photo by steed media service

During a recent interview with rolling out, master mixologist James Moreland discussed the art of making the perfect drink. –amir shaw

How did you become a mixologist?
I’ve been doing this for 17 years. I went to school for engineering and I fell in love with the cocktail culture in New York. It’s the best place in the world to learn the art of mixology. I spent the last three years up there cultivating cocktails and setting trends in America.

How has the field changed since you started?
In the last few years, the field has grown tremendously. We’re at an exciting stage where more mixologists and consumers are popping up. In the next few years, I predict that [the new trends] will have a big impact.

What is the best way to become a master mixologist?
You have to develop your own style through trial and error. I spent a lot of time with different chefs and talked to them about special flavors and ingredients. My father was a chef, so that helped me a lot. But the key to any good cocktail is balance. If you use exotic ingredients, you have to know how to balance it out. I also read a lot of books about the first bartenders and used what they did to build my knowledge of mixology. dewayne@rollingout.com.