Goodbye Los Angeles. Hello Houston.
It's been a long three months. Thank you for bearing with me. Also, I'm giving away some bottles.
Three months ago, my life was very different.
Three months ago, The Boy had just turned 18 months old. He was just finding his sea legs, starting to babble a few words here and there and was generally an adorable mess.
Three months ago, The Wife and I decided to put our house on the market. It was time to relocate our lives away from Los Angeles to Houston. The reason was simple: We had no family in Southern California and we wanted to raise The Boy around a village. (The Wife’s family resides in H-Town)
Three months ago, everything was good with Mom. In good spirits, watching her black and white movies and generally going about her business … or so it seemed.
I apologize for allowing what happens here at Sip Mightily and Brown Liquor Collective to become stagnant over the last three months. I am sorry.
I just didn’t have the juice.
In April, my mother was diagnosed with a potentially life threatening illness, along with a few other ailments that would need addressing. With the news, I had to put everything down and shift my priorities and take my talents to Oklahoma to be close to Mom. That reprioritization included the move from California to Texas, as I never actually had an opportunity to say goodbye to my people in Los Angeles. That also included The Wife telling me she’s “got this” and ushering me onto my duties as an only child while she managed the move to Houston and an 18-month-old toddler. She is Superwoman.
It also means that I haven’t given myself any time to enjoy the things that I appreciate. Hang out with friends. Buy expensive sneakers. Spend hours deep into a video game session. Working on my horrendous golf game. None of it.
And I definitely didn’t get to writing this newsletter. Or experimenting with new cocktails and spirits. Or visiting bars or distilleries. It didn’t happen.
Having three months to be away from this did allow for some perspective and rethinking of how we do this as I go forward. Maybe this will work for you, maybe it won’t. But if this doesn’t work for me, then what are we doing here, right?
It’s okay though, I think we’ll be fine. Let’s start with this:
ONE: I’m still going to be writing about spirits, distilleries, cocktails, etc.
The number of conversations I’ve had with family, friends and total strangers about the recipes, bottles and bars that have been recommended within our space has kept the fire burning. Earlier this week,
left this comment on the site and it made me proud.
The best thing anyone can use Nixta with to make a cocktail will always be a Corn on the Cob a.k.a. Mexican Old Fashioned. You should make this on Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo and any day that ends in Y.
Two: I have to write about different things beyond spirits, distilleries, cocktails, etc.
My interests are far and wide-ranging beyond spirits and sports (my day job). I read about the world of tech and how AI is coming for all of our jobs daily. I watch anime. I still play video games. I am a wannabe foodie, chef and baker.
If you’ve read this far, I have a gift for you. Recipe for THE BEST COOKIES YOU’LL EVER MAKE AND EAT. You’re welcome.
The point is, you should expect a bit more variety going forward.
Three: I will experiment with other ways to create content and experiences
This will most likely mean revamping what it means to do a podcast, social media and other forms of content creation. Truthfully, when I spin the podcast back up, it’ll be with a focus to reconnect to my friends and associates within the industry, but also outside of it. Some of the best conversations I’ve had about whiskey are with folks who have no specialization within the space. I value experiences over everything, and it’s absolutely what I encourage the readers and supporters here to do constantly.
Also, if there’s anyone that reads this that’s in Houston, let’s link and talk shop. I’m down and ready to engage.
Four: This must be fun or it won’t work
I am spoiled.
Eight years ago, I decided to walk away from being a corporate square and decided to work in sports media and content creation full-time. It was a risky endeavor, especially because the jump would mean watching my income decrease by 50%.
Eight years later, I’ve never been more happy professionally.
Sip Mightily and Brown Liquor Collective was always meant to serve as my creative outlet away from “work”. Doing this is what allows the day job to not feel so…day job-y?
I’ve had folks ask me to review spirits on a daily basis or do multiple interviews per week with people in the industry. To that, I say…no thanks. That sounds like work-work.
Five: I have bottles to give away.
Oddly, being away from this for three months hasn’t stopped an accumulation of bottles in my bar. I was fortunate to go on a trip to Frey Ranch distillery in Nevada with the homies Omar and Pierre from Taste Select Repeat and was treated to an awesome experience. I have a few to give away, and I’m going to make it easy for you to get your hands on one.
The request: Like this story and leave a comment on this story with the best thing you’ve sipped in 2023 or something you really enjoyed by way of Sip Mightily or Brown Liquor Collective. I have a limited supply, but you’ll hear from me directly if you get a bottle.
Thank you for supporting the movement. I’m back.
-Ed.
I'm out of bottles to giveaway! Thank you BLC + Sip Mightily family! :)
Stay up. I know this struggle well. Left Sideline Pass on the back burner when my Dad battled cancer and managed my own health challenges. Stay true to the people/love/joys that sustained you through all of this life. You've got lots more to do. The work - and we - will be there.