Guest shifts—where visiting bartenders pop up at host bars to serve signature drinks or collaborate on a limited-edition menu—have long been a ubiquitous feature of urban nightlife around the globe. If you live in a city with a vibrant and popular bar scene, you are likely accustomed to seeing social media announcements for international mixologists taking over local watering holes for a single evening. But in recent years, mounting criticism from figures within the hospitality industry has begun to challenge the long-term viability and appeal of the traditional bar takeover.
Critics of the model argue that these events can often be confusing to everyday guests who stumble into a bar expecting its regular menu, only to find an unfamiliar lineup. Furthermore, guest shifts can dilute the quality of both the visiting and host teams’ drinks due to unfamiliar equipment, strange layouts, and rushed service. In many cases, critics note, these high-profile nights lean too heavily into prioritizing corporate brands and social media influencers rather than catering to the loyal regulars who sustain the establishment day in and day out.
After participating in and hosting their fair share of conventional guest shifts, the team behind Oslo’s acclaimed bar Himkok knew they needed to approach things differently. Their answer to the fatigue surrounding traditional bar takeovers is an initiative dubbed Nordic Sessions. Designed to directly address the common grievances leveled against guest shifts, Nordic Sessions aim to cultivate genuine, lasting connections between professionals in the global hospitality industry, while simultaneously shining a light on the bar itself and the unique Norwegian products the team uses and loves. Mary Anne Porto, writing for the hospitality industry newsletter Pre Shift, recently spoke with Paul Aguilar, Himkok’s head of research and development, to pull back the curtain on how these alternative immersions operate and why they are changing the way bars think about marketing and community.
Rethinking the Guest Shift Through Cultural Immersion
For Himkok, the traditional model of flying in a bartender to shake drinks for a few hours in a crowded, unfamiliar room felt increasingly hollow. Aguilar explains that Nordic Sessions are structured as immersive cultural experiences rather than one-night-only drinking spectacles. These multi-day gatherings bring together a curated mix of bartenders, international journalists, and brand partners to experience firsthand the landscapes, traditions, and local ingredients that serve as the creative inspiration for Himkok’s cocktail program.
The primary goal, according to Aguilar, is to provide participants with a much deeper understanding of the bar’s identity while forging authentic relationships through shared, real-world experiences. By stepping away from the pass and stepping into the natural environment of Norway, guests gain insight into the philosophical thinking that drives the bar and its drink development. These trips typically span anywhere from two to four days. Past itineraries have abandoned the neon lights of urban nightlife in favor of cross-country skiing, intensive mushroom foraging, wilderness hiking, celebrating midsummer along the rugged Norwegian coast, and spending quiet days together in a traditional Norwegian cabin.
Aside from fostering deep cultural appreciation and human connection, these sessions serve a vital practical purpose for the business. Norway maintains notoriously strict regulatory frameworks regarding alcohol marketing and promotion. Consequently, the standard promotional value that a traditional bar takeover offers to a venue and its commercial partners is severely limited within the country. Nordic Sessions bypass these hurdles by capturing high-quality cinematic films and professional photography. These assets can then be deployed by brand partners in international markets where such marketing is legally permitted, as well as utilized by Himkok across its own social media channels to showcase the bar’s unique ethos on a global stage.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Traditional Takeovers
Himkok is no stranger to the conventional guest shift format. The team has hosted numerous visiting bartenders over the years and has traveled abroad to return the hospitality of those who welcomed them. Aguilar acknowledges that these events have their positive moments, particularly the joy of welcoming peers and celebrating international camaraderie. However, feedback from regular patrons who visited Himkok during past takeovers revealed recurring issues that the management team could not ignore.
Regular guests who arrived expecting the signature Himkok experience occasionally found themselves confronted with something entirely different, leading to disappointment with the cocktails served. Aguilar stresses that feedback of this nature must be taken seriously. A visiting bar’s signature drinks, flavor profiles, and operational workflows do not always translate smoothly when dropped into the physical infrastructure and service style of another venue. Furthermore, hosting an external team places significant logistical pressure on the host staff. At Himkok, a massive venue with a capacity of 350 guests, daily operations are sustained by a tight-knit team of just 12 people. Altering preparation routines, service styles, and floor organization to accommodate a visiting crew stretches these resources thin.
