We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Hahn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I’m co-writing a book series about mixology with a wonderful bartender and savant, Jay Fisher. He’s a master of connecting with people, and there’s a lot that can be learned from him. The books are filled with bartending tricks, funny stories, and recipes that anyone can follow. A lot of the world views alcohol as a means to an end—get drunk. But Jay sees things differently. He believes in savoring every moment, and in making each cocktail an unforgettable experience. The idea here is to nudge culturally from simple consumption to memorable enjoyment, and to make your pallet come alive in ways that you never knew were possible. When Jay serves a drink, it’s like seeing a color you’ve never seen before. People connect over his drinks and stories. People who met him years ago remember him. How many other bartenders get hugged by friends they only met once? How many people talk about a good drink they had 5 years ago, and the experience that was and the people they met during it? This book series is about introducing people to Jay’s world, arming them with wonderful anecdotes and histories to make them the life of the party, and providing great recipes—many that you can’t find anywhere else. The first three books are called, “How to Make 21 Shots That Don’t Suck,” “How to Make 21 Cocktails That Don’t Suck,” and “How to Make 21 Jay Originals That Don’t Suck.” And more are on the way!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m happy that Jay and I can put together fun books about mixology. It isn’t a subject I knew much about before we met, but the more I learn, the more captivating I find it. Creating something about a new topic is exciting, because you’re forced to learn quickly, and the more you learn, the faster you can work. What makes it even better is capturing the experience I had when I met Jay and putting it into books. It’s very exciting to be at a restaurant and see him coming your way, because of the unique experience he delivers. And being able to share that with people from all over the world who may not have the fortune of meeting him is a great motivation for getting the work done as quickly as possible. When you put your audience first, the work is better, and you can accomplish so much more. There’s a canyon of difference between approaching art like, “Look at what I did!” and approaching it with, “Here’s a gift for you.” The former taxes people for attention and time. The latter is interesting.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would want to take them to Quentin Tarantino’s New Beverly Cinema and see what was playing there. Watching 35mm prints is a special rarity, as are double features. Then to get feeling back in our legs after sitting for so long, I’d take them to Gold’s Gym in Venice. To recover, we might go to RVIVL in Playa Vista to enjoy their red light, sauna, IVs, or other athletic recovery services. Then we could stroll right next door to eat at Urban Plates, which has some of the best food in town.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I met Jay Fisher while I was attending the Gen Con Film Festival, which was screening a short film that my wife Elisabeth and I directed. Jay was the bartender in the hotel where we were staying. We went to dinner, met him, and hit it off immediately. Watching him work was like watching a Cirque du Soleil act; not with acrobatics but with all the grace and flare. He puts on a kind of show with every cocktail—and if he likes you, he doesn’t let you order anything. He knows what you want better than you do. He figures it out like a magician before you have a chance to think about it. 90 days after first meeting, we released our first book. Now we’re working on the 4th.

Website: https://michaelryanhahn.com

Twitter: @michaelryanhahn

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