War Cry
Bartender and storyteller Dinah Kisil finds inspiration for her drinks in the stories that surround her. For her signature drink War Cry, her muse was Tofino, with its rich history in rebellion. She u...
Dinah Kisil of Roar: Storytelling through Bartending
Dinah is more than just a mixologist; she’s a storyteller, a leader, and now the head bartender at Roar.
Award-winning bartender Dinah Kisil has a dream: to revolutionize the bartending world.
And there is no doubt she is well on her way. She’s the seventh woman to bartend at The Savoy Hotel’s American Bar in London in its 125-year history and was named in the World Class Top 100 Bartender list in Great Britain.
Awards aside, Dinah is more than just a mixologist; she’s a storyteller, a leader, and now the head bartender at Roar, the funky, fiery new restaurant at Hotel Zed Tofino—where she works with a team that she calls her “tribe.” “I couldn’t resist the opportunity to work with such creative, impactful and resilient people who were supportive and who truly want to make the world a better place. One of my goals is to make a difference through my work and working alongside people who have the same vision is an amazing opportunity.”
Dinah Kisil of Roar at Hotel Zed, Tofino from Karen Elgersma Media on Vimeo.
Pursuing her destiny
Dinah’s journey to becoming one of the best bartenders in the world began when she was a little girl, making up recipes with her Easy-Bake Oven. “I grew up in a family that was very focused on food and my brother and I were always involved in helping my parents make meals. I loved creating something original. I never looked at recipes. I made lots of mistakes but I learned from them.”
But it wasn’t until she was in university that she discovered that bartending was truly what she was born to do. “I was studying at my favorite cocktail bar in Montreal and I noticed everybody was looking at this person who was behind the bar. The bartender was wielding bottles and putting on a show. I was mesmerized and I couldn't stop staring at her. Through movement she was commanding the attention of everybody in the room. Behind that bar she had power, and she was using her power to perform and express herself in such a beautiful way. After that, I was hooked!”
From that point on, Dinah knew becoming a bartender was her destiny. She went back to her hometown of Calgary to pursue her newfound dream. But she discovered the bartending world was very male dominated. “It was an old boys’ club,” she says. So she decided to learn on her own by reading everything she could on the topic and watching YouTube videos. “I did everything to be the best without being behind the bar, because nobody would give me a chance. I also said yes to every opportunity; I went to conferences, competitions, and became a full-time student of mixology.”
People started to notice Dinah, and she finally got an apprenticeship. Her hard work paid off, and she was soon contacted by the head bartender at The American Bar at The Savoy in London. “He had said he'd heard about me and encouraged me to apply for a job—there were thousands of applicants, and nobody was more surprised than myself when I got the job,” she recalls.
It wasn't until Dinah was asked to create her own cocktail for their famous cocktail menu that she fully understood why this was such an important part of her journey.
The American Bar's cocktail menu is a big deal. Before it's announced, there are parties and tons of press; everyone anxiously awaits to find out what the year's theme will be. When they announced that the spirit was rye whiskey, Dinah’s ears perked up (it’s her favourite spirit). Then they asked her to create the cocktail, and she was surprised and honoured. But when they told her the cocktail would be based on the musical Cats, she knew that this was a defining moment.
“I immediately was gobsmacked; my face went white. I just started shaking. When I was a little girl my parents gave me my very first Walkman as a gift for Christmas and I played the Cats musical on repeat over and over again. It was my favorite musical of all time. And I just had this moment when I realized everything comes full circle. This is why I'm here, this is my destiny—I'm living my truth!”
‘Each drink is a story’
Leaving the most famous bar in the world, the American Bar at The Savoy, to work and live in Tofino was partly inspired by Dinah’s core beliefs: say yes to every opportunity, be kind to everyone you meet and cultivate a positive workplace culture. “Taking on this role at Roar will allow me to be the leader behind the bar that I never saw. I want to be somebody who makes the bar inclusive and empowering. I want to hold the hand of someone who is too afraid to express their art or express their passion. And that is exactly what I am doing every day here at Roar.”
Dinah takes her inspiration from the stories that surround her, and this is evident in the “daring beverage menu” she has created for Roar. Tofino’s rich history in rebellion led to her signature drink called War Cry, based on Canada’s largest act of civil disobedience: the War in the Woods.
“For me, storytelling is a way to connect people and to communicate messages to people,” says Dinah. “Each drink is a story—and I hope that the drinks will make you think. When people experience a cocktail that I created I want them to feel something and remember something.”
If you want to join Dinah’s revolution, it’s simple: just pull up a seat at the bar at Roar in Hotel Zed Tofino and ask Dinah to tell you the story about the time her mom told her that her destiny was “to become the best bartender in the world.”
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