Imagine some of the best bartenders from around America, putting one of their best cocktail recipes into a can that can be shipping across the nation for anyone to enjoy. That’s the concept bartender Aaron Polsky put together while brainstorming ideas to give bartenders greater control over their creative and intellectual property—and that was before COVID!

With bars still closed, many bartenders are collecting unemployment, mixing cocktails for themselves at home, and further highlighting the importance of other avenues to market. With the Livewire project, Aaron is creating that pathway, spotlighting a different bartender with each release, and ensuring they’re compensated fairly along the way.

The goal is to turn these bartenders into rock stars, which is exactly what Aaron looks like. The first time I met him, it was like flashing back to the Sunset Strip and the Whiskey-a-Go-Go: tall, rail thin, curls down to his shoulders, and a chiseled jawline.

Aaron looks the part from head to toe, but his cocktails are also damn fine. Last year when I was still working distribution, we were talking about representing Livewire in California. Now that I’m on the retail side, I’m back in contact about selling them directly to consumers.

We’ve got the core flavors in stock right now at all locations:

• The Heartbreaker: vodka with oroblanco grapefruit, kumquat, jasmine, and ginger.

• The Golden God: rye whiskey and brandy with apricot, green tea, and elderflower.

• The Honeydew Colins: gin with coconut, honeydew, lime leaf, and elderflower

I’ve cleaned out a number of cans between my wife and me, but I’ve saved a few for the rest of you. When you get home and you want something delicious and ready to pour, I haven’t found anything more serious than what Aaron is doing for RTDs right now.

You can join us at 3 PM PST tomorrow at the @missionliquor Instagram account if you want to hear more about Livewire.

See you then!

-David Driscoll