Billy Ray got his start in bartending more than 20 years ago and has been one of the people at the forefront of the cocktail revival of the last couple decades. He started his own canned-cocktail-mixer company. He's helped create top cocktail programs in Los Angeles and around the country. He's also an alcoholic who's been sober for the last three and a half years.

On this episode, Billy opens up with the story of his personal journey to sobriety, as well as how quitting drinking has actually made him a better bartender.

CW: This episode includes frank discussion of drug use, alcoholism and suicide.

LINKS:
Billy Ray's mixer company, Mixwell: https://www.pleasemixwell.com/
Julian Cox, Los Angeles cocktail mentor: http://thirstyinla.com/2016/02/04/last-call-for-julian-cox-in-los-angeles/
Blind Barber, a speakeasy behind a barber shop in Culver City, Calif.: https://blindbarber.com/pages/los-angeles
Alcohol-free "spirit" Seedlip: https://seedlipdrinks.com/
Melrose Umbrella Co.: http://www.melroseumbrellacompany.com/
Yamashiro: https://yamashirohollywood.com/
Mental health resources for bartenders and other hospitality folks: https://healthyhospo.com/
Alcoholics Anonymous: https://www.aa.org/
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call 800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Theme music:
Upbeat Forever by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5011-upbeat-forever
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/