Get to Know: Nathan Larkin

Name: Nathan Larkin

Nicknames: White Port

Pronouns: He/Him

Job title: Founder / Owner

How long have you worked at Speak in Code: 3.5 years

Favourite drink: Chinotto

What got you into cocktail bars?

The idea that I could make people happy through what I do. At first, I really just thought it sounded cool and the more I saw people smile when I delivered a cocktail I felt I had found my place in the world. I started t Hard Rock Cafe a long time ago and I travelled the world with them, and I saw different cultures and learned culture in the workplace… Eventually got my head in books like Death & Co, Liquid intelligence, Curious bartender etc and my interest peaked, and it led me further into the cocktail world…

How many years have you worked in the industry?

10.5
 

What makes a great cocktail bar?

Adaptability, team dynamic, equal opportunity within the team, accountability and ownership within the team, and a desire to connect with people on a human level… the rest follows. We all know how to make a Negroni, it’s the rest of the details in my opinion that makes the environment and atmosphere an enjoyable place to be.
 

What do you enjoy most about the industry?

Building something from scratch with a bunch of people who have the same goals. I relate it to a lot of performance-based industries, and we keep going and keep going, kind of like athletes, and the goal is to keep improving, keep building, embed yourself within the local community and to do something that ultimately gives back to that community.
 

What’s a signature drink of yours?

Hard to say, SiC has so many unique drinks. I personally have always been a fan of Tiki done well…So for me, a good Colada…here’s my take:

- Chipotle infused coconut rum
- Aduki infused cacao blanc
- Condensed coconut milk
- Citrus boosted freshly made pineapple juice (Or a dash of lime to replace the ‘citrus boosted’ part)
- Pinch of Maldon salt

Tea or coffee?

Coffee (Decaff though, sorry)
 

What does being a Top 50 Cocktail Bar mean to you?

A lot, and it’s really been about the Journey. Look, it’s not about awards and accolades for us at the end of the day, it’s about making sure that people who spend time with us are well looked after and have a great time. It’s been a difficult journey in our first few years, and our first 12 months before lockdown we were just a pop up bar in our current space and we had to wrestle to make it our own and take it over full time. And to see the team give their all every time they step into our venue and to keep working hard to consistently improve on what we do… It really is an achievement that the team can be incredibly proud of, and something we can look back on and say ‘Can you believe from day one, as a pop up, to 3 years later, this is what we built” - We just continue to work with smiles on our faces and to vibe with everyone who comes here.

What is the best cocktail bar you’ve ever visited?

I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol in 3 and a half years so It’s hard to comment as I’ve not necessarily enjoyed new bars as they intended but my personal favourite from when I did was Oriole for the ambiance and creativity. Death & Co was an old favourite too
 

What do you enjoy most about working at Speak in Code?

Probably the creative aspect, and the equal footing throughout the team. If I haven’t pulled my weight or I miss something, I get my ass kicked by the team. We’re all in it together, it’s a project everyone can feel a part of. More recently since taking a step back from the bar, I’ve really enjoyed building our online presence…
 

Favourite spirit?

When I did drink it was a good Rum or a good Malt Whisky. Amaro too
 

What does the future hold for Speak in Code?

We’re just going to keep checking ourselves every day. Keep questioning everything, keep on trying to improve our service and offering, and to keep trying to give back. Maybe some new sites too ;)