Carl Wrangel, Bartender and owner of The Barking Dog, Paloma Vermuteria & Shoppen Liquor Store. The Barking Dog is an agave forward cocktail bar in the heart of Nørrebro, Copenhagen. A stones throw away is our liquor store Shoppen, also with a strong focus on agave, but generally well traveled with quality spirits. A little further up the street is Paloma, and neighbourhood bar with a large outdoor terrace serving food, craft beer and a lot of vermouth.
> What is your favourite spirit and why?
Agave spirits. Why is a very big question, it satisfies me like no other spirit, It makes me feel connected and clear sighted and I do not feel that I get traditionally drunk from it. There is a deep spiritual bond between me and this drink.
> What’s your favourite cocktail and why?
I have three, first of is the Negroni, always satisfying, any time a day, and pretty safe bet in any bar. Classic Negroni that is, no riffs. Runner up is a Tommy’s Margarita, I really have to pace myself with a good Tommy’s, they go down way too quick. And the last would have to be the Piña Colada at Bar Zentral in Berlin, the only drink I would travel for.
> Top 5 of your favourite bars in the world, and in France.
To be honest I haven’t done very much travelling the last few years, and some of my favourites have closed, I’m also a big fan of good shit bars, especially when I travel, I think it says a lot about a city and it’s people. In no particular order, Le Fonque Hamburg, Green and Red London (now closed), Bar Zentral Berlin, Para de Sufrir Guadalajara, In Situ Oaxaca.
> What inspired you to choose your job?
Like many others I got thrown in to this line of work, and got hooked.
> What do you think of the low ABV and alcohol-free cocktails trends?
Low ABV is amazing, you can start early and go all day without getting wasted. That way the guest have a great day and the bars make a little extra. Non alcoholic cocktails should of course not be overlooked, and it seems to be an trend that is unstoppable. Because of this there are a lot more non alcoholic products becoming available, and they getting better and better. That being said, it never really caught my attention, but I am keeping my eyes open.
> What do you think of old school liqueurs and spirits’ comeback observed these past few years?
It is great with a big variety of products to choose from, quality products is always very nice to taste and play with. I think it is giving bar a lot more room to personalise their spirit selections.
> Do you prefer cane juice or molasses rums?
Tough, aged I think I prefer potstill molasses rums and white rums I definitively prefer cane juice rums.
> What do you think the rum world will be like 5 years? (types of rums = origins, distilleries, consumers)
I think consumers and bartenders a like are taking a liking to bolder, more flavourful rums, and I think we will see a large increase of rums from countries outside the traditional rum producing countries. I also hope there will be a decrease in “hype rum” so that people that actually like them can be allowed to drink them.
> What’s your point of view on independent Rum bottlers (emancipation or negative for brands)
Well, some independent bottlers have done wonders for the distilleries to be recognised and others have sold crap in beautiful clothing. It would be great if the rum brokers were a bit more selective with to whom they sell rum, but that probably won’t happen. Hopefully only the great bottlers will stand the test of time. Until then we will probably see a growing amount of new brands, on good or bad.
