I love booze.
For the past decade-plus I’ve aimed to immerse myself in all-things-alcohol. Over the years of growth and development I’ve always aimed to share my passion and experience with those around me craving to learn more.
Working behind the bar in Ottawa’s first Speakeasy allowed me a better understanding of spirits and mixing drinks. It’s here that I learned the how to build classic drinks, but also the structures to follow when crafting unique cocktails.
Spending some time brewing beer at Beyond the Pale and later founding short-lived but much-loved in-house brewery at Union 613: Dog & Pony Brewlab allowed for a deep dive into all things beer and the importance of quality ingredients and processes implemented.
With the opportunity to open up a bar of my own, the dream became a reality in 2018 with the opening of Jabberwocky, a experimental cocktail lounge delving into all things nerdy but delicious about the world of mixed drinks. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of working at Guelph’s only winery and cidery: iBi and Revel, respectively. There I jumped further down the rabbit hole that is fruit fermentation.
Wine has always been an important anchor for me as it relates so seamlessly to culture, history and the culinary world. Having received my Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma, the wine education doesn’t stop: between trade tastings and vineyard visits, there’s always more to be gleaned from grapes.
Throughout the many years of R&D (research and drinking) I’ve worked freelance, writing mainly about booze for the likes of Edible Ottawa and Ottawa Magazine, though I’ve also written my own cocktail book.