This year’s Rising Star Award winner has taken the bartending world by storm with her creativity, determination, and dedication to cultural representation. Her journey began as a student on a zero-hours contract in Brighton, exploring various roles in the service industry but never bartending—despite her love for cocktails. It wasn’t until she moved to London that her passion for drinks flourished.
Inspired by the London’s diverse bar scene, she found her spark at the Cocktail Trading Co., a bar that blended humour, artistry, and technical excellence. With no prior bartending experience, she boldly asked for a chance to learn. Through hard work and guidance, she developed a deep understanding of cocktail techniques, flavour profiles, and the mechanics of running a bar.
Her growth has been meteoric. In less than a year, she entered multiple cocktail competitions, earning a place in the national finals of No.3 and the global top 10 of Hennessy MyWay and now beign crowned Rising Star. These achievements highlight her ability to craft exceptional drinks while embracing feedback to refine her skills.
As a proud Persian woman, she introduces flavours from her heritage into her drinks, reclaiming and celebrating a culture often overlooked in the bar industry. Drawing on Iran’s rich culinary traditions, she creates cocktails that resonate deeply with guests, especially those from Middle Eastern backgrounds. Her ability to connect storytelling with mixology has made her a trailblazer, bringing greater visibility to Middle Eastern bartenders.
Her success is also a triumph over self-doubt. Once unsure of her place in the industry, she now contributes signature cocktails to her bar’s menu and uses competitions to push her creative boundaries.
This award recognises her remarkable journey, her passion for introducing Persian culture to the global stage, and her commitment to innovation. A true rising star, she exemplifies the power of perseverance and the beauty of blending heritage with craft.
Previous Winners
