Danilo “Dacha” Bozovic has been paving new roads in the world of bartending since he began mixing drinks in his hometown of Belgrade, Serbia as a twenty-year-old and founded his own bar school called Belgrade Bartending Academy. From there, he was offered a job at New York’s famed bar Employees Only which eventually led him to South Florida where he became a partner, opening Employees Only Miami and Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery. Along the way he wrote “Barkeep: A Guide To Becoming A Professional Bartender,” recently followed by “Barkeep: The 2nd Edition” (2022). In June 2022 he expanded Swizzle with Delirio Tiki Bar. We caught up with Bozovic in the intimate and classy speakeasy Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery, which he opened in 2019.
Q&A
What makes your bar so unique/stand out from the rest?
It’s a non-standing Speakeasy (the first of its kind in Miami) and focuses on gastronomy, sustainability, and rare ingredients found in drinks. The bar is also owned by bartenders, which gives it a special sprinkle.
Favorite quote and why?
Imagination is more important than knowledge. —Albert Einstein
You can design your own cocktail napkin – what would it be or what would it say?
Enjoy every sip, for it is priceless.
Bar trend you’d wish would fizzle out?
Before the late 90s, bars didn’t carry vodka for its neutrality as an ingredient. I’ve seen that trend still active, and I’m not much for it. I think vodka deserves a place in the spirit and cocktail world.
South Florida in December is awesome because…?
South Florida in December is awesome because the energy is high, the climate is excellent and the daiquiris taste perfect. It is the destination of the whole world. While other areas are cold, the temperature in Miami is just right, 76 degrees Fahrenheit. A Daiquiri for such a climate is just perfectly refreshing and contributes to Miami’s vibe: vibrant, outgoing and full of dance and fun.
Who, living or not, would you want to make a drink for? Why?
Elon Musk or Stephen Kotkin. Great minds. Even though I watch a lot of their work or read about it, it would be of amazing experience to talk with them and learn about their pattern of thought and just ideas in general.
What’s the trendy drink right now? Good thing or bad? Why?
A trendy drink right now very much is the Espresso Martini, with tequila being requested as the base more often. At Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery, we make our own Coffee Liqueur to control the quality and the amount of sugar as well as the coffee, with a touch of Angostura bitters.
How does your bar celebrate the December/holiday season? Any special drinks?
We try to make drinks as unique and different as possible each year and push the creative level while using ingredients like cinnamon, butterscotch, buttermilk, cider, nutmeg, etc.
Newburgh Sour
Newburgh Sour
Bozovic has competed in competitions around the world. In 2018, he won the gold medal for the USA in France’s Remy Martin Global Academy competition. Here is the cocktail that garnered the coveted victory.
INGREDIETS:
¾ oz. Blended Scotch Whisky
½ oz. black tea infused
Amaro Montenegro
1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ oz. demerara syrup
(2:1 - sugar to water)
1 raw egg white
INSTRUCTIONS:
• Pour ingredients into a mixing glass.
• Add five large ice cubes and shake vigorously.
• Strain the cocktail in a chilled shaken coupe.
• Garnish with three dashes of Old-Fashioned bitters and freshly grated nutmeg.