I love rum! I love how different each one can taste, how every variety can transport you with just a sip, how versatile (but under-appreciated!) it is in cocktails. But most of all I love the rum family.  Never have I felt more welcome or embraced by a group of strangers before, and as a bonus, they are almost always carrying rum!

I believe rum will be the next big thing.  With so many varieties and expressions, it truly offers something for every drinker.  Bourbon and vodka had their booms, but I think people are ready for the rum.  Maybe I just believe this because I am selfish and I want easier access to all those amazing rums that I can’t find in San Diego yet!

I really learn a lot from visiting other bartenders and spirits makers, but on the short list of people I credit with being hugely influential to me is Jason Wilson, whose book Boozehound set me on the path to a deeper appreciation of spirits and cocktail history.  Second is Robert Burr, Jr., because he opened my mind to rum and the awesomeness of all things Tiki.  But the biggest influence in my life is my incredibly cool wife, Deanna, who is a powerhouse when it comes to her knowledge of spirits, and offers endless encouragement, loving support and sage-like wisdom.  She also bought me that first copy of Boozehoundand many more equally dangerous cocktail books after that.

I’ve been so fortunate in my life to have already done so many cool boozy bucket list items, from becoming a regular speaker at cocktail events to organizing my own Tiki Bartender Battle and launching my own line of bitters.  However, travel is one of my greatest joys and gives great opportunities to expand one’s perspective (both in cocktails and in life), and this October, I will be knocking some Caribbean rum distilleries off of my bucket list with a trip to Barbados.  Around that, I will be fitting in our second annual Tiki Bartender’s Battle at Tiki Oasis 2016 and hopefully showcasing my talents by getting the opportunity to design and implement a complete craft cocktail bar program.

Truth be told, last words are a challenge since it’s hard to shut me up when I’m talking about bitters or rum!  But now that you mention it, The Last Word is a fantastic drink, so I’ll have one if you’re offering!  It’s a gin-based cocktail, but substitute that gin for an over-proof rum like Pusser’s Gunpowder Strength to make a great Tiki cocktail we like to call The Last Breath.