How long have you been making cocktails?

I started getting into mixology in 2011 when I moved to the Boston area. There’s a great speakeasy in Somerville called BackBar that showed me how complex and interesting cocktails can be; on my first visit, one of the bartenders there made me a drink they called the Aqueduct, which was equal parts Old Monk rum, apricot brandy, and lime juice. I absolutely loved it and wanted to make it again, so I bought those ingredients to start building my own little bar at home. Over the next few years I got more into making drinks for my friends, and coming up with names for them (which is one of my favorite parts of the process).

In 2015, a friend of mine who runs an art gallery invited me to make cocktails to serve at one of their foraged food banquet fundraisers. That was an especially fun experience because it pushed me to get more creative, since I had to use locally foraged ingredients in the drink recipes. It also helped me elevate my garnish game since the presentation and appearance became much more vital when serving 50-60 people (instead of 2-3 in my kitchen). I’ve continued making custom drinks for the gallery’s fundraisers ever since, and it always inspires me to try something new - and I always have fun making the drink names fit the fundraiser theme, too.

Most underrated bar ingredient? and why?

I think saline solution is very underrated - and it’s something I was sleeping on until far too recently. Sometimes just a drop or two of saline solution can totally shift and balance a drink that wasn’t quite working before. Similarly, citric acid solution (homemade or a sour mixer like Supasawa) is a really handy ingredient.

*Cats are from Saturn by Katherine on Crafted Pour*

What’s your go-to, or current favorite, cocktail recipe at home?

I love sours and probably make daiquiri riffs at home the most. It’s so fun to change just one ingredient - like infusing the rum, acid-adjusting a juice, or using a different flavor simple syrup - and seeing how the drink evolves. Most recently I’ve loved using a dark rum and lime-strength pineapple juice for a simple twist.

Most memorable cocktail bar - can be anywhere in the world!

It’s tough for me to pick just one! I recently went to Apotek Speakeasy in Aruba, and they have a very cool set-up like a Pharmacy - including a wall of drinks that are written on prescription notepads. The mixologists there did a beautiful job of preparing and presenting the drinks with flare. Another recent favorite was Nophaburi Bar in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They had a really thoughtful menu, great decor/vibes, and really fun and artful presentations for each drink

What's your “I'm feeling lazy” cocktail?

A vodka and soda with bitters. I know this drink has a bad reputation, but it’s so simple and refreshing - and it’s so easy to change it up if you have some infused vodka at hand, or some uniquely flavored bitters.

Plugs and promos: Any upcoming events, competitions, or projects of yours we can highlight?

I started my Instagram @cocktail.memoirs to help create a platform for my writing. I’m currently editing and reworking a collection of personal essays and cocktail recipes that’s called “How to Drink Through Your Divorce” that I’ll hopefully be shopping to literary agents soon. In the meantime, my page has lots of fun stories and questions about my own and other people’s online dating experiences. I’m always looking to add more readers and fellow writers to my followers!