What I think a biography genuinely is (or it ought to be anyways) is just a sort of tracing act, that's been breathlessly performed in the wake of an ever-moving, and super rarely predictable, 'consciousness rocket' that has hurdled itself forward across a clock map; which, you then read the image of like tea leaves and hope your life choices made those zigs and zags to paint something that you can be both proud of and rewarded by. That driving force though, that Bohemian rocket fuel that's carving out your fortune, that's what should really be examined and measured against any interpretive findings. For me, what that means is that both my appetite for, and my idiomatic connection to the spirits industry— like the love I have for literature, writing, art, or really any of my passions—started simply as an implicit, low-stakes, and importantly accessible next step to simply make my rocket go, well, anywhere. I tried it out one day, didn't hate it, and somehow kept doing it and refining, perfecting, and bonding with it for such a substantial period of time, and in such a fundamental way, that by the time I was made aware of (not how long but) how pointifully influential these metamorphosis', when conducted over and over again, had not just guided but carried my life; I knew this was the right kind of life fuel for me after all. I have a passion for artistic creation, whether it be through handcrafting individual libations or through bringing an idea to life on the page. This is paired with a virulent sense of determination and a genuine self-confidence that has carried me over many of life’s unusual hurdles. Altogether, the spirits industry is a patchwork of creative, often boisterous, big personalities with huge hearts all trying to feed and drink one another in a way we can all hopefully grow and continue to learn. The creation in this industry is human artistry made its most bare, and spiritous imbibing is community and ritual release or true celebration at its finest. 17+yrs in the industry— with 9 behind the bar— has within me unified with an inherent passion for continued education and creative construction. This work and community feels as close to genuine progressive human nature and drive as I have found in any field or even hobby. This business and the community the spirits and hospitality world create are truly reflective of the fundamental human condition and what human ritual, creation, and connection look like. It allows my true “humanism” to quite literally raise glasses with yours, driving each others' passions and desire for betterment.