A Portrait of a "Liquid Art Man": Atmosphere Recruits the Cocktail-Making Finesse of Volkan Ibil

For Volkan Ibil, crafting the perfect drink involves a careful blend of culture, place, and human story. He aims to create a balanced menu not as a bartender or mixologist, but as a "liquid art man." This phrase, he explains, captures the full sensory experience provided by a well-presented cocktail: art that is made with love, diligence, and attention to detail. 

Volkan's journey, which now sees him take the post of head bartender at China World Summit's Atmosphere Bar, began as a 17-year-old in Turkey. After watching Cocktail, he decided to emulate Tom Cruise in that classic slice of '80s Hollywood moviemaking and enrolled for training as a bartender. After working for over a decade in establishments ranging from street bars to clubs, Volkan transitioned to the hotel industry, collaborating with different mixologists and luxury chains. To date, he has mixed, crafted, and served in 10 countries and has no sign of slowing down.

Through these explorations, he developed a unique philosophy: a well-crafted drink should share cultures and open doors, and the mixologist should become a central force in connecting people and tastes. He personally prepares all ingredients and prides himself on the nuances of the creative process. The primary difference between a bartender and a mixologist, he notes, is their attention to detail and craft. "A bartender is a car salesman, a mixologist will make the car," he states simply. Beyond ingredients or inspiration, Volkan emphasizes that for him, "liquid art" is a decidedly human experience. In each new locale, Volkan arrives ready to explore, learn, and immerse. "I play with elements of many cultures," he says, making an effort to prioritize local flavors, stories, and connections. This attitude of an avid observer fulfills Volkan's vision of a successful mixologist, remarking, "We can listen, we can see, but we never talk."

From a practical perspective, Volkan works to incorporate local strengths and tastes. In Paris, he used local wine and Cognac, in Hong Kong, he explored bamboo-infused liquors. In line with this inspiration, Volkan has now created a line-up for Atmosphere that incorporates allusions to his native Turkey with touches from Beijing.

His rose cocktail pairs a Turkish teacup with Chinese hibiscus tea, blends visual inspirations from Turkey with Chinese flavors. Pink in color with a gin base and topped with a single rose petal, this delicate drink has a distinctly complex flavor. The tea flavor and teacup presentation is a visual play on Volkan's shared cultures theme.

The baijiu-inspired cocktail uses Aperol, orange, and natural agave sweeteners to play with the spirits intense flavor. The drink is prepared over a month-long period in a traditional clay pot. This baijiu beverage was inspired by Volkan's first visit to China, when he went off in search of Beijing's local drink and started enthusiastically experimented. Between the sweetness of the agave, the distinctive Aperol hue, and strong baijiu base, Volkan's take feels appropriate for both Beijing summers and a scene from the Italian countryside.

His signature cocktail, the Coffeetini, uses an intricately carved Turkish coffee pot as its base with a mini-Chinese porcelain teacup to complete the vision. A nondescript vodka base is made distinct with tahini and coffee. The resulting drink provides complex flavors in addition to a jolt of energy. 

Volkan Ibil will be posted at Atmosphere for the next 11 months.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the spectrum,
check out China's coffee-cola concoctions that nobody asked for.

Photos courtesy of Atmosphere Bar