IN THE SPIRIT

Shaun Traxer, General Manager at Vault, @shauntraxler
Truthfully, I was first intrigued by the flexibility and the compensation (of the bar/restuarant industry). After my first few years behind the stick, I began to understand how deep the rabbit hole went, and decided to follow it. Now over 15 years in, I'm absolutely in love with what I do for a living. It's a pretty nice feeling.

Hannah Chamberlain, Writer/Photographer/Drinker, @spiritedLA
I started @spiritedLA three years ago when I was falling in love with the LA cocktail scene. I had zero formal bar training, but wanted to make drinks at home that resembled the drinks I had at great craft cocktail bars (and WOW, my early efforts were pretty cringe-worthy). But luckily, getting better at cocktail making is a fun process

Elana Lepkowski, Owner StirAndStrain.com, @stirandstrain
The Stir and Strain blog is a go-to creative resource for cocktail enthusiasts, and a regular source of inspiration for design and style readers. The blog features original cocktail recipes as well as variations on classics, plus a look at what’s cool in the bar world and must have accessories for the home bar.

Natalie Migliarini, Beautiful Booze, Director, @beautifulbooze
Beautiful Booze is about making easy and beautiful cocktails at home. Don't stress about always having the all the bar equipment or full bar at home. There are a ton of cocktails that can be made with 1 bottle of booze and a few ingredients from your local market.

Dawn McCoy, @iamdawnmccoy
I always say that I am a purveyor of joy. As a child, my mom always called me a Pollyanna because I tended to see the world through rose-colored glasses, but I simply know no other way to look at it.

CHAD MONTANO, MRM NUTRITION, @BRIEWILLY
Recently, I have become extremely passionate about photography especially food photography. I love the feeling of creating and styling a dish that makes you eat with your eyes first.

ALLISON TORRES, REFINERY ROOFTOP, LEAD BARTENDER
Maybe because I'm an old soul, I've always found beauty in the simplicity of the classics. Trends have never been for me. Classic cocktails, classic white tshirt, classic rock. Stick to what works.

GABBY CIRIGLIANO, THECURLYCUCUMBER, BLOGGER
I get inspiration from other food bloggers and also from walking around the grocery store. Each time I go grocery shopping, I try to find one item I do not generally buy and try to incorporate it into a meal! It is a fun way to try something new.

VALERIE SMESHKO, VALCOHOL.CO, OWNER
I want to share libations that leave my guests and readers with a pleasant, memorable experience. Creating delicious flavor combinations and connecting with others in the industry has brought me so much fulfillment, and I’m looking forward to seeing where this path will take me.

DERRICK SCHOMMER, COMMON MAN COCKTAILS, OWNER
My team and I host and run an online youtube cocktail channel known as Common Man Cocktails. My wife does a lot of the recipe design when working on our own custom recipes (like the ones included here).

JASON PLUMMER, @BARRELAGEDDAD AT HOME BARTENDER
A designer by trade, I've always admired the culinary arts. My wife, a sous chef, expanded my palate and taught me about flavor profiles. This love affair with culinary inevitably carried over to craft cocktails when I had my first proper Old Fashioned. I quickly "fell prey" to the resurgence of classic cocktail culture sweeping the country.

SHAUN TRAXLER, SIDEWAYS, GM / BARCHEF
My entire work history is in Food and Beverage. I've been working behind a bar or in a kitchen since 2001. My biggest passions are food and flavor and my biggest inspiration for cocktails generally comes from kitchen related experiences or techniques.