Focus on Zana Möhlmann
Zana Möhlmann took a gap year while she was thinking about joining the military and landed in a bartending school in Phuket, Thailand where she was bit by the bartending bug. Now she is in one of the hottest bars in Amsterdam with not one but two side hustles: Modeling and Brand Ambassador for the French aperitif Lillet.
My interview with Zana
Tell me about your heritage.
I am half Surinamese/Hindu and half Dutch, born in The Netherlands.
You were thinking about joining the military, what happened to make the shift from guns to bottles?
My mom and sister suggested that I take a gap year before deciding to join the military academy, just to travel and explore the world and myself a bit more. I got sent this advertisement for European Bartending School (EBS) which has training all over the world - I chose Phuket as I had never been in Southeast Asia and had never traveled so far all by myself. When the airplane took off, my only thought was: Zana, what have you done?
Eventually, it turned out to be the best experience in my life and after my first bar job in a hotel in Amsterdam the choice was easy, I wanted to be a bartender.
Credit: @Alexpastorphoto
You have also done some modelling, how did that come about?
My sister is a freelance model and traveled all over the world to do photoshoots and fashion shows, which gave me the inspiration to have it as a side hustle from bartending. I am available for modeling work but I don’t do it full time. It’s just an option, depending on the needs of a company looking for someone unconventional, because I don’t have the stereotypical model look. I do love fashion a lot and it is a dream of mine to see myself on a billboard for a big fashion brand. I also had a part on a Dutch Netflix series called Anne+. Definitely typecast, I played a bartender!
Zana works at Super Lyan, from the groundbreaking bar group created by Ryan Chetiyawardana AKA Mr Lyan and his team. After their start in London, they now have locations in London, Amsterdam and Washington DC.
How has Super Lyan coped with the lockdown? Did you offer some creative alternatives?
At Super Lyan we created our own delivery website, which at the moment offers around 34 unique cocktails and some cocktail packages based on ‘moods and experiences’. We brainstorm with the team daily how to improve our offers, drinks and creativity. We basically have loads of time for research and development and I think this is one of the few benefits the lockdown brings. It allows for personal growth and gives us the ability to adapt to new regulations and to create original ideas. We also started some collaborations with brands to create cocktails with their expressions and do online sessions for everyone who signs up, these people receive a box with bespoke cocktails made for that event to taste and discuss. We recently did a successful event with Macallan and this month we are joining forces with Ocho Tequila.
You are now also a brand ambassador for the Netherlands for Lillet, how did that come about?
This actually came on my path quite unexpectedly. Pernod Ricard NL was looking for a brand ambassador for Lillet and the Chivas ambassador, Michael Knowles, recommended me to the management. When he approached me about it I said yes of course immediately! Without any doubts from either side, we started our partnership and I am super excited for this upcoming year as my first experience of being a brand ambassador in addition to my role at Super Lyan.
What kind of cocktails are Dutch people drinking?
The most common cocktails that are drunk by Dutch people are Espresso Martinis, Pornstar Martinis, Moscow Mules and Dark & Stormys. For mixed drinks, G&T and Rum & Cola are quite popular as well.
Did Super Lyan have to make certain adjustments for the Netherlands market?
Super Lyan used to be in London; with the choice to switch to a new country with another demographic there were surely some adjustments to make. Luckily our main focus in Super Lyan is ‘reimagining the familiar’ which means people will get their familiar flavor or classic drink but elevated and with a new experience they have never seen or tasted before. We love to challenge not just ourselves but also the guests to open up to new discussions and learning points.
A couple of ‘reimagining the familiar’ drink examples are:
Lyan Mule: Our take on the classic Moscow mule which is super popular in The Netherlands. We add our homemade ginger syrup with a tincture called ‘Haba lava’ made from habanero peppers and lavender. This enhances the spicy and floral notes from the ginger. Then we give the option to have it be rum or vodka based.
Espresso martini ’61: Based with a vodka blend and fresh espresso with our own ‘Kvass’ Syrup. The kvass syrup is made from fermented rye bread and malt extract, it gives richness, depth and body to the espresso martini which brings a new flavor experience to the guest.
East 8 straight up: or as we state it, ‘our pornstar killer’: this drink is a twist on the classic ‘East 8 hold up’. Based with Vodka, Aperol and a home made passion fruit cordial which includes passion fruit, lychee, chilli and lime. This drink is served from our nitrogen draft system. We wanted to offer a passion fruit drink which had the familiar looks and flavor of a pornstar martini but still offered something new and unique to the guest.
The East 8 straight up.
Credit: Ashkan Mortepazour @Dishtales
Your biggest life’s lesson from the lockdown?
Never sit still. This lockdown gives a lot of time and opportunity to self-develop, in a way you wouldn’t have the time for during a 40-hour hectic work week. It also gives unique experiences in adapting to new ways of working and approaching drinks differently. I can honestly say I have learned a lot from making delivery drinks and how to keep them fresh for a long period of time by the use of acids and syrups. It’s definitely something which will be useful in the future. All the delivery drinks we create now will also be available when the bar reopens.
What interests do you have that have nothing to do with bartending?
I am interested in fashion, I love keeping track of trends and unique clothing styles.
Since I work in hospitality, I have always had an interest for marketing/sales and the creative side of things- during this lockdown I have had the chance to develop these interests and improve myself in different ways, I am designing my own website at the moment which teaches me a lot about web- and content designing.
Where will you be in 5 years, ideally?
I kinda let life come to me day by day, especially now during this pandemic. But Ideally I want to work in a great bar in Singapore, the bar industry in South-east Asia fascinates me a lot and I think I can learn a lot of new things from the bartenders out there. The weather is obviously also way more tropical than the Netherlands which is another big plus.
Five Questions for Zana
White or brown spirit?
Brown.
Who do you admire in the bartending world?
At the moment Vijay from Native in Singapore is quite an inspiration to me, also Beckaly Franks and Holly Graham are some badass women I really look up to!
New York or London?
New York.
If you were a spirit, which one would you be?
No doubt, Whisky!
If you could come back in any other time period, when would it be?
Well, 2019, when Covid wasn’t a thing.
Photo credit: Delphine Chevalier @Chevalierstudio
Where you can find Zana
Facebook: Zana Mohlmann
Instagram: @Zana_mohlmann
Website: Coming Soon!
Super Lyan Instagram: @super.lyan
Lillet Instagram: @lillet