s global profile through their professional careers.

WHAT’S NEXT?

I’m really looking forward to traveling this year. Winning The Blend Scholarship means I’ll be embarking on a trip to London and New York. I can’t wait to learn first-hand from some of our industry’s finest. Once it’s concluded, I hope to use my learnings to make an impact within our businesses.

Chips, cheese, and gravy (the official unofficial national dish)

Coffee

My work fam <3

Spider-Man movies

Sriracha Sauce

My EXTRA loud alarm clock

The Football Manager games (my Achilles heel)

Stranger Things

WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A FILM?

I’d say Cole Sprouse would be a solid casting!

invest in this, it would make an impact on a global scale and be a big step in creating a sustainable industry for us all.’ This philosophy was reflected in Drew’s cocktail ‘Webb of Skies’, created for our second round of judging, featuring a homemade falernum, Isle of Man seaweed orgeat, and a cake garnish created by his grandfather, a seasoned baker.

Most recently, I won the inaugural 50 Best Bars The Blend Scholarship. Which I’d say is my biggest career-based achievement to date. With my business partner, Jamie Lewis, we co-own two bars on the Isle of Man. Kiki Lounge, a table service basement bar that takes inspiration from tropical

Alongside my business partners, we’ve recently launched a hospitality branding, design, and operations consultancy which we plan to grow over the next few years, with the hope it reaches a stage where I can travel whilst still working remotely!

YOUR FAVORITE BAR SNACK?

Of all time? Nocerella Olives. Although the potato smileys at Seed Library take a close 2nd…

10 THINGS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT?

My mum and sister! Lego

Earlier this year, we asked budding bartenders around the world to pitch their idea for a more #FUTUREPOSITIVE bar community. A small change may not seem significant, but every conscious decision, every individual who stands for something more, and every ‘what if’ moment helps to move our hospitality industry forward. We received over 750 applications from countries including Kazakhstan, Italy, Australia, Colombia, Mexico, India, France, Spain, Korea, Malaysia, Holland, Argentina, the USA, Ghana, Panama, the UK and the Isle of Man, to name just a few.

With the help of our esteemed panel of judges, the applications were whittled down to 25, then 3, and then 1. Yes, we have a winner. Drew Fleming’s #FUTUREPOSITIVE idea stemmed from his 2.7 years spent bartending at the Isle of Man’s Kiki Lounge and his campaign to remove the word ‘tiki’ from the bar’s name.

As Drew explained, ‘Tropical venues like ours now have a duty to correct the wrongdoings of the past and educate our guests on what›s next for a beloved sub-genre of cocktail bar.’

A proud Manx - as dwellers of the Isle of Man are known - Drew is also passionate about the importance of using local and foraged produce.

‘It’s up to us to begin to shine a spotlight on the wealth of ingredients that occur naturally around us. If all bars began to

Alongside scholarship finalists, Seraphine Afladey (Ghana) and Kyoka Matsunaga (Panama), Drew joined The Blend team (Meimi Sanchez & Ambre Morin) in Barcelona for a jam-packed immersive few days which brought the theme to life through industry round table discussions, kickboxing, beach cleaning, mindful food and drinks, not forgetting the incredible World’s 50 Best Bars events and celebrations. As part of the Scholarship experience, all three had their drinks featured at The Bartender’s Feast, with the winner crowned on stage at the World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in front of some of the most recognised and respected hospitality industry figures in the world.

Now back bartending in his beloved Isle of Man, Drew is gearing up for an exciting 2023, when he’ll partake in 3 paid internships - in New York City with Masa Urushido at the world-acclaimed Katana Kitten, in London with Ago Perrone at the iconic The Connaught Bar and a year-long mentorship from The Blend team along the way. In his own words, Drew describes his Scholarship journey so far as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

‘The ability to learn hospitality from some of the heavyweights in the industry in cities across the globe is something I’m so grateful for. I am beyond excited.’

So while this chapter might be coming to an end, this is only the beginning for Drew, and we are excited to see what’s next!

Keep following Drew’s journey right here on The Blend.