Sarah Mycock, PS40

Bartending was nearly a non-starter for this talented rookie

“EVEN AT MY first hospitality job I wanted to be behind the bar,” says Sarah Mycock. But after six years working the floor the dream of wielding a Toby tin was no closer. It took quitting outright with no plan in place to help her finally vault the counter – that’s when Thor Bergquist recruited her for PS40, the bar he co-owns with Michael Chiem. Chiem is full of praise for the persistent young bartender. “We’re looking for the right personality. People come to the bar just to see her. She has a following of regular customers. It’s a testament to her interpersonal skills.” Not only is she a great bartender, but she has also mastered the bottling runs for the housemade sodas. “It’s a unique skill and a whole new ballgame when it comes to drinks prep,” says Chiem. To Mycock, the key to excellent service is about reading the room. “It can be intimidating to walk into a bar, so you need to break down that barrier between server and customer.” Of course, she knows that not everyone is there to hear about the exact ingredients of the housemade aquavit. “At Lobo Plantation, we used to say people are a rock or a sponge. They either want to absorb everything, or have no interest and just want a quiet drink.” Not a lot of rocks come to PS40, which is what makes Mycock such a valued team player, and this year’s Hot Talent Award recipient. à40 King St, Sydney 2000. www.ps-soda.com. Mon-Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri, Sat 4pm-2am; Sun 6pm-midnight.