Shaken…or stirred! In each episode of E!’s new cocktail-making competition Cocktail Wars, hosted by *NSYNC’s Lance Bass and Joey Fatone, three mixologists are pitted against each other in skill-based challenges for the chance to win $10,000. Before they can say “It’s Gonna Be Me,” they must impress Bass, Fatone, a roster of celeb judges (like Rachel Maddow, Lauren Graham and Seth Green) — and most importantly expert Melissa Brooke — with their finished drinks.
Below, we ask Bass and Fatone to spill.
You two have worked together for decades from the boy band to other shows — was there any learning curve to doing this together?
Joey Fatone: When we work together, it is just so effortless. I think that’s why we make such a great hosting team, because it’s easy to know exactly what you’re going to get with us. I know when [Lance] is going to say something cheesy, [and] we can just kind of look at each other and know exactly what we’re thinking. We’ve known each other, gosh, well over 30 years…
Lance Bass: Pretty crazy.
How was it working with expert mixologist Melissa Brooke?
Bass: We have been around the world, visited the best bars and clubs, and thought we had the best drinks we’ve ever had. But with someone like Melissa, who actually can teach us and [help] us become, you know, fake experts on this industry in such a short amount of time, we were really like, just like kids in college. Like, “What can we learn?”
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What did you learn?
Fatone: I’m starting to look at what free pouring is all about. And I’m looking at what the wash line is.
Bass: Melissa was definitely a really amazing teacher throughout the process. We learned so much. All these different terms, all these different cocktails that I never would’ve tried before. For instance, I don’t like gin. I think it tastes like pine. Well, they made me gin drinks on the show and I’m like, “Oh my gosh, these are good.” So you start to really respect the ingredients, [and] the art behind it.
How do the contestants vary?
Fatone: You get people that are one year in [to bartending], or something [like] 15 years in. It’s really cool to see the different levels, and different ways, because some are working in a high-end restaurant and some are [from] a local bar.
Bass: Some people were so intense, but then some people [were] just relaxed, some were zen, and some were singing.
How many drinks do you two have to sample per episode?
Bass: It depends. There was one [challenge] where they had to keep these little note cards and every card had a drink, from Pina Colada to an Old Fashioned, and they had to make as many of these drinks as possible within a certain amount of time. Well, by the end, we probably had 35 drinks in front of [us] to taste. It catches up with you. [Laughs]
You both became famous before you could have a chance to bartend, but do either of you have any mixology experience?
Bass: In New York, my friend owned a bar called Mugshots. And I was like, “You know what? I’m gonna bartend, I’ve never bartended before.” So I get behind the bar and they’re teaching me how to scoop the ice, whatever. And I’m like, “OK, this will be great.” And so my first drink order came in, it was on First Avenue in New York. I’m like, “What do you want?” And they’re like, “I would love a Coors Light.” I’m like, “Gotcha.” I scoop the ice, you know, I poured the Light in. They’re like, “So, Lance, you don’t scoop ice for a beer.” [Laughs] I’m like, “God, my first drink. I just screwed up!”
Fatone: Who ever heard of putting ice in a beer? [Laughs]
Bass: I was just so excited to get my first order!
What’s your favorite cocktail, and has it changed after shooting Season 1?
Bass: I’m a diabetic, so I always thought I was very limited in what I could drink, and doing this show, it was so interesting to see what my levels would do with different types of drinks. So, now, I’m able to branch out and I order Old Fashioneds, which are now my favorite. I like an Old Fashioned that tastes like Christmas.
Fatone: I’ve always been a Captain and Coke guy, but I’ve been switching to Diplomatico, a more sophisticated rum.
Bass: I think Joey loves it because he looks like the guy on the bottle. [Laughter, Fatone twirls his moustache]
Cocktail Wars, Series Premiere, Tuesday, August 18, 10/9c, E!