Mixologist Q&A: Mix with Marie
How long have you been making cocktails?
I started making cocktails at home during the global pandemic in June 2020, so it has been about 2.5 years.
Who in your life, or what experience introduced you to cocktails?
When the global pandemic has started, all the restaurants and bars were closed completely or they were only offering take-out, and there was no way I could continue going to my favorite restaurants and bars and enjoy their craft cocktails, so I decided to make cocktails at home. I was also watching the show, Bar Rescue by Jon Taffer, and I was impressed by the creative and beautiful cocktails made by bartenders and mixologists that create new cocktails for the bars on the show.
Most underrated cocktail bar ingredient? and why?:
Any sustainable ingredients such as infused spirits and syrups, fermented ingredients like shrubs and drinking vinegar, dehydrated garnish, oleo-saccharum, and locally sourced, seasonal, and organic ingredients. If you have been following the modern mixology and cocktail trend, you probably have noticed many sustainable cocktails using these methods and ingredients. It is important for bars and restaurants to be more mindful about the ingredients they use to save environment by contributing to the no waste/zero waste. I have been entering cocktail competitions since Summer 2021, and I see the sustainable cocktail competitions pretty often, so that is where I learned about the importance of sustainability in cocktails.
Most overrated cocktail bar ingredient? and why?
Any cocktail mixers like sour mix, Bloody Mary mixer, etc. are overrated. I understand that it makes it easier and faster for the bartenders to make cocktails, and it is necessary for those high volume sports bars and clubs. Personally, I would not mind waiting for my cocktail if it is made right.
What’s your go-to, or current favorite, cocktail recipe at home?
My current favorite cocktails to make at home these days are any Prohibition Era cocktails.
It depends on the type of bars and lounges I go to, but if I go to some dive bars, my go-to cocktail is usually the Whiskey Sour with Maker's Mark. Although I would appreciate if they actually use the lemon juice and simple syrup, and even better with egg white, most of the dive bars use the sour mix to make their Whiskey Sour, which is expected, so I wouldn't complain. I am just there to have a great time. I don't have a go-to cocktail when I go to cocktail bars and lounges, but I like to go off the menu, and ask the bartender to make their favorite craft cocktail or ask them to make creative craft cocktails that are not classic. For example, a cocktail with Pisco, but not Pisco sour. If I was a bartender, I would want my guests to challenge me so I can show off and improve my skills at the same time.
What’s your favorite cocktail memory?
Although I did not win the US national of Licor 43's Bartenders and Baristas Challenge this year, I am most proud of my original cocktail, Driving Me Coconut, After any cocktail competitions I enter, I usually ask the judges what I could do to improve my cocktail for the next year. All three judges loved the taste of my cocktail, and received great feedbacks from them.
Most memorable cocktail bar - can be anywhere in the world!
The most memorable cocktail bar is Lost River in Detroit, MI. I used to live in Detroit Metro for about 3.5 years. Although Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago is a great tiki bar in Midwest, Lost River in Detroit deserve a spotlight too. You would think tiki bars are for somewhere warm, but I was surprised to see a cool tiki bars in Midwest. Lost River's fancy tiki cocktails are not as expensive as all the other tiki bars like Three Dots and a Dash or Inside Passage in Seattle, but they are picture worthy and taste amazing! Their bar manager, Hannah, knows a lot about rum and tiki cocktails, and she is someone I look up to for tiki cocktails. Her creations worth a lot more than $12. If I ever have a chance to go back to Detroit, I would definitely visit there again.
What's your “I'm feeling lazy” cocktail?
I made an app that I randomly select number of spirits, number of ingredients, type of ice, flavors, glassware, garnish, type of spirit, and method. The rule is to select 3 categories, and I only get to re-select one of the categories if I want to. For example, I select number of ingredients, type of spirit, and method, and I spin the wheel to let the wheel select what I make. Let's say the wheel selects 4 ingredients, Gin base, and stir method. What cocktail would you make? It still make me come up with a recipe but somewhat narrows down categories, which help me decide on the recipe quickly. That's my "lazy" way of making cocktails.
What recipe do you make to impress friends?
As I mentioned in the previous question, I like to suggest my friends to use my "Wheel of Fortune" app to challenge me to make craft cocktails for them. I like to show off and impress my friends by coming up with recipes on the spot and making tasty cocktails for them.
Plugs and promos: Any upcoming events, competitions, or projects of yours we can highlight?
I have been selected as one of the top 20 contestants for the Live Joyously Sparkling Cocktail Competition by Le Grand Courtage and Chilled Magazine. The top 10 will receive cash prizes, and they will be announcing the winners on 12/15. I am also entering the non-ABV cocktail competition hosted by the Free Spirits on Instagram. This competition will run though 11/13, and the winner will receive 2 bottles of their non-ABV spirits. There is the Best Bartender Competition by Khor Vodka on Instagram too, and this will run through until before the Thanksgiving. The contestants are asked to make a reel for this competition, and the winner will receive a cash prize of $5000, promo campaign of their cocktail, and a weekend trip in Las Vegas with 3 other friends at Bellagio Penthouse Suite. The most exciting and I am nervous about is the World Class Cocktail Competition by DIAEGO. I was introduced to this competition by one of the bartenders in Seattle who competed in the Licor 43's Bartenders and Baristas challenge with me in 2022. This year's theme is the Signature Spritz, and the contestants will get to pick an occasion to create their Signature Spritz to. The occasions are Poolside Afternoon, Brunch Time, Backyard BBQ, and Apertivo Hour. I am currently waiting for the final results of Cardenal Mendoza's Golden Week C-Factor Cocktail Competition (Wish Me Luck!). I recently became a mobile bartender in the Greater Seattle area, and I am usually available in the weekend for events and weddings. Book me through https://partyonthe.rocks/. I have teamed up with Seattle's new Foodie Youtube Channel, Palate Foodie Channel by Creators Source Studios. I am hosting the Cocktail Hour with Marie on their channel. Don't forget to subscribe!
