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Jody is a craft bartender and gin brand ambassador in Edinburgh, Scotland. He's a collector of Horror In Clay, and a few years back was deemed the Ultimate Kraken Hunter and has won other international accolades. He send us some recipes to try and settled down for a chat. The Demon in the Dark (winning cocktail of the Ultimate Kraken Hunter bartending competition) Grated cinnamon Grated nutmeg sugar cubes peppermint bitters 3oz Kraken Dark spiced rum At its heart, the drink is a Bumbo, which is then set ablaze: Firstly heat up two tankards boiled water, set those aside to warm. Grate...

Monster Mixology Monday: Fiendishly Tropical Typhoon 2 Dashes Horror Infused Fiendishly Tropical Bitters 1/2oz Lemon Juice 1/2oz Grapefruit Juice 1/2oz Passion Fruit syrup 1/4oz Cinnamon syrup 1/4oz Don's Spices #2 (Recipe originally created with B.G. Reynolds) 2oz overproof dark rum (Recipe originally created with Lost Spirits Navy Style *as served at Tacoma Cabana. Photo & recipe by Jason Alexander.  Mug shown is A'A'PO'E from Hale Pale made by Munktiki.  

Jason Alexander is a craft bartender and rum fanatic in Tacoma, Washington, and a longtime fan of Horror In Clay.  He was recently selected to compete in the 2014 Iron TikiTender Competition at Tiki Kon in Portland, OR.  Jason won the competition, and his winning concoction happened to include Horror Infused: Fiendishly Tropical Bitters!  When he told me, I was floored!  Here is his winning recipe, and some info about the show!  I definitely hope to attend next year.Tiki Kon Leviathan(winning cocktail of the Iron TikiTender bartending competition at the 2014 Tiki Kon)2oz Don Q Gran Anejo (mandatory secret ingredient)1/2oz gin1/2oz...

Panels are fun, but they can be stressful for panelists, and the stress can come from some strange directions.  I wanted to run down some of the more common thoughts and observations I've had, on the off chance they are useful to someone about to be on their first convention panel.

1. So you're going to be on a panel…GREAT! They are fun! REMEMBER THAT! In any setting you can enjoy the atmosphere or you can BE part of the atmosphere.  If you've been asked to be on a panel (or Q&A session, or to speak) it means, first and foremost, the panel organizer (track director or whoever) trusts you to contribute positively to the panel/track/convention. Heady times, my friend!  
2. Either you are an authority on a subject, were directly involved, have a unique perspective, or are really entertaining in front of a crowd.  Or all of the above.  Let that be your armor against self-consciousness and doubt; the organizer trusts you.  Try and relax and remember that you are there in  front of the crowd to be you; to bring your knowledge and experience and personality to the panel.
3. Don't let the organizer down.  Here's a handy dandy sub-list that will help you out.