The Stars Have Aligned for 2025

Jan 244 min read

Updated: Jan 26

Yusef and Nandini Austin at Field + Supply Fall Market 2024 Photo Credit @deb_fong_photography

Our Journey

Hello discerning readers and to our supportive, adoring, and cocktail loving fans!!!

This year is all about elevating our taste for the finer things in life and architecting your own experiences in whatever you focus your attention on. i.e. preparing a new dish, reading that novel on the top shelf full of dust, learning Spanish, teaching your kids life lessons, growing the best and most nutritious food in your garden (upstate or on your balcony), and going to see that live band that just freaking rocks! Awww, I miss live shows in NYC. Nandini and I have found from years of experience that spice and flavor has been a focal point of our lives. We live for that experience of the unknown, to feel a part of something unique, out of the ordinary and interstellar. We are shooting for the stars and beyond and never looking back.

With that said, we have had our fair share of obstacles that have caused setbacks, delays and headaches, but, we have used them as a stepping stone, a springboard of sorts to propel us up and beyond to learn, grow, nurture and define ourselves for the better. I heard in my meditation the other day that in your pursuit of defining your future that it shouldn't be easy??? No, it should be earned. That when you are at a point in your learning that if you show up for yourself when you don't feel like it, when you don't let your mind return to the past, that's a victory. The overcoming process. When you sit with yourself and push on, that’s when the brain changes the most, stepping into the unknown.

A Winter Cocktail made with our Hibiscus + Rose Petal Mixer

We have been enjoying the process of ever learning, pushing ourselves to figure it out, to not give up. This last year was all about the set up, the structure, the foundation and building it from the ground up. It's so easy to move ahead when you're so excited and have so many things on your plate and not to have the core foundation built. With that said, there are a few things that we would love to share with you in 2025.

Artisan Mixers

The Cocktail Architect has been selling our Artisan Mixers to local shops here in the Hudson Valley in a 12.5 oz.Bottle, which creates about 13 drinks. This year we now have 4 oz. bottles that we are selling in trios. The original “Mixers” flavor profiles which were sent in our kits had such a positive response, it was the catalyst for producing them for the the public. Each bottle represents the brand, with Gucci Gold and Jet Black labels with the hint of color that is associated with the spice and flavor that's poured into each bottle. When you open each bottle you are transported to an island of paradise, in this case, Mauritius. My South African friends refer to Mauritius as the Hawaii of South Africa. Gorgeous, exotic, tantalizing, and epic, in every sense. Mauritius was the inspiration for our Mixers. “Heaven on Earth”, to quote Mark Twain.

Spices for Mixology — Our Winter favorite Artisan Mixer, Black Cardamom + Star Anise

Cocktail Classes

This past year we saw such an interest in our Cocktail Classes that we have decided to put the pedal to the metal and line up as many as we can. Not only are they fun and exciting to be a part of, but to teach them has opened up a new skill set for me as a person and an influencer. We get to shake, stir, place, embellish and emphasize each characteristic of a well designed cocktail. There's a powerful feeling of creating something, whether its a dish, a new song, a painting or a lasting relationship. Look for The Cocktail Architect to host a class at your next retreat or celebration at work. We have had the pleasure to get a 5 X Star review from Google. Now that's hot!

A cocktail class for 10 guests in the beautiful Farmhouse at Inness

Catering

Let's talk about food! I had the pleasure to reconnect with my good friend Jonathan, from New York City, who owns Gastronome, a Catering Company with amazing menus. Passed Hors D'Oeuvres, Entrees, Plats Principaux, Plated Dessert and The Cocktail Architect providing the bar and designing the Specialty Drinks Menus. We have joined forces to establish a go to for food and drink, up in the Hudson Valley and New York City. We have everything to offer to our guests for any celebration and looking forward to sharing our experiences with you this Spring + Summer and beyond.