About

My serious cocktail journey began about twelve years ago. After returning from a six-month sabbatical, I landed a much better-paying position — one that finally gave me the capital to start building a real collection of spirits and liqueurs. From there, the weekly experiments began, and honestly, there was no looking back.

As the collection grew, it quickly outpaced what two people could reasonably work through. The solution? Invite friends over for what became affectionately known as "Come Drink My Booze" nights. I'd set up an Old Fashioned station — an array of sweeteners, bitters, and base spirits — walk everyone through the process, and then let them loose. It was less about making drinks *for* people and more about teaching them to make drinks *themselves*. Teach a person to fish, and all that.

That spirit of exploration naturally led deeper. I started crafting my own syrups, shrubs, infusions, and fat washes. I experimented with barrel aging cocktails in small char 3 barrels. Each new technique opened another door, and I was more than happy to keep walking through them.

I've been fortunate enough to travel extensively throughout my life. A former job took me across the country — I've now set foot in 49 US states, with Maine firmly in my sights. Beyond our borders, I've explored 55 countries and counting, with no intention of slowing down.

Many of those trips were solo, which turned out to be a gift in disguise. One of my favorite rituals while traveling became arriving at a great bar right as it opened — no crowds, no noise, just a bartender with time to talk. I met some truly remarkable mixologists this way, people who were generous with their knowledge and genuinely excited to share it. A simple "Can I try a bit of that?" opened doors to spirits and liqueurs I never would have encountered otherwise, steadily expanding both my palate and my understanding of the craft. It was amazing how often I was mistaken for someone in the industry. These days, I just call myself a "Professional Amateur" — fully aware there's always more to learn.

The moment that crystallized everything happened at one of my all-time favorite bars: The Office in Chicago. No trip to that city is complete without a visit — I still remember the days when you had to text a mysterious number just to find out if they had availability. Sadly, that era ended with Covid. But on my first visit, there was a phenomenal woman behind the bar. Through nothing more than conversation — asking questions, listening carefully — she crafted a series of drinks that were unlike anything I'd experienced. I would have happily kept going, but responsibility won out at three. That night made something click: this world of cocktails was vast, layered, and endlessly worth exploring.

Armed with years of accumulated knowledge, I began doing for friends and family what that bartender had done for me — crafting bespoke cocktails tailored to their individual tastes. I'd ask about their preferences, their moods, their memories, and build something just for them. I even created signature 'His & Her Cocktails' for friends getting married, naming the drinks after their most legendary (and occasionally embarrassing) stories. Those were some of my favorite creations.

And that, in essence, is how Bespoke Mixology was born.

The idea was simple: give people a powerful, approachable tool to expand their cocktail knowledge, discover and craft new drinks, and bring some organization to their home bars. We've tried to make it as seamless as possible, with multiple ways to add recipes and ingredients — and there are more features on the way.

At the heart of the app is an AI tool we're genuinely proud of. It's powered by one of the most capable large language models available on the market today — and we'll continue updating it as models evolve and improve. But we didn't stop there. Rather than simply plugging in an off-the-shelf AI, we've specifically trained our assistant on cocktail making, recipes, techniques, ingredients, flavor profiles, and the broader culture of mixology. It's been built to "think" like someone who truly knows their way around a bar. The goal was to make it as tailored, knowledgeable, and genuinely useful as possible — not just another generic chatbot with a cocktail-themed coat of paint.

This is our first app, and we mean it when we say we're listening. If you have suggestions, feedback, or ideas, please reach out through the Support button on the Profile page. We'd love to hear from you.

Until then — we sincerely hope you enjoy this little project of ours. And if you like it we would appreciate your support by becoming a Master Mixologist.