Party planners, remember the name Twisted Spoon. Mixologists Stefan Gitschner and Somers Carr are behind the fledgling company.

The 30-year-olds hope the Island falls in love with the custom and traditional cocktails they make using local ingredients.

Their business is a first for Bermuda, where black and cokes and gin and tonics are typically as adventurous as bars at private functions get.

“It started from a place of us being in the business for a long time and going to private events with very basic bar set-ups,” Mr Gitschner said.

“We were chatting and realised we could do better at providing something for people that was more high-end. It’s something that’s not been done in Bermuda before.”

On offer is a “full-service, mobile mixology bar that is customised and tailored” to an event.

Fresh herbs are used in their cocktails; they make the liqueurs and bitters themselves.

The idea is in keeping with the rise in popularity of mixed drinks.

“There’s now a big surge in cocktails,” Mr Carr said.

“There are speakeasies and craft cocktails all around the world but not here. They’re [making specialised cocktails] in restaurants but when it comes to a party or event, there’s nothing out there.”

The business debuted this month at a bridal shower for 40 women.

“Women often say they don’t drink bourbon,” Mr Carr said. “You might not be a bourbon fan but we make a bourbon hibiscus and ladies love it.

“It’s just about changing people’s minds. It all comes down to fresh, local ingredients.”

Their expertise comes from years of industry experience. Mr Gitschner worked as a chef and managed restaurants in Texas. More recently, he worked in wine and spirits sales at Gosling’s and was sommelier at Red Steakhouse & Bar.

Mr Carr started waiting tables to earn extra money “and never left”. He was taken with the industry from that early introduction and honed his skills working in bars and restaurants around the world.

This year, the pair decided to quit their jobs and go into partnership doing the one thing they both loved.

They named the company Twisted Spoon, after a bartender’s basic tool.

“As you get older you settle down and it gets harder to take risks,” Mr Gitschner said. “At the end of the day, if it doesn’t work, at least we tried.

“So far, everybody loves the idea; they’re very impressed. My sister, Selange Gitschner, is an events planner. She has been a huge help from the start and we will be working closely with her on future events.”

The pair hold tastings for their clients before the event. Traditional cocktails such as Sidecars, Negronis and Old Fashioneds are all on offer. The men also love creating drinks using the host’s favourite ingredients.

“We bring a wooden bar and build the setting at the house,” Mr Gitschner said. “We try to use as much local ingredients as possible and we make our own bitters and our own liqueur at home.

“It’s very similar to cooking for me; you’re playing with different flavours. This is a way to be creative — and not in the kitchen sweating.

“It was a job to start off with but I found I had passion for it experimenting with different spirits, flavours, fruits and herbs.

“Before you knew it all I was thinking of was what would go well together, what would taste good, what would look good.

“Cocktails are similar to food, fresher ingredients taste so much better. There’s none of that synthetic taste that you can get. Nothing beats fresh.”

• Visit www.twistedspoon.rocks. Contact Mr Gitschner on 707-4391 or stefan@twistedspoon.rocks; Mr Carr on 504-5897 or somers@twistedspoon.rocks.