Laura Cutlip

Meeting guests from all walks of life, learning what brought them to my bar, and creating an unforgettable experience for them through great conversation (especially about whiskey and travel), a fun atmosphere, and delicious drinks! When I am busy and making drinks, helping guests, clearing the bar and washing dishes I get into a flow and it becomes almost like a dance. I love the challenge of designing unique drinks on the fly based on a guest’s preferences.

My favorite drink to make is an Old Fashioned, because it is simultaneously so simple and so complex. The combination of sugar, bitters and whiskey, when done right, can highlight the subtle qualities and depth to a great whiskey. By changing one, two, or all three ingredients you can create an infinite number of ways to enjoy your spirit of choice. I love to experiment with how, say, Woodford Reserve tastes when paired with black walnut bitters versus cherry bitters or a combination of both.

I would create a whiskey travel guide. Two years ago, I built a travel van and I love nothing more than exploring the country, trying and collecting local whiskey, and meeting the people who make and enjoy it. It became my dream to write about the small mom and pop craft distilleries’ stories found in every corner of the country. I want to share unique distilling methods, or highlight distilleries that are making sustainable choices to create their products.