Unpopular opinion: mixology is an art form. No, really. The literal definition, according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, is the art or skill of preparing mixed drinks. But, we would beg to offer that it is also the art of creating an experience.
Similar to traditional painters, mixologists take their paint (alcoholic spirits) and paintbrushes (fruits, mixers, syrups, etc.) to create liquid masterpieces on canvases (glasses)— those masterpieces then evoke certain emotions from the buyer.
And of course, like most other art forms, Black people have been at the forefront of innovation and creativity.
Historical Black figures worth noting
Our contributions to the world of mixology date back farther than we know. In the last few years, the story of Nathan “Nearest” Green was brought to light.
Green, an enslaved Tennessee man, is said to be the first Black master distiller. He perfected a unique process that gave whiskey a unique smoothness, known as sugar maple charcoal filtering. Around the mid 1850’s, a young white boy named Jasper Newton began learning the process of whiskey distilling from Green. That white boy would eventually go on to create one of the most popular whiskey brands to date, Jack Daniels.
Green’s story and contribution was nearly forgotten until recently. There is now a Black-owned spirit brand, Uncle Nearest Whiskey, that has been created in his honor. The brand not only keeps Green’s story alive, but it also employs and creates scholarships for living members of his family.
Another Black man worth noting is Tom Bullock. Bullock is said to be the first Black man to author a cocktail book, The Ideal Bartender, in 1917. Starting out as a bellboy at Louisville, Kentucky’s Pendennis Club, he would eventually work his way up to a bartender before moving on to the St. Louis Country Club.
In addition to the book that features more than 170 of his own cocktail recipes, Bullock is credited for being the one to put the Old Fashioned on the map. In other words, had Bullock not flexed his creativity while serving some of the nation’s most affluent people, we may have never known about the Old Fashioned.
Mixology as an art form today
The art of mixology is still alive and well. Now, with craft cocktails gaining popularity, it allows these artists to get even more creative.
Justin Hazelton, mixologist and bar manager for Charlotte’s own Leah and Louise, has created a cocktail menu that draws people from near and far.
What started out as a dream to run events, eventually led Hazelton to learn the art form all on his own.
“I realized there was power behind the bar,” Hazelton told The Block. “I went to one of the best bars I could go into and got a job. I thought I was just going in to learn a technical skill, but I fell in love and went deep. “
Like many, Hazelton didn’t see mixology as an art form until he began to experience what many artists go through— a period of being uninspired and unable to create. He recalls seeing his brother, who is an actor, go through the ups and downs of his craft and realized that there were many parallels between their two worlds. It was only after experiencing the downside of feeling like his craft wasn’t serving him, that he accepted the fact that what he did was in fact art, and he was an artist.
According to Hazelton, there is a difference between bartending and mixology. For him bartending is simply executing someone else’s ideas, while mixology requires a certain level of creativity and artistic inspiration to execute ideas.
Hazelton taps into his personal life experiences and feelings to craft drinks such as his popular Zodiac punch, a seasonal cocktail that changes with each zodiac sign.
“I aim to exemplify the characteristics of each sign. For example, both of my parents are cancers so I made that punch sweet and salty, which is what I think of them. It’s like I’m telling their story through the drink.”
The journey of making it as a Black mixologist
Getting to where he is today has been no easy feat. There were times when Hazelton felt like he was intentionally being left out of conversations or even overlooked when it came to leveling up in his craft.
“When you’re trying to come up in your world as a Black person, no matter the industry, you constantly find yourself asking “why am I not getting the opportunities, why am I having to dig so deep?” You think that is just the way,” Hazelton said. “But, nah. You see all these people around you making moves while you’re grinding right next to them, but you realize you’re being shut out and it’s infuriating.”
After being asked to join James Beard nominated Chef Greg Collier’s Soul Food Sessions dinner series, Hazelton was able to gain insight and build the relationships necessary to take him to where he is today.
For the other young Black men and women hoping to make their mark in the mixology world, Hazelton offers the following advice:
“First and foremost, make sure you are dope in your own right. Polish your skills, but don’t wait to put yourself out there, especially right now. If you are dope, people will see it.”
To check out more from Hazelton, you can catch him behind the bar at Leah and Louise. You can also find him on Instagram: @justindrinks.
