We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sushmita Malakar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sushmita below.

Sushmita, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I have always been fascinated by drinks. Everything from flavour profiles to presentation seemed just magical to me. I think I have experimented with flavours (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) all my adult life.

When I moved to Austin, I took a break from the corporate grind and decided to focus on my passion. It was a bold step because we have always been taught to study and work – sitting without a job was never on my list. I started experimenting, even more, styled drinks took pictures and shared them with the world. I have been a blogger and thus branching out to “drinks at home” on my blog and, eventually, Instagram was easier for me.

I then went to the New York Bartending school to learn the intricacies of the world of mixology. For me, it was more about learning the craft. I am so grateful for that decision.

My drink recipe and pictures started gaining popularity. I worked with some of my favourite brands like Shiner, Stella Rosa, Seagram etc. I created both content and recipes for them until one day, someone contacted me to make customised drinks for their intimate event. It was the validation I didn’t know I needed! And thus, taking up private events to serve some of my drinks became a weekend gig for me.

I have always loved creating and creating content will always be my full-time job! I love the independence I get here. Also, I love the surprise element too – even I don’t know what is in store for me next!

I did not face a lot of obstacles physically while I persuaded my dreams. I am grateful to my forever supportive husband for that. He made my journey really simple. If at all something stopped me, it was my own thoughts. I have doubted myself over the years and questioned my decision of quitting my job.

I enjoy doing what I do! And I never doubt my decision of leaving my job!

Sushmita, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am from India, born and raised, and moved to Austin in early 2019. I decided to pursue blogging full-time (which was my side hustle in India).

It was definitely a challenge for me. I knew no one in this foreign land. I had no understanding of the target group here. It tool me good 8-9 months to understand everything. And I had to pivot my account accordingly and I started posting pretty drinks and their recipes. And as COVID hit, I think I was hit as hard as the rest of the world.

But I kept at it.

And eventually, things started to fall into place. Covid changed the whole marketing scenario in the present world and finding sponsors for my blog and Instagram became easier.

Having said that, it doesn’t mean it was a easy ride. I had my own challenges. The major challenge is to sell your creatives in a world where number of followers on Instagram is a measure of your creativity. Secondly, I am very new to the culture here and honestly, the creator space needs to be more inclusive.

I definitely created my own space but I know I still have a long way to go.

But things pivoted a little more when I got contacted by local Austin residents to curate cocktails for their parties. And that’s the problem I solve for my clients. I make people’s weddings and other important occasions memorable by creating drinks, specially for them. I want to make sure that the experience is seamless for them.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I have always wanted to have a bar of my own – the reason why I started experimenting with drinks.

I think I am still navigating as I grow but I know that I will be there, sometime soon.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

To really ignore the radio noise. There will always be people who will stop you from pursuing your dreams. I really wish I hadn’t wasted time in thinking about other people’s opinions.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sushmitamalakar.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sushmitamalakar

Image Credits
Rohan Raizada