Cali Gold, Beretta
If bartenders were musicians, Cali Gold would be the classically trained instrumentalist who could seamlessly transition between playing Chopin and Courtney Barnett.
It’s a ying-yang duality that contrasts the formality of Boston, where she attended college, and the casual vibe of the Bay Area, where she grew up.
Gold cut her teeth bartending at Drink in Boston, a craft cocktail bar in the city’s Fort Point Channel neighborhood. At Drink, there are no menus. Sit at the zigzagging bar and a bartender will act as a consultant, mixing a personalized drink based on your criteria, which could be particular flavors, spirits or even moods. Each drink arrives with a reveal of the ingredients, technique and possibly a story for your concoction.
As part of her training, Gold had to memorize the recipes and histories for hundreds of classic cocktails, practicing and reciting them constantly. That education translated into an appreciation of classic drinks, and now informs how she composes menu items.
“When I’m trying to come up with new cocktails, I usually start with simple classics and riff off of those,” says Gold, who adds that a good cocktail menu should balance unusual drinks with accessible ones, modern with classic. “There are many modern classics which are basically a whiskey sour with one ingredient changed and it blows people’s minds. When I’m working toward something really unique, I’m often inspired by cool things that chefs are doing.”
Perhaps most importantly, working at Drink in Boston taught Gold how to guide a guest to the right drink based on their preferences, and also a lot about customer service.
For her, the two most important moments of guest interaction are the greeting upon entrance, and then a “thank-you” and “goodbye” upon departure. Speed and efficiency behind the bar are important, but not as important as being humble and aware of your guest.
“Maybe someone doesn’t like their drink but is too nervous to tell me, but I hear them tell their friend — that’s the kind of eavesdropping that leads to a more positive experience,” says Gold. “Also, maybe they are visiting from out of town and need recommendations. I love doing that.”
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