Inaugural Cocktails2live4 event lived up to expectations…

Last Sunday’s Cocktail@live4 event, lived up to its billing as we were dished to varieties of mixes and cocktails by foremost mixologist, Ronke Sobodu who spared no blushes and she took her time to lecture experienced mixologists and newbies in the art of mixing wines and cocktails.

Expectations was rife due to the fact that the event was the first in the history of bartending and mixology in Nigeria, and trust me, the event anchor delivered. Aderonke Sobodu was on hand to share experience and also teach newbies and professionals on cocktail mixes and enhancing one’s brand in the mixology and bartending business.

Ronke is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Spronks Creations Limited, an event management and wine consultancy company. She also owns and runs SpronksBoissonPalais, a beverage catering company in Lagos.

She recently opened her own wine bar LiquidHub, based in Ikoyi Lagos. Ronke has worked as brand and marketing manager for Nederburg, from the Distell portfolio and one of the most awarded wine brand from South Africa. In 2010, Aderonke started the Nigeria Wine and Spirit festival, as platform to educate the Nigeria consumers and also a trade platform for Wine producers and distributors to meet for business purposes.

In a question and answer session posed by our correspondent, Ronke explained the challenges and opportunites for bar tending and cocktails mixers in Nigeria. She enthused that a lot of Nigerian are still struggling with advanced mixology as there is apparent lack of information as to the mixes and importance of professional mixologists in events in Nigeria. She however confirmed that the acceptability has been impressive, emphasizing on the increased awareness in Lagis and other parts of the country.

She finally confirmed that mixology and bar ending has come to stay in Nigeria and that a lot of professional bartenders are now moving into the country having seen the loads of opportunities that abound.

Ronke was as expected supported by Olufunke Awobokun, The founder of Grillz In and out, the location where the event held, Funke is a renowned and certified Mixologist with over a decade of experience.

Cocktails2live4 will be a monthly event and we cannot event wait for next month’s edition. We will be there to provide first hand pictures and timlines. Infact we will be liveblogging from the location. Lovely, right?

See our timelines of the event after the cut: