Knightor Meets: Chris Jarrett

In our latest series, we sit down with our friends in the industry to learn a little more about how they developed their careers, whilst gaining an insight into their favourite Knightor products! 

First up is the Bearded Barman himself, Chris Jarrett - a very well known mixologist and a Knightor Vermouth enthusiast!

How did you first get into the industry? 

I moved down to Cornwall without much direction in my life and started at a small boutique hotel in Gorran Haven, after a couple of years of campsites, I Joined Mannings in Truro which had a good Cocktail programme, and that’s where I really fell in love with spirits and cocktails. I read a book by the bar ‘Death & Co’ and got drawn into the world of mixing drinks and layering flavour, balance and bitter - that’s where the Journey started! 

What was it that enticed you? 

What got me really enticed was that I love talking to people, I get such a buzz out of seeing customers enjoy themselves and even learn, when people ask questions it shows that they’re engaged in the experience. Going out these days isn’t cheap so being able to offer people more than just food and drink is important to building relationships and return custom, and also helps working in the industry be more enjoyable. 

What do you love most about the industry? 

The hospitality industry is full of some of the most interesting people I know, all passionate about what they do, being in an environment where creative people get to thrive is a big part of why I love the industry so much as-well.

 Is there anything you'd change with the industry?

​One of the big things I would change is this feeling that hospitality, especially bartending, is still a stop gap in peoples careers. If people saw the hard work and dedication that goes into bartending at a good level, the hours spent prepping and developing drinks, learning about spirits and how they’re made, and then being able to make drinks and be able to hold conversations at the same time. It's a hard skill set to do well. Not even just customers but from the very top of businesses, respecting the palate and skill set of good bartenders is key to how this industry will grow and in turn benefit the business financially and by reputation.

What is your favourite cocktail and why?

I very much pick my cocktails by the way I’m feeling, However i will never say no to a good Daiquiri or an Old fashioned. But not to sound cliché I love a Negroni. Bittersweet and complex, ice cold and gin forward you really can’t beat it. My go to spec would be 30ml Tarquins sea dog gin, 30ml Campari & 30ml Knightor Rosso Vermouth.

Do you have a favourite Knightor product? 

Currently it’s a dead heat between the 2022 Bacchus (honestly one of the best wines I’ve tried this year) and the sweet White Vermouth, I love its versatility, not just used in classic drinks but what it brings to more interesting creations, my favourite was a milk punch I created using kiwi infused vodka, the sweet White Vermouth, passionfruit, green tea and lemon. Its herbaceous and spice profile really leans into tropical drinks. Also if Aromatic martini’s are your thing then a 4/1 with something like Discarded grape skin vodka is a real treat.