Offspring chats to master mixologist Jacques Bermon about his extraordinary cocktails and upcoming Olive fused creation. It’s lit!
When you think of olives, you might picture a fancy cheese board, a bottle of olive oil or Popeye’s boo (ask your folks), but mixologist extraordinaire, Jacques Bermon, is taking this little snack and turning it into the most hyped cocktail of the year.
Jacques’ signature cocktails have always been the talk of the town, especially amongst hypebeasts, ragers and sneaker aficionados, with many lining up for miles just to sample one of his unique concoctions. But what makes these cocktails so special? Are they made from unicorn tears or sprinkled with magical fairy dust? We chatted to the master mixologist to find out.
Tell us about yourself.
Jacques Bermon Webster is the name and stirring things up is the game – Straight up! Originally from Houston Texas, I’m a master mixologist who started my journey back at Offspring University. I’m lucky to have learnt from the best in the business – them Offspring boys know how to stir things up real good!
After graduating, I kept mixing, working at the Losers Lounge, Mischief Makers, Badmen Brasserie, Jokers and La Flame before opening my own bar ‘Stargazers’.
Can you remember the first cocktail/s you ever made?
Yeah, yeah! Kicked it all off with the ‘Sicko Champagne.’ Made with 24K gold flakes, Armagnac, and a hint of grape soda. Took you from feeling basic to bougie in no time. Then came the ‘Cactus Jack and Coke’ – a mix of Jack Daniel’s, Coke, and a dash of bright blue Curacao. Drinking it made you feel like a big-time celebrity, or a famous rapper like Travis Scott (even if you can’t actually rap).
The ‘AstroWorld Sour’ was also one of my early creations. Strong, sour, and strangely addictive, this cocktail mixed with tequila, lime juice, and spicy jalapenos was like rocket fuel. It took you to space and made you feel like you’re walking on the moon. But let’s be honest, walking on the moon can be hard, especially when you’re trying to dodge moon rocks and avoid falling into a crater. Straight up!
What’s it like being an award winner?
Feels like I’m “the highest in the room”. Yeah! “I get those goosebumps every time” I think about winning the ‘COTY’ (Cocktail of the Year), two-years running. I was up against some stiff competition for both years, but the ‘Mocha Margarita’ and ‘Fragmented Fusion’ came through. Three in a row? Why not? Let’s go…
Your upcoming olive creation, is this the one we’ve been waiting for?
Yeah, yeah! For sure… the ‘Olive You Long Time’. This mixed-up masterpiece is gonna have hypebeasts and sneakerheads banging down those doors to get a taste. Not for the first time! No trying to sneak in through the backdoors either, they’re well and truly closed for this release.
Go on then, what are the magic ingredients that make this olive cocktail so special?
As you’ve asked so nicely. Grab a cocktail shaker. Take the juice from an olive jar and mix it with some Jamba juice and simple cacti syrup. Then, add the vodka and vermouth, and then the secret ingredients – a good measure of hope and winning prayers, that you slowly crush into this crazy concoction. Stir all the ingredients in a reverse swoosh-like motion and pour into a low glass. Add a little sprinkling of hype and garnish the drink with a whole olive on a toothpick. Voila! The ‘Olive You Long Time’ is born. Best drunk when the “sun is down, freezin’ cold”.
With this drink in hand, the stares of awe and admiration from strangers will make you feel like a God among men. Ok maybe not that far, but you’ll definitely feel like you’re part of the ‘Upper Echelon’ – an elite club of playas, cool enough to be sipping on this olive based creation.
Your cocktails all have a signature finish right?
Yeah, Yeah! All the glasses are brimmed with a good measure of crystalised salt. As my professor at Offspring University once told me: “To taste the sweet, you’ve got to be ready to deal with the salt.” Those words have stuck with me ever since.
What do you get up to when you’re not mixing things up?
With working those long hours, I like to stay fit with some “flexin’, flexin’, try to exercise.” I’m also into all this astro stuff, and love nothing better than getting out my big telescope to go ‘stargazing’. If I’m not at the basketball court, I’ll be watching the Kardashians on repeat. That Kylie Jenner… ooh wee… ‘Mamacita!’ She gives me more of them ‘goosebumps’.
So what’s next for Jacques Bermon?
I’m just finishing writing the final pages for my autobiography ‘The Butterfly Effect – From Bellinis to Billions’. Following that, I might dabble in designing some sneakers, can’t be that hard. Got some crazy ideas in my head, so who knows, they might just catch on. Straight up!
For your chance to sample the ‘Olive You Long Time’, check out @offspringhq
