A true gentleman, with fire in his eyes, great passion for his work, and stubbornness for perfection, Yaroslav Proshuta understands how to deliver hospitality. From looking after small details to ensuring attentive care of the guests, making people feel welcome is a culture deeply rooted in Yaro and his team.
With a degree in Civil Engineering and Architecture, Yaro was destined for a traditional career. However, watching a barman perform flair bartending tricks in his native Ukraine, was what inspired him to start engineering drinks instead. Yaro believes if you truly love what you do, you will be successful.
Yaro joined Addmind in 2016 and began working at the award-winning Iris Dubai after a stint at the original Iris in Beirut. Yaro worked his way up to the position of Bar Manager at Iris Dubai, his vast knowledge and big heart gaining him the trust of his 28 staff.
“Dubai is a city of opportunities. I love working here, it’s very fast-paced and this profession demands so many skills,” Yaro explains.
Global Beverage Manager, Sebouh Tato, said: “Yaro is a problem solver, not only among the team but with the guests too, he’s humble and has gained the respect of everyone. He’s also represented the Iris brand at competitions and won. Yaro is a valuable asset and I know I can count on him. He’s a true bartender, a bar leader and a great human to be around.”
Selfless, super creative and innovative, Yaro became the UAE winner in the Jameson Barrel-man Homecoming Speed Competition in Dublin plus he was the Dubai winner in Bols Around the World Global Bartending Competition.
He enjoys being overloaded and loves being deeply involved in the operations side of the business. Passionate about delivering great hospitality, he describes it as ‘not about what you like but it’s about understanding the person sitting in front of you.’
“Guests make a big effort to be here and we need to listen to them. It’s important not to spoil the occasion, we need to understand them, that’s the basics of hospitality. I have a lot of regulars who keep coming back because they feel they belong here,” he explains.
The concept of Iris Dubai is to create a place that makes people feel at home. For Yaro, the concept of hospitality goes beyond this, it’s weaved into the finer details of the venue. Yaro works with passion to ensure the drinks are exquisite but never overly complicated. Over the years, he’s perfected hundreds of cocktails but loves to stick to the classics because as he says: “The classics never die.”
Yaro relishes the challenge of enhancing the Iris experience, from developing new recipes, working with suppliers to find key ingredients and sourcing drinkware capable of withstanding Dubai’s heat and humidity, these are just some of the finer details Yaro believes are important. Yaro also works to provide development initiatives by bringing bartenders from around the world to host masterclasses and competitions to help the Iris team evolve and feel the competitive spirit.
“The industry is evolving rapidly. It’s vital to never stop learning. I’m always working to refresh my knowledge and see what’s new. I enjoy becoming better for my team, developing as a manager, and being better for our guests. I’ve been at Iris for six years and it still challenges me every day.”