From a passionate bartender
During our brief visit to Bucharest, we had the pleasure of meeting Jean-Pierre, an ever-smiling, passionate bartender at Negroni Aperitivo Bar. The moment we were introduced, he beamed and said, “You have to try the cocktail I created with Bandoeng’22. It’s amazing!”
Working at one of the city’s top cocktail spots, Jean-Pierre quickly noticed that guests in Bucharest love sweet and exotic flavors. When Bandoeng’22—rich in aromatic and tropical notes—hit the shelves, he began experimenting. It paired beautifully with coconut and yogurt, but he wanted more. Inspired by the idea of enhancing the drink’s tropical character, he added Gelsamino and pineapple. The result? A stunning cocktail both in taste and appearance.
How to make the Congo Sour
Jean-Pierre was kind enough to share his recipe so you can recreate this tropical beauty wherever you are.
Ingredients
10 ml (0.3 oz) Bandoeng’22
30 ml (1 oz) Coconut Cazcabel
15 ml (0.5 oz) Gelsamino liquor
15 ml (0.5 oz) Yoghurt
10 ml (0.3 oz) Evergreen Aperitivo Negroni
15 ml (0.5 oz) Lime juice
7,5 ml (0.2 oz) Simple syrup
Pineapple foam*
Preparation
Add all ingredients (except the pineapple foam) to a shaker with ice. Shake well and double strain into a coupe glass. Top with pineapple foam* and garnish with a pineapple chip.
* To make the foam: blend pineapple juice with half a spoon of albumin. Mix until foamy, then strain gently a layer on top of the cocktail.
Meet Jean-Pierre Mukuna Kankolongo
Creator of the Congo Sour – a rising favorite at Negroni Aperitivo Bar
Proud of his African roots and passionate about the craft of mixology, Jean-Pierre is not just a bartender—he’s a storyteller in a shaker tin. His signature cocktail, the Congo Sour, has quickly become a standout on the menu at Negroni Bar, and his journey to that barstool is just as flavorful as his drinks.
So how did it all begin?
From 2001 to 2010, Jean-Pierre worked as a manager at McDonald’s in Odessa, Ukraine. But after the economic downturn in 2008, he found himself searching for a new path. Always fascinated by bartending, he decided in 2016 to follow his dream and enrolled at the Odessa Bartender School.
His bartending career started humbly—first as a barback, then as a bartender at the Prosecco Bar in the M1 Hotel. From 2017 to 2022, he honed his craft at Zelda Bar, then took his talents to France, mixing drinks at the Metropol Hotel and later at the Hill Club.
Today, Jean-Pierre brings his experience, creativity, and infectious energy to Negroni Aperitivo Bar in Bucharest.
Negroni Aperitivo Bar
Bucharest’s new cocktail hotspot
Opened in September 2023 and located in the heart of Bucharest—just steps from the Main Street and the Old Town—Negroni Aperitivo Bar has quickly become a favorite destination for cocktail lovers.
With a vibrant atmosphere that transitions from aperitivo hour to late-night dance vibes, the bar offers a menu full of classic cocktails, inventive Negroni twists, and Italian-inspired snacks. With over 20,000 cocktails served each month, the team is on a mission to make Negroni Bar the go-to spot in Bucharest.
For more information about the bar, click here.
