Matt Ray Email & Phone Number

Matt Ray is part of the Shopper Marketing team for Sazerac. He has worked in hospitality for most of his life, from Walt Disney World to James Beard winner for cocktails, “Cure". He left the industry at one point to teach English and history in public school, but returned to hospitality with his education experience in tow. Originally from Alabama, he uses his Appalachia accent to make spirits and cocktails fun and approachable for the average consumer. Matt lives in New Orleans and could not be happier that Mardi Gras is a paid Louisiana holiday for Sazerac.Matt collects spirits certifications and is an alumni of bartender training camps Runamok, Juniper Harvest, and Tiki by the Sea. Matt holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching and still loves education.As a resource for the Sazerac Company, Matt has been a part of brand R&D, product launches, national trainings for Sazerac as well as their distributors. In addition to cocktail development and public speaking, he has appeared in commercials, interviews, and articles appearing worldwide.Recognition:- Imbibe Magazine's "Imbibe 75: The People and Places That Will Shape the Way You Drink in 2022" for his work at the Sazerac House.- Sazerac Marketing Awards 2023: "Team of Teams" award for his contributions to the Mr. Boston brand- Whiskey Magazine's "Icons of Whiskey" Awards, 2024: Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year - Honorable MentionMatt has presented at these past conferences:- Chilled: ELEVATE 2024, Louisville, KY- Kohler Food & Wine Festival 2024- Bar Convent Brooklyn 2024, On-Premise Trends- Total Wine & More, Manager in Training conference, 2024- US Bartender's Guild 75th Anniversary, August 14, Phoenix, AZ- Bar Convent Brooklyn 2023- New Orleans Bourbon Fest 2022, 2023, 2024- Reyes Distribution - "Seize the Opportunity" 2023 - Mixology and Bartending- Total Wine and More - Train the Trainer 2023 - Keynote Address- Tales of the Cocktail 2022 - New Orleans - "What Works (and Doesn't Work) for Staff Development"- US Bartender's Guild Western Regional 2022 - Portland Oregon - "Good Witch/Bad Witch: The Fairy Tales of Hospitality" - Tales of the Cocktail 2021 - Mythology of Hospitality - US Bartender's Guild Southern Regional 2021 Houston - "Creating Spirited Storytellers" and "Life After Bartending"He's currently studying to be a licensed tour guide.