#vintagebartools

While down in Savannah a couple of months back, I made a quick trip to Tybee Island. While there, I was pleased to stumble upon Swizzle & Shake, a vintage bar goods shop. I met Kathy Black-Dennis and talked to her a little bit where her idea came from and how she ended up at Tybee. Make sure to give her a visit next time you're down that way. 

What was the first cocktail you ever had? The first cocktail...hmmm. Bourbon on the rocks. I grew up in Kentucky so not a real cocktail, just a very solid choice. Coming of age in the 1970's it was probably something tiki and fruity!

What's your favorite cocktail nowadays? Favorite cocktail today....I am always trying new cocktails, but my tried and true is a Hendrick's Gin and Tonic, extra lime or Bourbon on the rocks. The Bourbon varies because I like trying new ones. So many interesting choices today. I love going to bars where they do flights-I'm experimental!

How did you get into selling vintage barware? Tell me about your path to where you are now. I started collecting vintage barware  ten years ago. I fell in love with the elegance of the 1930's sterling silver shakers, the fun of the kitchy 1950's shakers and the overall variety of shapes and sizes of the shakers. I then  expanded into flasks, jiggers and accessories. My husband, Gary, really jumped into the flask collecting and he is responsible for most of the great finds in that category. I  enjoy researching the barware-there are some interesting stories....if only all the shakers could talk! Collecting barware started as a hobby, became a passion and now a business. As I was collecting, the shakers started overtaking our condo in Washington, DC and my office. The name "Swizzle and Shake" came to me one day while commuting to work. I mulled over the idea of opening a shop for a few years. I did not have any retail experience whatsoever. I decided on Tybee because I wanted to move to the beach and I loved Tybee.  All the stars aligned on a very sad day for me. After two years of being on a wait list for space, the call came on the day my mom passed away from pancreatic cancer. Gary and I had left our jobs to take care of mom. At a very vulnerable time I started the wheels in motion, then opened on May 22, 2015. I like to think she has a hand in this adventure.  I love to travel so I get to combine work (not really work) and pleasure wherever I go.

It's been a lot of fun and a lot of work, but I love it! I meet people from all over the world, I still get to buy barware and it "keeps me out of trouble" in retirement! The really hard part is when I sell a piece I absolutely adore. I have actually interviewed prospective buyers of some of my really special pieces to make sure they are going to love their purchase as much as I do.

When did you open your shop in Tybee? We opened Swizzle and Shake on May 22, 2015. It is a constantly evolving shop with new cocktail culture and vintage items. We carry very unique items for both the professional bartender as well as for the at-home cocktail enthusiast. I have return customers so I try to keep the shop fresh. The shop has everything from a plastic cocktail shaker you can take to the beach for $6.50 to a 1929 sterling silver shaker for over $650.00 and everything in between!  There are fun items for our out of town visitors, as well as exquisite shakers for the serious collector.