Blackest in the Forest: Bartender & Pastry Chef Michael George on Cocktails, Cacao, & Celebrating Self

Michael George is a bartender and pastry chef in Salt Lake City. They split their time between a couple different bars—you can find them on various nights at Water Witch, a James Beard-nominated bar, and Acme Bar Co. They bring a passion for flavor and story, their own vibrant personality, and the sensibility of their background in the kitchen to their drinks, in which they seek to both honor tradition and break through artificial barriers of what a drink can be. As a Black, queer, non-binary person, the barriers Michael is working to break down go far beyond just the strictures of what can go into a cocktail to encompass who gets to make that cocktail in the first place.Michael recently won the prestigious Black Manhattan Contest put on by the Black Bourbon Society with two cocktails that tell amazing stories and push the boundaries of flavor. One of those drinks, which they named the Blackest in the Forest, was made using cacao and chocolate from Ritual, and tells the story of Michael’s roots—where they’ve been, where they are now, and where they’re going. You can find a link to the recipe for Blackest in the Forest here and make it yourself at home!You can check out other links mentioned in this episode at our Linktree.Michael George is a Black, queer, and non-binary bartender, pastry chef, and artist. They are originally from Chicago, Illinois, but currently live and work in Salt Lake City, Utah. Michael finds inspiration for all of his creative endeavors from lived experiences and the world around them. They are passionate about being a vessel for which other people can learn about and lean into being their most authentic and fearless selves through creating and amplifying spaces for other Black, queer, and non-binary people.  Check out David's book Pairing Beer & Chocolate: A Guide to Bringing the Flavors of Craft Beer and Craft Chocolate Together.Follow Bean to Barstool on social media!InstagramFacebookPinterestSign up for host David Nilsen's beer newsletter for regular beer musings, and the Bean to Barstool newsletter for pairings, collaborations, and maker profiles.