Inspired

Gun For Hire (B)

Base: Ben Holladay 6YR BiB bourbon / J. Rieger straight rye / amaro / coconut cold brew / Mexican-vanilla / orange

Descriptor: smooth, dark, aromatic

Short Description: A charismatic & rebellious child of The Revolver.

Inspiration: The first iterations of this drink were brought about by mixing cocktails post-work to Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark”. Besides playfully tying into the song’s lyrics, the name also pays homage to this drink’s parent cocktail: The Revolver.

Chaos Theory (S)

Base: Gorgonzola-washed mezcal / honey / thyme / cactus / passion fruit / carrot / lemon

Descriptors: intriguing / rounded / unique

Short Description: Unique, delicate, yet wildly complex.

Inspiration:

Muy Tranquilo (B)

Base: reposado tequila / Licor 43 / coconut cold brew / toasted coconut cream

Descriptor: toasty / rich / vanilla-spice

Short Description: A Carajillo-riff with an aim to stay composed: mellow, grounded, and quietly indulgent.

Inspiration: This Carajillo-riff came about my want for a variation that reflected my demeanor: introverted, unbothered, yet absolutely free in spirit.

Takeoff (B)

Base: pea-flower infused gin / botanical-spice cordial / creme de violette / lemon

Descriptors: floral / bittersweet / elegant

Short Description: An Aviation-riff built to be floral, bright, and gently bitter.

Inspiration: I’ve always loved the Aviation, but I loved creating this variation more—largely because of the name (which I came up with before I worked out this drink’s final build). Takeoff (by Cory Wong & Rachel Mazer) pushes the Aviation’s flight imagery further, and it’s also an incredible song. To me, it evokes stepping outside your comfort zone—especially travel—and a sense of worldliness. That idea is what shaped the build: I kept the Aviation’s bones, but deconstructed two major components—lemon and maraschino—so they could be expressed through more global flavors and ingredients. The end result is a drink that still feels like “flight,” just with a broader horizon (please excuse me).

City In The Sea (S)

Base: blueberry / cardamom / coriander / vanilla / oatmeal / Batavia Arrack / vodka / cream

Descriptors: nostalgic / silky / sweet

Short Description: It’s a Blueberry Oatmeal Cookie in the form of a drink (clarified).

Inspiration:

LoCo (Local Correspondent) (B)

Base: J. Rieger KC whiskey / cognac / jade oolong / pecan orgeat / coconut / lemon / butter pecan ice cream

Descriptors: nutty / soft / bright

Short Description: Oxidative & tannic richness—clarified into a clean, nutty milk punch.

Inspiration: The idea for LoCo started after a visit to FoCo bar in Barcelona—long story short: their “Foreign Correspondents Club” idea stuck with me. I wanted a Kansas City counterpart: something distinctly local, but shaped by the wider world. Structurally, it’s a reinterpretation of the Japanese Cocktail (cognac + orgeat), but with J. Rieger KC Whiskey taking the lead, plus jade oolong, pecan orgeat, and coconut to work in tandem with the KC whiskey. Milk punch was the format that let all of it come through with restraint and clarity (wink, wink).

Little Moments (S)

Base: vanilla wafer / Rum / elderflower / banana / raspberry /

Descriptors: decadent / playful

Short Description: Fun layering of clear liquid with a pillowy foam. Dessert-like cocktail.

Inspiration:

Leaves From The Vine (B)

Base: hojicha-infused gin / vermut rojo / bitter bianco / pandan

Descriptor: toasty / mellow / gently lush

Short Description: a Negroni-style cocktail softened by pandan and hojicha. I like to think that Uncle Iroh would approve.

Inspiration: This cocktail was inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender, most notably: the character of Uncle Iroh. His quote,

“It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If you take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale. Understanding others, the other elements and the other nations will help you become whole.”,

left me feeling inspired to put this drink together.

Once Upon A Time In Mexico (B)

Base: reposado tequila / árbol + guajillo-infused mezcal / México syrup / Angostura + mole bitters / orange

Descriptor: bold / savory-sweet / warm spice

Short Description: A holistic reinterpretation of what an Old Fashioned representing México can be.

Inspiration: The Oaxaca Old Fashioned took the imbibing world by storm in the 2010s, and paved the way for Mezcal’s commercial success in the US. However, as an American of Mexican descent, I was left wanting a much broader scope of Mexico’s flavors. Taking a step back from Oaxaca to view Mexico as a whole, I relied upon my experiences within my culture in my formative years (and my mother’s traditional dishes) to inform and shape this cocktail’s inception.

Memento Mori (S)

Base: baijiu / honey / lemon / jujube / jasmine tea

Descriptors: celebrative / full bodied

Short Description: Celebration of delicate flavors found in China.

Inspiration:

Afterglow (S)

Base: Mean Mule Silver American Agave / citrus-acid blend / apricot / yogurt / demerara

Descriptors: bright / fun / intriguing

Short Description: Apricot and Greek Yogurt help highlight the fruitier notes and liveliness of the Mean Mule Silver Agave Spirit.