Toast of Athens: Dottie Alexander
So, it’s been just over a week since Taste/Toast of Athens and I’m still reeling from it. However, now that I’ve given myself a little time to gather my thoughts about the event, I think it’s high time to start doing some recap. Toast has left me even more enthralled with the Athens scene than when I first begun. I can’t believe I was given the opportunity to meet and interact with the amount of talent packed into that room. Accordingly, instead of just doing some easy overview kind of wrap article, I think it will best serve yall and my efforts to submerse myself into the Athens scene if I focus on each team individually. Each and every one of these establishments brought something interesting, unique, and wholly representative of their own style to their respective tables. So here’s my plan, in no specific amount of time, I’m going to talk to each of the folks that participated in Toast {the ones who will give me the time of day anyways} and bring their story to you. I want to know who they are, what inspires their work and the work they displayed at the festival, as well as what we can all expect from them in the future.
What better place to start than with The Judges’ Choice Award Winner, Dottie Alexander of The World Famous. At first glance, The World Famous might look like the underdog in a craft cocktail competition, but make no mistake they have their guns and they stick to them. I’ve already previously stated my affinity for Dottie’s bar, as it was most recently the spot Josh Smith and I met for our interview. Best believe it served beautifully as a haven from my Hangry Hulk. However, this spot has much more to offer than its grub, which is why I’m excited to say Dottie was kind enough to give me some time out of her busy schedule. So, let’s grab a ticket to her gun show, shall we?
Ryan: First of all, congrats on the win! After you were announced winner, you said, “{You’ve} never been speechless before.” Now that you’ve had nearly a week to compose yourself, how’s it feel to be the winner of the very First Annual Toast of Athens?
R: What was your inspiration for your winning cocktail, Señor Fizzy’s Mexican Cream Soda? Was it based on anything you feature on your menu at World Famous?
D: Well, we wanted a drink that not only represented us as a bar, but one that we could easily replicate with ingredients that we already stock. We recently started serving Topo Chico mineral water, which is an excellent super fizzy alternative to seltzer. I first tasted it in Texas, where it is pretty ubiquitous, which got me thinking about Tito’s, our assigned spirit, which is also from Texas. The rest came together as a combined effort of brain-storming wherein we ran the gamut of ideas, some of which were WAY out of our wheelhouse. It was when I realized that I was attempting to make a National cocktail {my personal favorite bar} that I reigned it in and decided to make a World Famous cocktail. Señor Fizzy’s was born, dorky name and all.
R: Speaking of, the judges were obviously impressed with your simplicity in a crowd of complex infused spirits and house made syrups. I was personally impressed that yall played to your own strengths instead of conforming to the kind of cocktailian style that most of the bars in the competition operate within.
It’s worth noting that Kaleb Cribb of Holeman & Finch, one the of the judges for the competition, remarked after the event that he favored your drink because, “While {I} or {he} might prefer to go to a cocktail bar and drink 2 drinks over the course of an evening, most people don’t enjoy that. We drink like cocktail geeks. She’s not a cocktail geek. She’s the people’s bartender.” What inspires your whimsical approach to bartending? Do you think your sticking to your guns was instrumental in your victory?
D: Wow. What an amazing compliment! I do, but it also shocked the hell out of me! I was honestly surprised to have even been asked and was more than a little intimidated to be alongside that group. That being said, I feel like each of their drinks were also representative of their respective bars. I just happen to work at a sillier place. I find it to be important to suit your environment. We are relaxed, enjoy each other’s company, openly trade insults with the kitchen staff, etc. Obviously, that would not be appropriate everywhere, but it’s one of the benefits of not taking yourself too seriously.
R: While we’re on the subject of yall standing out, that sequin top you were wearing was DOPE.
Also, I think it’s worth mentioning that not only were you the only female bartender at the comp but also, you were the only bartender to free pour your drink. Personally I prefer to measure my drinks, but of course everyone has their own approach. Why do you favor the free pour?
D: That old thing? Thanks! We {my mighty assistant Chris Collins and I} had originally toyed with the idea of getting ridiculous matching air-brushed t-shirts for the event, but never got around to having them made. In hindsight it was probably for the best that we didn’t as it would have upped our “kitch factor” to a potentially eye-rolling degree. Yeah, I’d like to see more ladies represented in the future, as there certainly are a bunch of badass female bartenders in this town. T Silva taught me everything I know.
So, for the free pour. First of all, that’s how we roll at our bar, so it is what I’m used to. When we first opened we would practice and after 2 years, I’m pretty accurate. I’m also used to slinging that hooch FAST. We are very small and when we are busy it is essential to get drinks out as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality, so I was pretty confident that I could handle the demand at Toast.
R: In all honesty, I’ve only just come across World Famous here recently. More specifically, following a wedding in town I woke up in what can only be described as a massively debilitating marine layer of hangover fog. All I could manage to say to my date was,”Hungover. Need food. For head not work.” After a very surreal walk past a family of well-dressed recently showered church goers, I arrived at your bar. Sweet relief. After a night of HEAVY drinking and mixing, sometimes you just want something refreshing. Is the approachability of your drink menu by design?
D: Definitely. We want to be a fun place for sure. However, It can sometimes be frustrating that some patrons feel limited to just our specialty cocktails, as we are well capable of going off menu in whatever direction you might like.
R: Absolute last question. What can we expect to see from you and World Famous in the future?
D: We’ll keep doing what we do! Every day that you turn a profit in this business is a good day. We are trending towards more local and Georgia specific products, which is exciting. And being around the corner from the best new craft brewery in the south in inspiration on it’s own.
Congratulations and thanks again to Dottie for this interview. Yall be sure to drop on by The World Famous located at 51 N Hull St in Athens, GA to catch Dottie slinging that hooch or visit their Facebook page here.
