Mixology veteran pours his passion into cups of next hospitality professionals

A seasoned mixology professional is turning years of industry experience into a training initiative aimed at strengthening Guyana’s hospitality sector. The programme is designed to equip Guyanese with practical skills and professional standards for the industry.
For Jumal Mitchell, who has over 15 years of experience in the mixology industry working with various crews, early exposure to the craft helped chart his path into professional training.
He is now providing structured instruction for Guyanese through his training programme titled “Shake wit Love”, a multi-day initiative dedicated to teaching and inspiring participants across the country.
“Well, this journey started when I was a kid. I grew up with my grandparents, and my grandfather would usually send me to the shop to buy a quart of high wine. When I got back, he would say, ‘Just put it in the half bottle and pour water in it – make it a whole.’ So I started at a young age. When you start young, you begin trying things on your own, and that’s where the flow started,” Mitchell explained to this publication.
The fast-bottle magician began his professional career around 2011, working in roles such as serving-related activities, bar service in restaurants, and painting. Although he officially started in 2011, his journey gained real momentum in 2013, when he became strongly motivated to enter the cruise industry.
From 2013 onwards, he actively pursued opportunities within the cruise sector, though his initial efforts were unsuccessful. It was not until 2020, following the COVID-19 period, that he achieved his breakthrough and secured a position in the cruise industry.
His first cruise line employment was with Celebrity Cruises, which is part of the Royal Caribbean Group. He later transitioned to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Through these roles, he has gained extensive experience working on large international cruise ships, travelling globally and participating in numerous international voyages.
With the training he received, Mitchell made it clear that he is a professional in his field, committed to ensuring every customer leaves satisfied and eager to return.
“I’m a master – that’s what I would say. I’m not bragging or anything, but I know my craft. My passion is making guests happy, making customers happy. That’s all I do,” he said.
He also highlighted one of the main challenges he faced early in his career – his fast-paced work style.
“One of my key challenges was that I started as a bar waiter, and I’m fast. I move fast, I serve fast – everything fast. The bartenders and mixologists were slower, but they motivated me to step up. I realised that if I was already serving and doing everything myself, it made sense to step up. That’s what pushed me to become a bartender and mixologist,” he explained.
When asked about a core focus of his training programme, Mitchell emphasised customer service.
“Customer service is key. I go to restaurants in Guyana and see people treating customers poorly, and I ask myself, ‘Why are they like that?’ Customers are the ones giving you money. But then I know it’s because they don’t have proper training. With the right training, people would understand how to speak to customers properly and provide all the details a guest needs about what’s being offered,” he said.
Mitchell, who was interviewed by this publication, said his primary focus is hospitality through his own training programme – an area he believes holds significant potential for growth and improvement in Guyana.
Approximately 20 spots are available each week on Thursdays and Fridays, running from March 5, 2026, through May 1, 2026.
The programme costs $15,000 per person and will cover key areas such as bar service sequencing and other essential hospitality skills.