Just before Christmas, the annual Bartender’s Choice Awards took place, with awards handed out in several categories. Stockholm institution Tjoget ran away with both the best bar award and the people’s choice awards, to the surprise of no-one. And among a string of fantastic barmen and women nominated as the best bartender, Alex Skärlén, of Bar Hommage on Södermalm, got to take the prize home.

To celebrate the ever-improving bar scene in Stockholm, we rounded up some of the best bartenders we know and asked them a few well-worded questions. To get to know them, their workplaces and their preferences a bit better, read on.

Linus Morgan, Tap Room

Tell me about your bar.

Tap Room Kungsholmen is the cocktail bar of the Clarion Amaranten Hotel. We are a high-volume bar with around 130 seats, a high tempo, well-crafted cocktails and a good atmosphere with DJs and live music. The cocktail menu consists of 20 cocktails divided into three categories – ‘Cocktails on tap’, ‘Signatures’ and ‘Always on Tap Room’.

What do you usually order when visiting another bar?

Most often your usual Daiquiri. And if I don’t feel like that I’d go with a Negroni.

Any upcoming bar trends on the horizon?

The best trend I see currently is that the average guest is becoming more interested and more and more people have preferences on how they want their favourite cocktail served. The last year was otherwise a lot about Aperitif and Aperitivo, and it’s a nice trend because you often get cocktails with lower alcohol, which in turn makes it possible to try more taste experiences.

Tap Room Stockholm, Kungsholmsgatan 31