Kyrleson Klaren is a bartender at Sandbar in Sandy Ground. He owes his start in the culinary arts to one of Anguilla’s finest mixologists, Joash Proctor. Proctor, once the owner of Sandbar, hired Klaren to be a bar back when Klaren was just 10 years old. Proctor saw a spark and Klaren has been mixing cocktails ever since.

Klaren honed his skills and creativity working in multiple bars across the island and learning from his mentors Proctor and Elvis Fleming. He has spent his entire career in hospitality with a focus on bartending. He worked at Elvis’ Beach Bar for over five years, starting as a food runner and making his way up to general manager. He has also shared his bartending talents at Roy’s Bayside Grill, Tradition Sailing, Dolce Vita, Barrel Stay and the Dune Preserve.

Now back at Sandbar under new owners Chef Carrie and Jerry Bogar, Klaren has developed a new admiration for Mezcal. It has introduced an entirely new flavor profile to his creative capabilities and cocktails. Right now his favorite drink to craft is Sandbar’s “Naked and Afraid.”

Klaren favorite aspect of bartending is the amazing people he gets to meet and the fact that when you meet them you get to see them when they are at their most relaxed. He appreciates that when he makes a good cocktail for someone it is a start to a fine evening for them and he enjoys being a part of it.

For Klaren, bartending is not just about making drinks, “A bartender is the start of a lot of memories that people live with forever. Behind most weddings, birthdays, holidays and other celebrations, there is a dedicated bartender who is tasked with not just making drinks but being able to ensure everyone is satisfied, social and included.” He adds,  “A bartender tends to deal with people who are trying to create memories and occasionally people who are trying to forget memories, and with understanding this, a good bartender is born.”