Photo Credit: John DuPont
My life in the beverage industry started behind a bowling alley bar during my first year at Louisiana State University. I loved it, but it was merely a way to put a little cash in my pocket while studying for my “real career”.
Several years later, while sitting in my office, I realized that it was time for a change. I needed to enjoy my life, and I knew that the only time I had ever looked forward to work was when I was tending bar. I missed the excitement, the hospitality, and the instant feedback for a job well-done. That day, I bought my first real cocktail book. This was a time before internet, so I also started hand-writing letters to Master Distillers and cocktail pros throughout the world simply requesting advice on how to turn bartending into a career.
To my surprise, I started receiving packages almost immediately. The books, magazines, bar tools, letters and videos that I received were amazing and inspiring. There were also a few invitations for a hands-on education, and I gladly apprenticed at bars and distilleries all over the US. This started me on the quest for knowledge that I am still on today.
I left Louisiana in 2001 and my career has brought me all over the world as a bartender, manager, casino beverage director, trainer, brand ambassador, writer, and lecturer. I have been able to affect the beverage programs of over 500 bars and restaurants while training thousands of bartenders.
When RNDC asked us to consider returning to Louisiana, I was a little apprehensive. “Strong and cheap” was the drinking slogan that I remembered from my college days, but the new cocktail culture here has been a revelation. The creativity and historical reverence are as good, or better, than any place in the world. Now, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
This life has brought more joy and fulfillment than I could have ever dreamed of and I look forward to many more years of encouraging and inspiring the next generation of beverage professionals.
