Mixologist David (Lee) Tucker doesn’t have to taste his concoctions to know exactly how they will go down.He instinctively knows how to combine the perfect mix spirits, a dash of flavoured liqueur and fruit juice to leave each customer satisfied.Mr Tucker, age 53, has been a bartender since 1979.Each week you can find him mixing up special martinis from 5pm, at Fairmont Hamilton Princess’ Monday Madness.Those who attend can mix their own drinks, with all the necessary ingredients provided.“From the minute I got into the job I started experimenting,” said Mr Tucker, who is a certified mixologist. “I used to have the senior bartenders amazed.‘I was so fascinated with how they took their drinks and changed the taste I started experimenting myself.“I actually have tasted a lot of different alcohols and liqueurs and of course juices and I started experimenting with them.“My first three years I went on a roll just mixing different things and trying to be like the senior bartenders.“Now I am at a position in my life where I know exactly how the drink tastes in my mind rather than having to taste it in my mouth, because I understand how the ingredients work when put together.”The mixologist has more than 30 years’ experience under his belt.Among his specialty drinks are Million Dollar Lady, which combines Parrot Bay rum with berry, banana and vanilla liqueurs and pineapple juice; the Naughty Blue, which mixes the same rum with vanilla liqueur, blue Curacao, white cranberry and pineapple juices.He manages to make his chocolate martinis more enticing by using creme de cocoa, a Godiva liqueur, Kahlua and Baileys, as well as the usual vodka.“You have to remember all of them are practically the same, they are cousins. The end result is on the sweetish side, but everyone loves the chocolate martini,” he said.As a young man Mr Tucker served as junior engineer apprentice on board a Bermuda Learjet. However with the constant travelling his health began to deteriorate, he said.His brother Calvin asked him if he would be interested in working in a hotel bar, so he decided to give that a shot.He quickly progressed in the business and after six months was a junior bartender for the Princess hotels — at the age of 21.“I tried it and I loved it so much that I’m still here today. With bartending I like the people, meeting people and finding out how they live and learning about their interests in life and what they like to do.”He said he has conversations with anywhere between 35 and 50 people a day on the job.The industry veteran said he was known for making up drinks on the spot, sometimes inspired by a person’s mood or the colour of their outfit.He even has a knack for remembering the individual’s ‘special’ next time they come back to the city bar to visit.Sometimes he also gets ideas for new drinks at random. “I may be just sitting down at a restaurant or whatever the case may be and a lady comes in looking like a billion dollars, with big diamonds or whatever and I say ‘I am going to make a drink called Billion Dollar Lady’.”The twist on the Million Dollar Lady will be available sometime during the summer months, Mr Tucker said.He said he enjoyed giving people drinks that were fun for the taste buds, but also encouraged people to let go of some of their stresses from the day.But, he explained: “I do not make a drink to get people drunk. I make drinks to get people feeling good into their conversations. There’s a difference you know.“Some people are shy and bashful and I can just whip up a concoction to make them talk more.”Mr Tucker said the Monday Madness was something fun for the start of the week.The hotel initially came up with the scheme as a means to give business travellers new and interesting activities to do during their stay.“Sometimes a Monday is like everyone’s worst nightmare going to work, but [this event] can be a very sociable way to get you feeling relaxed after a long weekend or to enjoy yourself after a good day at work or for working hard.”Martinis during Monday Madness are $12 each — plus 17 percent gratuities.