When factoring in the considerable investment of time, international travel, and accommodation required to execute a traditional guest shift, the Himkok team began to question the long-term value remaining once the lights came up at the end of the evening. Aguilar points out that sharing several uninterrupted days out in nature during a Nordic Session creates the necessary mental and physical space for meaningful conversations—discussions that are virtually impossible to have during the chaotic rush of a busy service. Ultimately, the immersion format proved to be a much better fit for how Himkok wants to host peers and collaborate with sponsors.
Designing Authentic Experiences and Weathering the Elements
When planning a new Nordic Session, the guiding principle is authenticity. The team wants every participant to walk away with a profound comprehension of Norwegian culture and a personal memory they can draw from long after they return home. The conceptual framework started with the everyday elements that define life in Norway: outdoor activities like skiing and hiking, traditional cabin culture, foraging in the wilderness, historic food traditions, and the distinct ways Norwegians gather and spend time together. Aguilar notes that what feels completely ordinary and routine to a local resident can be an entirely transformative and novel experience for an international visitor.
Among the various iterations held so far, one particular excursion stands out sharply in Aguilar’s memory: a grueling hike up Trolltunga, a spectacular and demanding cliffside rock formation located in Ullensvang, Norway. The diverse cohort for this specific trip included Gabriele Armani, a legendary figure within the global Diageo World Class bartending community who shares a deep passion for hiking; Shay Waterworth from Drinks International; and renowned bartenders Shingo Gokan and Nóra Földvári.
The trek up Trolltunga proved exceptionally challenging, primarily due to harsh and unforgiving weather conditions. The group was thoroughly soaked by the elements, forcing everyone to push past their physical limits and rely heavily on mutual support to complete the journey. The session was sponsored by Johnnie Walker, and Aguilar reflects that the brand’s iconic "Keep Walking" ethos resonated powerfully with the reality of the experience, as the participants trudged forward together through the adverse weather. It was precisely through this shared physical hardship that some of the deepest conversations and strongest, lasting friendships were forged.
Partnerships, Media Production, and Looking Ahead
Collaborations are a foundational component of how Nordic Sessions come together. Himkok regularly partners with a diverse array of businesses, ranging from spirits producers and nonalcoholic beverage brands to specialty glassware companies, artisanal food producers, and local retailers. The bar remains open to teaming up with any entity whose products, philosophy, or specific expertise can add genuine value to the overall experience. Some of these relationships form organically through products that Himkok already utilizes behind the bar, while others are developed by approaching potential partners with a clear pitch outlining why their involvement makes sense and what the collective group can achieve.
To document these journeys, Himkok works in close collaboration with Oioioi, a specialized filming partner. Together, they produce a comprehensive main film, shorter edits tailored specifically for social media platforms, and a robust library of professional photography that sponsoring brands are free to utilize. Deliverables are customized for each individual partnership through detailed discussions regarding formatting, usage rights, and publication schedules. As part of their participation, visiting bartenders are also asked to share their personal experiences with their audiences and publish a simple drink creation featuring the sponsoring brand’s products.
Looking forward, Himkok has ambitious plans to expand the Nordic Sessions concept beyond the borders of Norway while carefully maintaining its core connection to local culture and environment. The team is currently laying the groundwork for an upcoming immersion experience slated to take place in Iceland. The underlying strategy is to apply the exact same philosophy in a new geographic setting, listening to and learning from a different landscape, its people, and its traditions.
Beyond the trips themselves, Aguilar sees significant potential to develop what happens after each journey concludes. This could include organizing follow-up industry events, exclusive trade dinners, or educational workshops hosted in relevant international markets. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the professional relationships, creative drink inspirations, and compelling stories continue to evolve long after everyone has packed their bags and gone home. Additionally, welcoming everyday consumers into selected future experiences forms part of Himkok’s near-term roadmap, as the team hopes to share this distinct, behind-the-scenes side of their operation with people well beyond the confines of the hospitality industry.