Jeanie Grant is the bar manager at Pagan Idol tiki bar in San Francisco and the 2018 Tikitender champion. She won the competition using a secret weapon — Rum Fire overproof rum. Her prize included a trip to Jamaica and she took her first trip to The Rock last month. During her trip, she made an appearance at Evening of Rum hosted by Rum Fire Director of Marketing Christelle Harris. Style Observer (SO) got to know Grant over Rum Fire cocktails, found out her favourite Jamaican dishes, and the cocktail everyone should know how to make.

What’s your favourite cocktail?

Jamaican Honey Bee, a riff on the classic Bees Knees cocktail which traditionally uses gin. The Jamaican Honey Bee uses aged Jamaican rum, fresh lemon juice and honey. Simple and delicious!

In retrospect, what advice would you give to your 15-year-old self?

Don’t feel like you need to rush to grow up. The majority of your life will be spent as an adult, enjoy childhood as long as possible. Also, don’t be afraid to be weird. Normal kids grow into boring adults.

Were you to throw a dinner party, who would the five individuals at the top of your list be, and why?

I’m assuming this includes people who have already passed. Anthony Bourdain to choose the food. Don the Beachcomber to make the drinks. Joy Spence to pick the rum. Stevie Nicks to create the playlist. JRR Tolkien, to tell us stories.

What are your favourite things to do in Jamaica?

Visit the distilleries to see where my favourite rum is made. Share amazing meals with friends (my new favourite breakfast is ackee and salt fish with a side of bammy). Spend time swimming in the ocean. My favourite beach was Treasure Beach.

At home in San Francisco, do you prefer to bike, drive or take municipal transit?

In San Francisco I walk and take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), a railway transportation system.

Describe your experience entering and winning the 2018 Iron Tikitender competition.

This was a crazy experience that required me to put myself out in the world for people’s judgement more than I ever have before. The first half of the competition took place on social media, so I had to become comfortable with my public persona, which I found to be rather intimidating at first. Making it to the final round was a huge honour because I really admired the other competitors and was so inspired by them. Winning was one of the most exciting moments of my life thus far. It made me feel like I am on the career path that is right for me and that I deserved the success I was working so hard towards. Winning also gave me the opportunity to travel to Jamaica which I may not have been able to do on my own time. I think that travelling is one of the most important things you can do to share ideas and find inspiration.

What approach do you take when creating a new cocktail?

It depends on what the cocktail is for. Each cocktail is very unique. They can be designed for a specific person’s palate or made to highlight a special spirit or used to show an ingredient I am excited about. I try to decide what the most important element of the cocktail is first and then elaborate on that idea.

As the manager of a tiki bar, you work with rum a lot. What do you find most appealing about the spirit?

It is an incredibly flexible spirit. There are so many categories of rum and so much variety in flavour profile. I can always find a rum to fit my needs and where one rum doesn’t do the job I can blend rums to create an even more complex base. I am also drawn to the regions where it is made. I would like to continue learning about rum at its source and travel the world for my education.

What, in your estimation, makes someone San Franciscan?

Respect for individual taste. There is something for everyone there and a sense that you shouldn’t judge others for their chosen lifestyle. Also, not being from San Francisco. It is a city of transplants.

Where do you go to let your hair down?

Anywhere with live music. I love to dance and see people perform.

What are you up to at the moment for work?

Next week is our three-year anniversary, so we are getting ready to celebrate.

What are your favourite hotels in Kingston and San Francisco?

The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston and the Kimpton Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco.

If you could buy any piece of real estate in Kingston and San Francisco, where would they be?

Anywhere with a view of the ocean.

Which cocktail should everyone know how to make?

A daiquiri — rum, lime, sugar. Yum!