Sunday was the first monthly meeting of The Kentucky Bartender's Guild. Spearheaded by Josh Durr, mixologist and brand ambassador for Altamar Brands, the group hopes to elevate cocktail culture in Louisville. It was kindly sponsored by Kubler Absinthe/Right gin and graciously hosted by Raw lounge (you know what that means... absinthe and sushi!) Some of the areas most progressive bars were in attendance: Proof, The Oakroom, Basa/Social, Limestone and Z's Fusion, amongst others. Luca from Republic National Beverage also showed support to the cause.
The evening was primarily a sharing free-for-all, punctuated by three short speeches. Brooks Reitz opened with an inspirational speech. Mr. Durr spoke about the lesser-known history of Absinthe. Jared Schubert opined the virtues of classic cocktails. All-in-all, an excellent evening, and I must say I have been hoping for this day for quite some time. With a competitive fraternity such as this, expect nothing but good things for dining in Louisville!
If any bartenders or bars are interested in attending the next meeting, please PM me. We will be holding them on the first Sunday of each month, with rotating venues and themes. In full disclosure, expect a nominal fee, as the guild will be primarily financed by the members for creative purposes.