Erik’s passion for mixology began when he discovered a bartending book by Roman Uhlir. Newly graduated from Hospitality School in his native Slovakia and greatly inspired by what he read, he set out to learn everything he could about the craft. His studies lead him to a three- month intensive bartending program in Prague run by Roman Uhlir himself, who would become his first mentor.
As a newly qualified bartender, he moved back to Slovakia to join the team at the first cocktail bar in the capital, Bratislava. Greenwich Cocktail Bar fast became the hottest spot in the town. It was here that Erik spent three years honing his skills and cultivating his own cocktail culture.
In January 2004, Erik decided to move to London to improve his English and learn more about his craft. His first job was as a glass collector at The Attica Club, an infamous celebrity hang out. After intensive English lessons during the day and working during the evenings, he landed his first promotion to
head barback, followed by bartender and eventually head bartender.
His passion for Japanese culture and his unquenchable thirst for knowledge of mixology, led him to accepting an offer to bartend at Nozomi, a Japanese restaurant in the heart of Knightsbridge.
Fuelled by his craving to discover more, Erik took an impromptu trip to Japan.
Whilst cruising around the bars in Ginza, he fell in love with Japanese bartending and vowed to pursue the style further. In March 2017 Erik collaborated with a Slovakian entrepreneur and bar operator, Karol Szasz, to and open quintessentially quaint bar in the heart of the old town Bratislava which pays homage to the art-deco cocktail culture (Antique American Bar).
In the years that followed, he would go on to earn many awards and accolades, including World-Class Bartender of the Year, Conde Nast Bartender of the Year and one of the ‘100 Best Things in London’ according to GQ, and was voted as one of London’s 1000 Most Influential People by the Evening Standard.
Lorincz became the head bartender at The Savoy’s American Bar in 2010. Shortly after at the Tales of the Cocktail 2011 in New Orleans, The American Bar was named the World’s Best Hotel Bar and Erik as International Bartender of the Year. In 2017 The American Bar reached the No.1 ranking on Worlds 50 best bars. Drinks Magazine Asia voted Erik Lorincz as International bartender of the year 2018. In May 2018 Erik announced his departure from The American bar and year later in May 2019 he opened his latest venue in the heart of central London, Kwānt bar London. Bar within few months of opening entered to the 50 Worlds Best bar list ranking 47. Class Magazine voted Kwānt as the Best New Opening 2020.
