Álvaro Vázquez, the secrets of the favorite cocktail shaker of the Duchess of Alba

[Akrapovic]

The singers Shakira, Madonna, Alejandro Sanz, David Bisbal or the footballer Sergio Ramos are some of the familiar faces he has seduced with his cocktails. But there are more

The jet and the best brands raffle it for their parties. With a portfolio of clients among which are the main luxury brands, such as Chanel, Hermès, Jimmy Choo, Bvlgari, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Maserati or Land Rover, among others. And that's not all. Álvaro Vázquez - with his company Premium Mixes - has served cocktails to personalities such as Madonna, Paris Hilton, King Felipe VI, Emilio Botín or the Duchess of Alba.
Álvaro Vázquez. (Photo: Olga Moreno)
Álvaro Vázquez. (Photo: Olga Moreno)

Álvaro Vázquez studied at the Colegio Santa María de los Rosales, the same center as King Felipe VI and attended by the princess Sofia with Princess Leonor. Later he studied ADE specialized in Finance, thinking about following the traditional family trail. But he noticed that something was missing in his life, so he decided to try his luck with Physical Activity and Sports Sciences. "The sport had always attracted my attention, but on the way I realized that the liquid state was passionate to me and I began to be interested in the world of drinking."
The opportunity is called Paris

He went to London and to finance his stay there, he began working at the Hilton hotels, which would change his life completely. “By pure chance I ended up addressing the topic of drinks in one of the hotels. There I learned to relate the world of luxury and drink ”. An experience that also allowed him to meet Paris Hilton: “He asked me to try the cocktail menu of our bar. It was a great honor for me. ”

In 2012 already in Spain, Álvaro realizes that the concept of cocktails, as developed in London, did not exist in our country. Moment in which he decides to give life to Premium Mixes, his bartender company. “It started as something very small. Many people told me to be careful because maybe it was not the best time because of the economic crisis. My own family put their hands to my head, because I guess they imagined me working in private banking or something. But I was sure that it would work. In Spain there was no such thing, but instead there was demand. We are a country of good drinkers! ”He jokes. He was not mistaken. A week later he was called by Jimmy Choo to set up a cocktail bar and since then he has not stopped working.
His heart, for Hermès (and the Duchess of Alba)

Premium Mixes set up bars in practically all fashion and luxury brand parties, but also in private parties and weddings or family events. If Álvaro had to choose between one of all his VIP clients, he stays with Hermès. “Since I was little I saw how my mother took special care of one of her bags, it was as if it were her jewel. It was a great honor and a special moment that Hermès called me to serve cocktails at his parties.

Álvaro Vázquez. (Photo: Olga Moreno)
Álvaro Vázquez. (Photo: Olga Moreno)

I was going to be able to work for that brand I admired so much since I was a child! ” It also tells how he had the opportunity to serve a cocktail to King Felipe VI. “He really liked the cocktail I served, he made a face of real satisfaction, which made me very excited. I also took the opportunity to tell him that he was a former student of his school and it was lovely. With Mrs. Letizia I was not so lucky, but everything will come… ”(Laughter).

The singers Shakira, Madonna, Alejandro Sanz, David Bisbal or the footballer Sergio Ramos are some of the familiar faces that Álvaro Vázquez has seduced with his cocktails. “We were the favorite cocktails of the Duchess of Alba,” says Vázquez, who, as Vanitatis has learned, also serves cocktails for the Botín family and the entire Inditex dome. Premium Mixes is formed by a team of 14 people in administration tasks plus 70 bartenders. In the circles of the jet they are called “the boys of the braces” for their outfit and their appeal, which is closely linked to an experience around the amazing cocktails they prepare.