Simons created a citron vodka and osha tonic and an osha-infused sherry and blanc vermouth as a classic martini. Home Brew called for two cocktails with an ingredient unique to the competitor's home region. Simons paired country ham with a sweet tea, orange juice and bourbon cocktail. The next test was Taste the City, where competitors were ask to pick a dish from the host city Nashville and pair it with a cocktail. A lot of time I would second-guess: Would people like this flavor combination? Now I realize the unique culinary experience here is valuable everywhere else."įor the Spirit of Don Julio, Simons created a limonada with dragon fruit and sour soup with the Tequila Don Julio to "share with Don Julio while walking in the fields with him." His second drink was a mole and honey old fashioned. "I learned to value myself and my own experience. "Getting started in a smaller market, I was looking outwardly for inspiration," Simons said. But the competition revealed to him being in New Mexico gives him an extra edge. Weston is definitely a leaders in our industry."īefore the national bartenders competition, Simons always thought he would have to go to the big city to further his bartending craft. "You either have the passion, motivation and drive or you don't. "His best quality can't be taught: passion," Mathews said. Mathews went on to open Borracho's Craft Booze and Brews in Las Vegas, N.M., in 2016 and brought in Simons to help train the "baby bartenders." The moment he turned 21, I said, 'Let's get him behind a bar.' " "I hired him for his first job at Apothecary," said Sara Jo Mathews, who now co-owns the Prairie Hill Cafe at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, N.M. ![]() Simons grew up in Los Lunas with a photographer father and dancer mother and dinner parties with "all sorts of weird guests." He got to Albuquerque, was a bartender at the Copper Lounge, met Carroll, and eventually they moved to her hometown of Santa Fe.īefore that, his first bartending job was at the Apothecary Lounge at the Parq Central Hotel in Albuquerque. Carroll grew up in the Netherlands and Santa Fe. Simons fit the USBG World Class competition between acting/comedy classes he and Carroll have been taking in Amsterdam at the Boom Chicago Academy, which is part of Boom Chicago, an improvisational comedy company founded in Amsterdam by three Americans in 1993. Simons said he will run the bar for the Tri-M Productions gala Sept. WestonDrinks also assists with bar design and build-out, creating cocktail menus and auditing bars "to see how they are losing money." "A more knowledgeable bartender is able to sell bottles at the back of his bar that otherwise would just be gathering dust." ![]() "Where does alcohol come from? What is the difference these spirits?" he said. Simons has had a combination of live and Zoom classes involving American hotels, bars, restaurants, private corporate classes, even a class in Amsterdam, where he and his actor wife, Rikki Carroll, have made frequent visits since moving to Santa Fe in 2017. I noticed bartenders didn't have a deep grasp of what they were doing or a solid understanding of the techniques they were using." "A few bad drinks I actually had got me going. ![]() "I did it because of my love of teaching," Simons said. He started teaching in 2018 but formalized the process with WestonDrinks. Instead of training just local bartenders, he's had Zoom classes with students around the world. Oddly, the pandemic opened the world to him. He launched in April 2020, just in time for the pandemic. Simons, 29, has translated this "gamut of knowledge" into a bartending consulting business that he calls WestonDrinks. Weston goes home and reads ancient books." He is extremely well read, which is unusual these days. He runs the whole gamut of knowledge and ability. "He was a very creative person behind the bar along with being personable and liked. "Creativity, really," was the first thing that came to mind for Santa Fe Sprits owner Colin Keegan. He left Santa Fe Spirits in February, once again continuing comedy school in Amsterdam. Upon his return, he managed both tasting rooms. ![]() First, Simons staged offsite events and managed the distillery tasting room. I always tried to treat the judges like they are a guest in my bar."īefore the bartender competition, Simons worked two stints at Santa Fe Spirits before and after months in Amsterdam for comedy school with his wife. The way I talk about my drinks make them very approachable. "One of my strong suits is I am a very good presenter. "Really, why I joined the competition, for each round they give you feedback," Simons said. Simons was one of the chosen three and thus part of the field of 15 bartenders that competed June 19 to June 22 in the national finals in Nashville. Then he made the regional finals in April in Tucson, Ariz., where 10 bartenders were whittled down to three at five different regionals across the country.
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