The clink of ice, the swirl of a muddler, and the unmistakable crack of a shaker coming apart—these are the sounds that define the life of a bartender.
In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Weston Simons, a skilled mixologist in New Mexico, to uncover the stories, skills, and spirit behind the bar.
How long have you been bartending?
“I started bartending on my 21st birthday, which was over a decade ago now.”
What is your favorite part about this industry?
“It’s hard to choose! I can’t really imagine myself doing anything else. I love creating drinks and seeing customers’ faces when they try something they really love, but at the end of the day what really makes me love the industry is the people who make it up. People in the service industry are consistently some of the kindest, most creative and hard working people I know, and they are so welcoming to anyone and everyone who wants a seat at or behind the bar.”
Any drink in the past that you’ve made that slapped so hard you can’t forget it to this day?
“I forget drinks AS I’m making them. It’s hard for anything to really stand out when you’re constantly creating new things. Every time I make a seasonal menu I completely fall in love with those cocktails, but a week after launch I’m already obsessed with the next season.”
What misconceptions do you think people have about this industry?
“Unfortunately I think many people outside of the industry don’t see this as a real career. There’s this misconception that serving or bartending is just a kind of stopover job that you do while working towards your “real job”, but in reality it’s a very rewarding career.”
What is your favorite spirit to drink, and to create with?
“It depends on my mood! My palate really fluctuates with the weather, seasons, and whatever is going on in my life. Whenever I discover something new or someone introduces me to something I hadn’t tried before I go crazy with it for weeks, then might go years not thinking about it again.”
Do you have a signature trick whilst bartending?
“I have lots of funny little habits, but I don’t think I’d call any of them “tricks”. If it makes me faster or more efficient I’m happy to try anything, but if it’s just showy for the sake of being showy I don’t really see the point. I’ll probably just end up making a mess!”
If a customer says, ‘Make me anything,’ what’s your go-to?
“I always ask for a little bit more information. I just want customers to get the RIGHT drink, not necessarily whatever weird thing I’m currently excited about. Usually I’ll tell customers “order with adjectives”. Tell me how you’re feeling, whether you want something refreshing, spirit driven, bitter, spicy, citrusy, wintery, summery, or smoky I’ve got something for you.”
If anything, what is this scene missing in New Mexico?
“We’ve got a lot of cool things going on in NM! I think there are alot of different ways people can choose to enjoy drinks, and what I might enjoy isn’t always right for everybody. I think whether you like craft cocktails or dive bars, we have alot of fun options for everybody. The only thing I could ask is for more! I love going to different spots and seeing what other people are doing, some of my favorite ideas came from experiences I had at dive bars!”
Do you prefer free-pouring or jiggers? Or does it depend on the drink?
“I think it depends more on the space. A good bartender should be comfortable doing both, but different styles of bar call for different styles of bartending.”
Are you working on anything currently that we should keep our eyes out for?
“Always! I constantly have a handful of fun, weird ideas coming down the pipeline. Come see me at Tonic and try out whatever we have on the seasonal menu, or ask me to make something up! Who knows, we might create your new favorite drink together!”
From signature creations to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible behind the bar, Weston reminds us that mixology is an art as much as it is a craft. The next time you order a drink, take a moment to appreciate the passion and skill that goes into every pour.
www.westondrinks.com
Insta: @westondrinks
TikTok: WestonDrinks
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