Constantin Alexander’s journey to Hakkasan is more storied than your typical beverage manager.

His mother defected from the Soviet Union and wrote a book about it, so Alexander traveled the country on lecture tours in his youth. He’s been a professional pool player and poker player. He managed a restaurant a block away from the White House, but it opened the day before 9/11 and would be closed off in a security perimeter for weeks. He’s worked at one of the city’s top-grossing restaurants (Mon Ami Gabi) and one of its most acclaimed (Charlie Palmer Steak).

And yet, Alexander is an approachable guy who’s just really into wine, cocktails and movies. Now he’s on the “front lines,” as he describes it, running Hakkasan’s cocktail and wine programs.

“I eat, sleep and breathe beverage,” says Alexander, who’s been with Hakkasan since early this year and is making strides in introducing wine education, like Wine and Spirit Education Trust programs. “I couldn’t see myself doing anything else in life, or working for any other company.”

Copper Blossom

Copper Blossom

But if you want to chat wine with Alexander, just make sure that there’s not a superhero movie coming out that day. He’s a movie buff (his favorite is The Princess Bride), and he and his mother love big-screen Marvel Comics blockbusters. “That’s the one thing that I’m taking a day off for,” says Alexander.

Copper Blossom

This cocktail was originally conceived to support Three Square Food Bank during Restaurant Week, but it was in such high demand that it had to stay for another round. You’ll want to stick around for another round, too. The Copper Blossom is lip-smackingly tasty and reminiscent of an orange ice pop, with the grape-and-orange-based Pavan liqueur, rich Aperol, sweet and tart passion fruit syrup, lime, mint and the surprising white balsamic glaze forming a uniquely complex and satisfying flavor to complement the ABSOLUT.® Elyx vodka.

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