Alex Does Portland

Photo courtesy of Madison Gouzie

Nothing like some fresh baby rose buds to help heal my soul while I'm sick as a dog. Also using these in my new bitters line #blacksoulbitters #businesswoman #healthyenergy #rosebuds

When I first started my career in Portland, Maine I never thought for an instant I would be sought after to have my original cocktails published in various local magazines. I started to have a real passion for everything cocktail related about nine years ago. My obsession was sparked when I purchased my first cocktail book. I picked up a copy of Dale DeGroff’s book titled “The Craft of the Cocktail”. It all went downhill from there! My research started with understanding the history of the cocktail. Without having the knowledge about where my craft started I felt I could not grow as a mixologist. After years of studying about every aspect of my industry, I really began to hone in on my craft. It took along time and hard work to eventually have people ask for my expertise in this business. That's how this cocktail comes into play. I had a friend mention she was writing another installment to her monthly article in Maine Women's Magazine, a local periodical based in Portland. So I offered my help and as she says she “ brought in the big guns” (meaning me wink wink). So we sat down with the brand representative for Maine Craft Distilling and knocked the cocktail out of the park. We used MCD’s Sprigge gin which is barrel rested. Of course I had to throw some of my homemade bitters into it! Since I've moved back to Brooklyn I'm creating my own line of bitters that I will be selling from home and various locations throughout the borough. The bitters I used for The Bog to Bar cocktail were green peppercorn, Vermont maple syrup and fresh Madagascar vanilla bean. Adding these was a last minute idea but definitely helped to round out the cocktail. Moments and experiences like this remind me of why I love what I do. This was just another installment of the many ventures I will be taking on in the near future! Keep yours eyes open kids!

Getting up early and having work meetings honestly makes my day amazing. It reminds me of how much I actually enjoy being in this business. Sitting down and talking with a bar owner, discussing the “problems” they are having and them listening to my opinions shows me that I have come along way in this industry. It shows trust and it shows that I have put in the time to have an owner respect that. Along the way I’m also creating my own line of bitters and shrubs. Everyday I think about where the money is coming from, what kind of bottles I’m going to use and how I’m going to market this brand in NYC. I want to go local and organic! Every day it is a thought process. But I’m ready to take this on. I’m gonna take the bull by the horns and make this is all work!

I've been on the bus for a little over two hours now. The amount of crying I've done is probably making the other passengers think that I have something wrong with me. Its coming in waves. Wave one: OMG I'm so happy to be going home! Wave two: But I don't want to leave what I now call home. These last two days have really shown me who my true friends are. Whether it be a flower and card from Hannafords, help with moving my stuff or a place to crash for the night. It has been to say the least pretty eye opening. Fuck!!!! Those two waves of emotions I mentioned earlier, well wave two just hit again. It hit me as I was taking my hat off my head. It made me think of my old hat that I gave last night to my favorite little boy ever. For some reason he really liked my Jack Daniels hat (bar baby!) The look on his face when he finally got it fitted to his head made me teary eyed. Right before our last goodbye he tricked me into walking under the mistletoe so he could give me kissy monster! To be very honest saying goodbye to my two favorite children was probably the hardest goodbye over the last two days. But I made a promise that I would come back in January and I fully intend on keeping that promise! Wave number two again! About half way to NYC already. Wave number one just hit me, followed by a little bit of wave number two. Ill be repping Maine with my Maine Craft Distilling hat and my Sebago Brewery hoodie! Watch out NYC this girl is coming for yah!

It was our first date, or our first really nice date. What better way to spend it then on a sail boat with oysters, wine, a sunset and a beautiful woman. Now of course I'm the person who is terrified of water and decided to go fucking sailing and of course we had to stand right on the edge of the sailboat. But I said to myself “Alex! Get your shit together. There is wine, oysters and your on a date!!”. So I did and off we went! This was an educational wine sail, which I was super excited to be a part of. We learned about different wines and with every wine it was paired with a different oyster. Oh wait shit, I forgot an important part, there was CHEESE! About half way through, I have to be honest, the educational part started going out the window. Now we started to have fun, loosen up and enjoy each others company as well as our surrounding friends. As we were laughing I began to snort. Yes I know, I know, I snort when I laugh. This immediately grabbed the attention of the entire sailboat and got everyone laughing. Some laughing with me and most laughing at me. The wine kept being poured into our glasses as the sun started to set. We were sailing back to good olé Portland. This amazing experience which could be classified as very sensual where we had to use our taste, our scent and our eyesight was coming to an end. But as our feet touched solid ground I began to realize it really wasn't coming to end.

I started working at a hotel rooftop bar right in Portland. I was meeting new people in the industry, I was meeting people who till this day I can now call my very close friends and as time went on I started making a name for myself. I've moved on to some new places while I've been here, but everyplace has shaped me for better and for worse.