I reckon a good drink, like a good blade, starts with the right material. Clean glass, sharp ice, precise measurements. It’s all about the balance of flavors, just as it’s about balance of weight and tension in a forged piece. I’d say a master of metal would respect a bartender who treats every pour like a careful hammer strike, keeping the rhythm and never rushing. It’s a craft, not a shortcut, and that’s what I admire.

A glass of bourbon, straight up, at the end of a long shift. The warm burn steadies the mind, and the smooth finish reminds me that precision doesn’t have to be cold and harsh. That’s my rhythm‑keeper.