當 Beckaly Franks 走進 KOR，她一頭閃閃發亮的金髮，美麗的眼睛明亮有神，她提起聲音跟所有人打招呼，臉上掛著爽朗的招牌笑容，親和力十足的她就像個大明星，不只吸引了所有的鎂光燈，更一下就擄獲了所有人的心。

她是亞洲區目前最有影響力的調酒師之一，更是少數的女性調酒師。Beckaly Franks 出生於愛達荷州，她在香港開設的酒吧 The Pontiac 連續兩年被評選為亞洲前 50 大酒吧。在來到亞洲之前，她曾在波特蘭知名餐廳 Clyde Common 掌管吧台，並在 2012 年帶領團隊贏得 42 Below 的世界調酒大賽獎盃，成為全美第一位女性世界冠軍調酒師。

除了是個專業調酒師之外，她更是個音樂與藝術愛好狂熱者，這次她來到 KOR ，我們決定把握機會跟她聊聊天：

1.亞洲對您來說有什麼特別的魅力或值得前往的原因？

我一直都很想要旅行，並且學習其他的文化。波特蘭是一個很棒的地方，但它也不過只是廣大地球中的一座城市而已。在2014年，我非常幸運的有機會跟DISCUS（美國蒸餾酒協會）合作，在新加坡分享美國目前針對威士忌的潮流。那是我愛上亞洲的一個契機，所以當我回到家後我開始醞釀這個想法，等到我開始 The Pontiac 酒吧的合作時，其實我早就已經準備好了。

 

2.新聞及評論上都提到您是一位極具個人魅力的調酒師，這樣的自信與舞台魅力要如何培養？

我建議你找到自己的熱情在哪裡，並且嘗試去引導這個能量。「服務業」就是在把你的熱情轉換成對客人的體貼，不管是音樂、藝術、運動、動物、家庭，找個能讓你發光發熱的事情。我的熱情是音樂，我做的所有事情其實都以某種方式與它緊緊相連。我用音樂創造調酒、用音樂定調我的酒吧、用音樂與客人溝通並且分享。

 

3.你對音樂及藝術都有涉略，想請問你覺得音樂在一間酒吧裡扮演什麼樣的角色？你自己的酒吧都放什麼音樂？

如我上面提到，我對音樂有無與倫比的熱情！在酒吧裡的每一個部分都有它們的功能，當客人走進門的那一刻開始他就已經被你營造的氣氛所影響，所以音樂是你品牌裡絕對不可以缺少的一環，它代表了你想要說的故事。

 

4.您曾經在大酒吧當過Bartender，這跟小酒吧的最大差別在哪？兩種類型的know-how有什麼不同？

非常幸運的，The Pontiac是一個小吧，但卻依然每晚提供大量的服務。產品的知識與手藝不管在大酒吧或小酒吧都是一樣的，至於有沒有能力在忙碌時依然提供好的服務，你最大的敵人應該就是時間了。

 

5.女性調酒師在亞洲市場裡還是少數，您覺得性別在這個領域裡有任何差別待遇嗎？好的地方在哪？不好的地方在哪？你會想給其他有志進入這一行的女性什麼建議？

未來是女性的。女性在服務業的人口數不比男性少，我們天生就善於照顧他人，但被差別對待從來就不只存在我們這個產業。女人總體來說還是弱勢，特別在某些文化裡更是如此。但這是非黑即白的事嗎？我看到的是「彩虹」，就算是在亞洲的這2年半，我看過各種年齡、種族的女生都遇到這種狀況，她們漸漸更有自信並理解自己是有影響力的，女性的優勢在現在的產業裡就是供不應求，還有許多空間讓女性加入並做出改變，我的建議是「相信妳自己」，找到對的地方開始好好努力，盡你所能的問問題並學習一切妳想知道的事，最重要的是：幫助其他女性調酒師！

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When Beckaly Franks first walked into KOR Taipei, she caught everyone’s attention with her glistening blond hair and beautiful bright eyes. She greeted everyone with a warm smile and, at that moment, she was like a superstar.

Beckaly is one of the most influential female bartenders in Asia. Her bar in Hong Kong, The Pontiac, won “Asia’s 50 best bars” two years in a row. She also won the “42Below Cocktail World Cup” championship in 2012 when she worked at Portland’s famous restaurant Clyde Common, making her the first female global champion in USA.

She’s not only a great bartender, but also a music and art lover. We would never had missed this chance to talk to her:

1.In 2012 you won the 42 Below World Cup with Team America. At that time you were one of the hottest bartenders around, so what made you choose to leave the US and go to Hong Kong to start The Pontiac? What was it that attracted you to Asia?

-I have always wanted to travel and learn about other cultures.  Portland, OR is great but is it just one amazing town in a big bad world.  In 2014 I was fortunate enough to work with DISCUS (Distilled Spirits Counsel of the US) and teach about American trends is in Whiskey in Singapore.  That is when I got the bug for Asia.  After I returned home I started mentally preparing myself for a global move.  By the time I was contacted to collaborate and open my bar The Pontiac, I was more than ready.  

 

2.You have been described as someone with great personal charisma. Could you please give some advice for the next generation of bartenders on how to best cultivate self-confidence and charm?

-I advise finding something that you are passionate about and trying to channel that energy.  Hospitality is all about the transfer of energy and thoughtfulness.  Whether it’s music, art, sports, animals, family, find something that helps you create a personal identity.  My passion is music and almost everything I do is correlated to it in some way.  I create cocktails around music, set the vibe for my bar with music, engage the guest in conversation about music and give them a chance to share.  

 

3.You are involved in Music as well as Arts, what role do you think music plays in a bar? What kind of music do you play at your own bar?

-As mentioned above, I am incredibly passionate about music!  Every aspect of the bar plays a role.  From the moment the guest walks thru the door they are being affected by the ambiance of the room.  It’s imperative that the music is on brand and reflects the story your space is trying to tell.

 

4.You have previously worked at a large volume bar, what is the biggest difference between a large bar and a small bar? Do they require different know-how?

-Fortunately The Pontiac is a small bar that still pumps out high volume.  The product knowledge and craft skill set should be the same at any venue.  The ability to manage a busy service well and packed house only comes with time.  

 

5.Unfortunately, there are still relatively few female bartenders in Asia. What are your thoughts on female bartenders in this industry? Do you think female bartenders are treated differently? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being female in this industry? What advice would you give to aspiring female bartenders?

-The future is female.  Women belong in hospitality just as much as men if not more.  We are the born nurturers, it’s innate in us to care for and provide for others.  Being treated differently as woman isn’t isolated to this industry.  Women are a minority in general and especially in certain cultures.   That is just the black and white of it.  However, I see in rainbow.  Even over the last 2.5 years in Asia I’ve watched women of all ages and races rise to occasion.  They are becoming more confident and learning that they in fact do have a voice.   The advantage of female in this industry right now is that it’s vastly under saturated.  There is plenty of room for ladies to come in and make a change.   My advice to aspiring females bartenders is to believe in yourself.  Find the right house that supports you and get to work.  Ask all the questions and learn as much as you can.   And SUPPORT YOUR OTHER FEMALE BARTENDERS