Meet A Bartender

Welcome to the last day of of Cocktail Week 2013's Meet A Bartender feature, where we get to know just a little bit about the stellar people who mix our drinks, toast to our good news, offer friendly advice, and sometimes dry our tears (with a good stiff drink).

Meet Mikael Addae, from Great Lakes Coffee Company. "I wear many hats at Great Lakes, but I have been lucky enough to move into bartending pretty regularly. It has allowed me to expand my love of great wines and beers, and has helped me to learn how wonderfully rewarding a perfectly crafted cocktail can be (both for me and the customer)."

Mikael has a true love for the city; "I was born in Providence, Rhode Island, but I have lived in Detroit (yes the actual city) since I was six. It is so wonderful to see this city really beginning to flourish, and I am so thankful that Great Lakes has given me the opportunity to work in a place so central in its revitalization. Its really amazing to see what's happening, in midtown especially, but also everywhere in the city. When we moved here, I went to Burton Elementary for kindergarten, now I go there sometimes to watch a movie. The combination of potential and ingenuity in this city is incredible, and I love the vantage point the bar at Great Lakes gives me to see the city grow."

What's his favorite cocktail to make at work? "I love to experiment. My favorite drink to make for people changes often. I have access to lots of coffee equipment, so I do have tons of fun coming up with new hot and cold coffee cocktails. Recently I've been making a simple and delicious bourbon cocktail (chilly weather = bourbon experiments)"

Mikael's Unnamed Bourbon Cocktail
1.5 oz Bulleit bourbon
.75 oz Amaro Nonino
.75 oz lemon juice
.50 oz ginger cardamom simple syrup

And what's his drink of choice? "As for me personally, I'm always trying new things, but my default cocktail is anything that has gin and St. Germain in it."
· Great Lakes Coffee Official Page [Facebook]
· All Coverage of Great Lakes [-ED-]
· All Coverage of Cocktail Week 2013 [-ED-]