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On The Bar Side with
Moxie’s Beverage
Director, Kim Spence
Soon those long and hot summer months will
be upon us and what better way to beat the
heat than a cocktail (or two) on the patio. The
best patio to do that is at Moxie’s! We recently
sat down with Moxie’s Beverage Director,
Kim Spence, to learn more about his career
inspirations, pro tips for the beginner bartender
and what’s new at Moxie’s this summer.
What do you enjoy most about your role at Moxie’s?
The constant innovation and creativity! Wine, beer and
spirits are so dynamic and always changing. It forces you to
stay sharp and know what is on the bleeding edge, while
also striking the right balance of what our guests will enjoy.
What first inspired you to a career as a Sommelier and
Mixologist?
There is so much life and energy in our industry in general,
perhaps nowhere more than the bar. That is what piqued
my original interest. As I started to read and study more, I
realized how much of our recent and ancient history is so
intertwined with spirits. The combining of science and art,
whether that be in a wine harvest or a perfectly balanced
cocktail, made me see the industry with a deeper purpose.
I realized this was something I could spend my life doing.
What books have inspired your creativity?
One of the most important books for food and beverage
professionals, The Food Lover’s Companion by Sharon Tyler
Herbst. It is my classic favourite. For cocktails, The Essential
Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks by Dale Degroff.
Without him we would still be drinking blue lagoons.
Moxie’s is known for their fantastic cocktail and wine
selection, what is the key to making a great drink
features list?
You must pay attention to the trends, things change quickly.
Most importantly, you must meet guests in the moment
they are in but don’t forget to nudge people out of their
comfort zone. If a guest wanted a glass of Piat d’or and a
ham sandwich they would have stayed home; they come to
us for an experience, something they may not drink or eat at
home. I think there is more value in helping them find their
new favorite instead of just serving them the status quo.
What advice would you have for a home bartender?
When you’re entertaining, you need to set up your bar for
success. Squeeze some fresh lemon and lime juice. Throw
out that yellow shaped lemon juice in your fridge, it’s not
the same! Get some great bitters. Angostura bitters are
used in so many cocktails, you will wonder how you lived
without them. Get some ice. Stop – go back and get more
ice. It’s cheap and one of the most important ingredients in
your bar. Buy a bartender kit that has a shaker, bar spoon,
muddler, citrus press and measuring device. You’re ready to
begin!
With summer just around the corner, what summer
cocktail will Moxie’s be featuring?
We are featuring a number of new cocktails including our
Rosé Sangria and Straight Outta Cozumel. I’ll let you visit
our patio to see what those are all about. We will also be
featuring our new house-made Big Life Radler. It’s the
perfect combination of real grapefruit and beer. I created a
house-made grapefruit soda and combined it with our own
craft lager. It is garnished with a pink grapefruit wedge, so if
you want more punch you get to call the shots.
On that note, I think it’s time we head over to Moxie’s
patio! Thanks for taking the time to meet with us Kim!