Thep Dinh is the Bar Manager of Stir in Saigon. He makes us two cocktails, one with Vodka and Triple Sec and the second with Mezcal and Bitter
Thep introduce yourself
My name is Thep, based in Sai Gon – Vietnam. I’m the Bar Manager of Stir Modern Classic Cocktail. Vietnamese cultures mixed between French, Chinese and Vietnamese, which we call Indochina style. Our bar has been inspired by the Indochina culture from the last era. Why we call ourselves Modern Classic Cocktail, it’s about the mix between old-school and new-school. It’s about the balance and harmony between old and new, classic and modern.
Our new menu is called Vietnam Geography Cocktail. We focus on 7 main areas in Vietnam which means it represents each specific culture and special local ingredients of each location.
The classic you want to show us
Mezcal Rosita
30ml mezcal
30ml Campari
30ml Sweet Vermouth
The bar you dream of
The bar in my dream is the bar with no rules, where everyone can actually feel freedom and feel very happy without ego and distinction
What do you do in your time off
On my day off, I usually spend time with my family, because they help me to balance life & work. I also like reading books, listening to music and doing Yoga for charging energy. Get ready for the next day’s work.
The spirit you like the most
My favourite spirit I like to work with is Rum. Because Vietnam is a tropical country, and my hometown is in the Mekong Delta. Rum goes very well with all the tropical fruits, herbs, local spices, and even with flowers. Rum is very flexible because of its character, we can match Rum with another thing instead of Whisky like usual in Vietnam
What makes a good cocktail
The most important thing to make a good cocktail is the bartender’s soul & the bartender’s heart.
What ingredient do you enjoy using in cocktail
I love using flowers in cocktails because each flower has its different scent, aroma, flavour and character. But cocktails with flowers are also hard to prep because of their texture.
The signature cocktail you want to show us
Bowl of Enlightenment
40ml of Tequila Infused with Lotus Tea
30ml of Vietnamese Herbal Cordial (Lemongrass, Goji Berry, Chamomile and Anis)
5ml of Absinthe
3 Dashes of Grapefruit Bitters
2 Drops of Grapefruit Blossom Water
Spray of Honey Water
Where do you think we need to go to interview another bartender
I would like to recommend Jon Lee from Penrose, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia. In my opinion, he is now the most inspirational & creative Asian bartender.