My Life
I am born in 1983 in the north of Stockholm. You could say I’m a rare native Stockholmer, something you don’t see much anymore. My childhood was idyllic, with wonderful parents and a fantastic older brother. We grew up in a lovely neighborhood, and I feel very privileged about my upbringing. My brother and I have always been close, and I have a wonderful family.
Tennis was a big part of my youth. Academically, I was average—not the best, not the worst—but I was a good kid and stayed out of trouble. At 17, I got my first glimpse into the nightlife industry, working as a barback in a nightclub where my older brother was already a team leader. This job was a side gig during my studies, mostly on weekends. Back then, cocktails as we know them didn’t exist in Sweden. The club was a busy place where I fetched ice and spirits for bartenders and cleaned dirty glasses. Despite the hard work and the fast-paced, sometimes harsh environment, I loved it. The atmosphere, with loud music and peoplehaving fun, was exhilarating.
“I decided to make the best cocktails in town, viewing it as an art form”
Johan Evers
After a year of hard work, I started working behind the bar. I still remember my first spec sheet, handwritten by my boss, with simple drinks like White Russians and Vodka Lime. I knew nothing about spirits then, but my experience as a barback helped. I didn’t know their tastes but recognized the bottles. This sparked my passion. Interacting with people at the bar was engaging, and even back then, people respected bartenders, despite the quality being subpar compared to today’s standards.
For a few years, I balanced my studies with bartending. I studied music for a while and eventually graduated in another field. What started as weekend work turned into four nights aweek, with days spent skateboarding and playing tennis. It felt like living the dream.
