Mixologist Conroy Plummer serves up quick and easy cocktails
Published:Thursday | March 30, 2023 | 12:35 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter -
Classic, immaculate, creative, sexy and focused. These are the words Conroy Plummer uses to describe his style of bartending. Today, Food goes behind the bar to find out more about his spirited mixing journey.
Hailing from Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth, Plummer was inspired to become a mixologist after watching flair bartending on YouTube. “I thought it looked really nice and said I had to try it out,” he told Food.
His interest saw him moving from the parish to reside in Kingston, where he received the opportunity to learn more about the beauties and complexities of rum. Plummer attended Distinction College and later HEART Academy, where he attained certification in bartender mixology.
The bartending career took him to Cru Bar and Kitchen, where he worked for three years. The professional then moved to Tacbar, where he has been one of the resident bartenders for five months and counting. Since being in the field for close to five years, he has enjoyed meeting new people and creating new drinks for them.
Working at Tacbar for him means having encounters with customers who challenge him to step out of his comfort zone. It also affords him the opportunity to be a part of a team that he considers his second family.
As a young mixologist, it's easy to get lost in the crowd of talents. But Plummer lets his personality win you over from introduction, and then have his mixes do all the talking when it comes to artistry, presentation and taste.
“I’m a fun person to be around. And that translates well into the drink. I try to build a relationship with my customers so that they will return. If they have visited once before, I am able to recall their orders and ask if they are looking to have the same drink or a different one, depending on the day or night,” he shared.
His favourite spirits to work with are whiskey, rum and tequila, “Whenever I go out to party, Johnny Walker and ginger ale is the mix I go for.”
Going by his alma mater Lacovia High School's motto, ‘Through toil to the stars’, his aim is to continue working hard within this field, and aspires towards achieving greatness in mixology.
For your sipping and mixing pleasure, the St Elizabeth native provided not one, but two quick and easy cocktail recipes for you to try at your next gathering or event.
Henny Berry
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2oz Hennessy
1oz Peach Scchnapps
1oz pineapple juice
1oz cranberry juice
Splash of lime juice
Splash of mango purée
DIRECTIONS
Add the Hennessy, Peach Schnapps and mango purée to the shaker. Then add pineapple juice, cranberry juice and the lime juice. Stir for six to 10 seconds. Pour in a rock glass and drink responsibly.
Tequilero Fiesta
INGREDIENTS
2oz J. Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum
1/2oz lime juice
1/2oz simple syrup
2oz ginger beer
Tequilero Beer
DIRECTIONS
In the rock glass filled with ice, combine the white rum, simple syrup, lime juice and ginger beer. Top off with Tequilero Beer and enjoy responsibly.