Timo Janse, Dutch Courage personified

Timo Janse has done a lot for the bar industry in Amsterdam and he tells his story just in time for Perfect Serve, the bar show that Sharlafied will be attending live on November 15 and 16 in the Dutch capital.

My interview with Timo

Hi Timo, Where were you born? 

In Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

How did you get your start in the bar industry? 

After a discussion about how to make a Kamikaze with a bartender -I LOVED to drink all kinds of shots- I was offered a job at a party dive bar on the spot. After the first night, I knew I never wanted to do anything else.

Did you get formal training to learn your bar skills or did you have a mentor? 

No formal training at all. I would say 90% self-taught, but later in my career I was greatly inspired by Philip Duff and Sergej Fokke, my bosses at Door 74, each in their own way.

What was the first bar you managed? 

It was The College Hotel in Amsterdam. Or, in fact, I was manager at my student fraternity UNITAS, way before that!

Tell us the story about how Door 74 came to be? 

I was working at Bar Feijoa for Sergej Fokke, and he knew I had bar management experience. So when he wanted to open a second bar on the same street, he knew where to look for a bar manager. At that point, none of us had never even been to a speakeasy! When refurbishment took too long and money was running out, Sergej approached Philip Duff to step in, and it was Philip who really knew how to operate a speakeasy, while Sergej knew the local scene. So, with me as first staff member, we opened!

After Door 74 what made you walk away and start a new bar in Flying Dutchmen?

After 9 years it was time, and to avoid spending the rest of my life without any daylight, me and Tess decided it was time to risk the jump.

Tell me about your alliance with Tess Posthumus.

We had been working many weekends behind the bar at Door 74, and felt we were very much in tune in terms of vision and style of working. We both have some solo projects, but wherever we can work together we do, like in the case of Flying Dutchmen Cocktails and Dutch Courage.

What is the story of Dutch Courage?

We opened Dutch Courage out of love for the many, many amazing Dutch (inspired) spirits.
For us, Dutch Courage is the old fashioned “Brown” bar 2.0, where we tried to keep the cosiness but adding a wide selection of spirits and cocktails to the mix. A low-entry bar for all.

We actually wrote the concept for Dutch Courage BEFORE that of Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, but we feel a concept should follow the location, and the location for Dutch Courage had to wait until we had the opportunity to open in the Zeedijk, one of the most historical and iconic streets of the country.

Dutch Courage got a second meaning in light of COVID, as we seemed to be crazy opening in these times. But we are still here, and in fact we were just nominated for Best New Cocktail Bar in the country! 

The interior of Dutch Courage. Photo credit: Ming Chao

Are you still involved with Flying Dutchmen?

For sure! Every day I need to pay the many invoices, order spirits, sodas, wines and beers, set goals for our team, create trainings, work on our web shop, create events for the bar and print loads of menus, cash up forms and flyers. Oh yes, and also I work behind the bar once a week☺

What makes your bars different from others in Amsterdam?

We have a very strong training program, and strive to educate our staff, our visitors and the entire drinks industry of the country.

What is the craziest thing you did to survive during Covid?

Filling out thousands and thousands of addresses through our web shop to the Post office, and watching in fear as it was all delayed because of Christmas.

Photo credit: Ming Chao

When did you start the first edition of Perfect Serve? 

2014.

What is the mission of Perfect Serve? 

To educate people in a fun way, making sure that we offer only high quality content.

How many stands did you have in the beginning and how has it grown? 

We are at around 60 now, and when we started it was around 40. So, slow but steady, I guess! But I am not a big fan of super big shows (or bars for that matter) so it should remain a bit intimate.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in Amsterdam to open a new bar? 

There are a lot less people living in Amsterdam compared to other major cities in the world. To be successful you need to build a following slowly of those living there that like to have cocktails. Which is a lot smaller group than you might think.

What do bartenders from abroad need to know about Dutch drinkers? 

They drink hard and fast. Sweet is the only thing to avoid.

Five questions for Timo

Strained or on the rocks? 

Strained.

Your most cherished bar book? 

Bar Flies and Cocktails by Harry McElhone.

If you could meet a bar personality from the past, who would it be?

Harry Johnson.

If you were not in the bar business, what profession would you choose?

Accountant.

What is your secret talent?  

I can light sambuca in my mouth and swallow it while burning without accidents.

Where you can find Timo

Fine Perfect Serve Bar show @perfectserve on Instagram and at Perfect Serve Barshow Amsterdam on Facebook

Timo: @timo.janse

Flying Dutchmen Cocktails: @flyingdutchmencocktails

Dutch Courage Cocktails: @dutchcouragecocktails