Night Heroes, the fourth Italian edition of the Fernet-Branca Barback Games, also known as the World Championship in Barback Skills, will take place in May. Since the first Italian edition in 2019 in Rome, hundreds of barbacks (the indispensable counterparts to bartenders) have competed in skill and speed games, supported by their mentors and cheered on by spectators, but only a few have managed to win glory and the coveted trophy. This year, the Roma Bar Show on May 13-14, 2024, comes with a major update: not only barbacks will participate, but also bartenders. They will select the best teams, the most motivated, consisting of a barback and a bartender: the barback will participate in the games, while the bartender will support them in the always challenging and fun competitions.
From Laroy, we have the winners of the Swedish competition, William Wink Ölander and Adrian Keller. Read more and hear about their thoughts ahead of the trip to Rome and the competition.
Can you tell us a little about your background and how you started working at Laroy?
(William)
– Laroy is my first job in the hospitality industry; I started working at Laroy because I always found the social aspect fun, and I also knew some of the staff from before. I immediately felt that this is a team I want to start working with, and now it’s the best decision I’ve made in my career.
(Adrian)
– I’ve worked around Stockholm for a while, as a bartender in everything from pubs to fine dining restaurants. I felt that the next step was something like Laroy, and since I knew Oscar Drigoris, who is the bar manager, he brought me in.
How are you preparing for the competition?
– I think the most important thing to feel ready for such a competition is the mental aspect. Practicing carrying things, etc., is unnecessary, I’m already a pro at that. It’s about encouraging each other for what’s to come!
How did you choose each other as team partners?
– We chose each other. One day at work, we saw the advertisement for the competition and knew immediately that we should participate and that we would win.
In what ways do you complement each other?
– We probably have quite similar traits when it comes to a competition like this. We both have a competitive spirit, are analytical, and hate to lose. In such a hectic event where lots of things are happening and there’s a big audience, Adrian keeps me calm so I can focus properly. We brainstorm together on how to solve things; I have no problem telling Adrian when he is wrong and vice versa.
What are the biggest challenges you expect to face during the competition? Do you have any prior experience in similar competitions, and how do you think those experiences will help you?
– The toughest challenge when we ran the first barback games (in Stockholm) was the amount of Fernet you had to chug during the competition. It felt like I was at 2 promille when I was running around there. I think this will be a recurring problem this time, too, and then you get so annoyed by the tires that are everywhere.
What goals have you set for the competition?
– Is there anything other than victory?
Are there any particular career steps you plan to take as a result of your participation?
– It depends on what it means to be the ultimate winner of the Fernet Branca barback games. Eternal glory and endless Fernet? Joking aside, we’ll see how the competition goes and what it has to offer. We’re enjoying the moment; career steps, we’ll see. If I participate again after having won everything, it’s my turn to be the coach, then someone else can run instead.
We thank you for your time and wish you great luck in Rome!
