What happens when a bartender from Azerbaijan brings global nightclub experience, hotel expertise from China, and a deep reverence for cocktail history to one of Tampa's most prestigious hotel bars? You get Tural Hasanov, Beverage Director at the Tampa EDITION Hotel, and a cocktail program that's quietly becoming one of the most innovative in Florida.

From Baku to Tampa: A Global Journey Behind the Bar

Tural Hasanov's path to leading the beverage program at Tampa's EDITION Hotel is anything but ordinary. Originally from Azerbaijan, he started bartending in nightclubs before moving to Ukraine and eventually China, where he worked in high-end hotel bars for years. That international experience shaped his approach to hospitality and gave him a rare perspective on how different cultures interact with spirits and cocktails.

When discussing his background, Tural explained how moving between countries taught him to read rooms and adapt. In China, he discovered a culture that deeply respected the ritual of drinking, particularly around baijiu, which reinforced his belief that cocktails should tell stories, not just deliver alcohol. His eventual move to the United States brought him through Marriott properties before landing at the EDITION, where he was tasked with building a beverage program from the ground up.

The Punch Room: Where History Meets Innovation

The crown jewel of Tural's work at the EDITION is the Punch Room, an intimate, reservation-only cocktail experience that centers around the centuries-old tradition of communal punch. Far from the fruity bowl you might picture at a party, Tural's punches draw on the original concept that dates back to 17th-century sailors and the East India Trading Company.

"You have only six keys and notes and you can make an endless amount of music with just those, and I was always thinking about how I can use that concept in any of the things that we're doing."

That musical analogy drives his punch philosophy, using a classic five-ingredient formula (spirit, citrus, sugar, water, and spice) as the foundation, then riffing endlessly on variations. The Punch Room offers an experience that feels both exclusive and communal, asking guests to share a bowl and slow down rather than race through rounds of individual cocktails.

Crafting the Perfect Martini, and Letting Guests Own It

One of the most talked-about concepts Tural introduced is the "My Martini" experience, which invites guests to participate in crafting their own martini based on personal preference. Rather than presenting a single "correct" way to make the drink, his team guides guests through spirit selection, dilution levels, and garnish choices, turning one of the world's most opinionated cocktails into a collaborative ritual.

The idea came from Tural's realization that the martini has become a cultural flashpoint, with everyone from James Bond fans to cocktail purists insisting on their version. Instead of dictating, he chose to empower. The result? Guests feel personally invested in their drink and often return to refine their recipe, an engagement strategy that no menu redesign could match.

Why Tampa's Cocktail Scene Is on the Rise

Tural is bullish on Tampa's evolving drinks culture. He points to a growing community of bartenders and bar owners who are collaborating rather than competing, creating an ecosystem where innovation spreads quickly. He sees the city as an untapped market compared to Miami, with a hospitality community that's eager to push boundaries.

"It's different energy that you're bringing into the room and different ideas, and I love when industry people collaborate, and that's when the magic happens."

He also emphasized the role of education in growing the local scene. Whether it's training his own staff on the history behind a spirit or hosting events that introduce guests to unfamiliar categories, Tural believes that knowledge is the fastest way to elevate both the industry and the consumer experience. His deep respect for the alcohol itself, understanding origin, production, and cultural significance, is something he's working to instill across his entire team.

The Espresso Martini and Modern Cocktail Trends

No conversation about modern cocktails is complete without addressing the espresso martini, and Tural has a nuanced take. While he respects its popularity as a gateway drink that brings new people into cocktail culture, he sees an opportunity to use it as a teaching moment, introducing guests to the broader world of coffee-based and dessert cocktails once they're comfortable.

He also discussed how branding and marketing in the spirits industry have fundamentally changed how people drink. Social media has made cocktail culture more accessible but has also created a world where presentation and "Instagrammability" sometimes outweigh flavor. Tural navigates this by creating drinks that photograph beautifully but are built on solid technique and quality ingredients, never sacrificing substance for style.

Key Takeaways