Sweden’s dream bartender has ‘beer smarts’ and is charismatic rather than just another superficial Cocktail Tom Cruise fast talker, according to a new survey conducted by Czech brewery Pilsner Urquell.

Apparently we don't want fast-talking, wise-cracking bartenders like Mr Cruise anymore....

The iconic brewery, famous for developing the first golden beer back in 1842, asked 1026 Swedish drinkers to describe their perfect bartender.

Most want someone who is pleasant, knowledgeable and helpful, while those who joke around, talk too much and focus on drinks with new and strange tastes come much further down the list of top ten characteristics a dream bartender should have.

The survey was conducted in association with the annual International Master Bartender competition organised by Pilsner Urquell which they’re billing as the world’s biggest contest in beer knowledge for professional bar personnel.

The Swedish final will be fought out at the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival on October 2^nd and the winner will go on to represent Sweden in an international final in Prague later the same month.

Bartenders like Marvin pictured here may not have film star appeal but they know their stuff, a characteristic many of us want in our dream bartender, according to the recent survey (picture courtesy of Hotel Monteleone).

“We’re seeing a clear trend that the factors behind (a bartender’s) status have changed in recent years. Instead of the ‘outside’ we are now more impressed by knowledge and bartending skills”, says Henrik Persson, the man responsible for the Swedish heats of Master Bartender.

(footnote: The Master Bartender competition is open to both men and women – indeed the reigning Swedish Champion is Majsan Johansson from Kock & Vin in Gothenburg).