Inverroche Gin backs the women redefining Nigeria’s bartending industry

 

Inverroche Gin partners with BartendHer to spotlight female bartenders, mixologists, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of hospitality in Nigeria 

Ask a female bartender in Nigeria what the hardest part of her job is, and the answer is rarely about the drinks. More often, it is about navigating assumptions. It is the guest who looks past her to the male colleague standing nearby. Being mistaken for someone taking orders rather than the person creating the cocktails. It is having to prove, over and over again, that she belongs behind the bar, regardless of how many years of experience she brings to the role.

For many women working in Nigeria’s hospitality industry, bartending requires far more than technical skill. It calls for resilience, confidence, and the ability to thrive in spaces where expertise is not always immediately recognised. This is the reality that Inverroche Gin chose to engage with through its partnership with BartendHer, a platform founded by spirits curator Lara Rawa to support and celebrate women in the bartending industry.

On 12 May 2026, the premium craft gin brand joined BartendHer to host an event in Lagos dedicated to the women building careers, businesses, and communities within Nigeria’s growing cocktail and spirits scene. Industry leaders, government representatives, hospitality professionals, and business executives gathered alongside the bartenders themselves. Yet what made the event significant was the message behind it.

At a time when conversations about representation and inclusion in hospitality are becoming more visible, BartendHer created a space where female bartenders were not an afterthought. They were the focus. For Inverroche Gin, a brand founded by Lorna Scott and built around craftsmanship, innovation, and purpose, supporting the initiative felt less like a departure and more like a continuation of the values it already holds.

The women behind the bar have very different stories

One of the most striking things about the women involved in BartendHer is how different their journeys into bartending have been.

For Myad Omile, founder of The Thirsty Nerd and a seven-year veteran of the industry, bartending has evolved into something much larger than a profession. “It is a craft that allows me to express myself, tell stories, and connect with people from different walks of life,” she says.

Years behind the bar have given her not only technical knowledge but also a deeper understanding of spirits, hospitality, and customer experience. Today, she sees opportunities that extend beyond bartending itself and into the wider beverage industry.

Rosemary Aliri of Rose Bar Events was drawn to bartending because of the joy it creates. She enjoys watching people gather around well-made cocktails, celebrate milestones, and create memories together.

For Happiness Cletus of The Bar Muse, the journey began with an opportunity but became a passion. What started as a job grew into a career she genuinely enjoys and wants to continue building. George Esther speaks about the profession through the lens of creativity and self-expression. “I believe energy is everything, and I bring passion, originality, and presence into every experience I create.”

Others view the profession as a form of artistry. Olabode Blessing Oluwafolafunmi, a marine engineering graduate now working as a mixologist at a beach resort in Eleko, Lagos, describes bartending as a space where confidence and hospitality come together.

For Oyinkansola Akintujoye, founder of BarXpress, bartending is closely tied to entrepreneurship. While she creates drinks for clients, she is also building a brand and a business that she hopes will one day stand among the leading mobile bartending companies in Nigeria and beyond.

Although their motivations differ, there is a common thread running through their stories. Each woman has found a way to turn a skill into a career while carving out her own place within an industry that has not always made room for women.

Read also: Summer sipping, done right: The perfect cocktail for women this season, according to an expert

Recognition remains one of the industry’s biggest challenges

The women participating in BartendHer speak openly about the obstacles they have faced throughout their careers. Some say the challenge comes in the form of assumptions about competence. Myad has spent years walking into spaces where her expertise is questioned before she has had the chance to demonstrate it.

For others, the challenge has been navigating work environments where opportunities and recognition do not always come equally. Rosemary has encountered her share of setbacks but remains focused on professionalism and consistency. “Female bartenders do not give up,” she says.

Happiness Cletus prefers to frame the conversation around possibility rather than limitation. “Female bartenders are relevant, strong, and ready to compete globally.” That ambition appears throughout the stories shared by the women involved in the initiative. They are focused on growth, excellence, and expanding what is possible within their field.

Anita Ifunanya Amughe, who bartends at Club Mako Lagos, remains committed to perfecting her craft and creating memorable guest experiences. Oche Ene Purity, a freelance bartender, sees cocktails as a way to bring people together. “I use cocktails as a way to share stories, connect people, and elevate the overall bar experience.”

Taken together, their experiences offer a picture of an industry that is changing, even if that change has not always happened quickly.

Read also: The many faces of discrimination against women in the workplace

Why visibility matters

One of the reasons BartendHer resonated with so many attendees is that it addressed something often overlooked in professional spaces: visibility. The event created a room where women in bartending were not expected to justify their presence. Instead, they were recognised for the work they had already been doing.

During the gathering, Ebere Aham, Market Lead for Inverroche Gin, spoke directly to the women in attendance. “People see the final drink, they don’t see the long hours and the work that goes into curating the final glass. Day after day, you’re true to your craft.”

She captured something many hospitality professionals understand well. The final cocktail is only a small part of the job. 

By supporting BartendHer, Inverroche Gin acknowledged the work that often goes unseen while helping create a platform where those contributions could be recognised. For Oyinkansola, that recognition is closely connected to the example she hopes to set for younger women pursuing their own ambitions. 

Egbo Saraha, a Library and Information Science graduate now working at Carabana Lounge, emphasises that visibility strengthens professional credibility. For Myad, it creates pathways into other areas of the spirits industry that she hopes to explore in the future.

In each case, recognition is not simply about praise. It is about access, opportunity, and the ability to move forward.

BartendHer is building something that extends beyond a single event

While the Lagos gathering served as an important milestone, BartendHer was never intended to be a one-day initiative. The platform has been designed as an ongoing community where female bartenders can connect, access mentorship opportunities, and find support as they navigate their careers. Through BartendHer, women across the industry can build relationships, share knowledge, and access resources that may otherwise be difficult to find.

That long-term focus reflects the vision of founder Lara Rawa, who has spent years helping to build community within Nigeria’s cocktail and spirits industry. BartendHer takes that work a step further by creating a dedicated structure designed specifically to support women in the profession.

Inverroche Gin’s involvement at this stage demonstrates a willingness to invest in people and communities before the wider industry catches up. That support matters because meaningful partnerships can provide visibility, resources, and opportunities that help movements grow faster and reach further.

The women featured through BartendHer have already spent years proving their talent, creativity, and expertise. They do it every day in restaurants, lounges, hotels, events, and businesses across Nigeria. What BartendHer and Inverroche Gin have offered is something equally valuable: a platform that amplifies those voices and a partnership committed to helping more people hear them. In an industry where recognition has often lagged behind contribution, that is a meaningful place to start.

Read more: Inverroche Gin welcomes global ambassador Lauren Penny to Lagos for an immersive brand experience

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