E183 Ray White

This weeks guest is Ray White who joins us from Tel Aviv, Israel. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia Ray relocated to Tel Aviv over a decade ago.

Over the years, Ray has become recognized as one of the top female bartenders in Tel Aviv. Ray's journey began in her late teens in an Irish pub, where she cultivated her bartending skills. Starting with whiskey and beer, Ray immersed herself in Italian restaurants to explore wine, cigars, and chef cuisine. In her early 20s, Ray's passion for cocktails led her to own a small beach bar for a summer season.

Fast forward to 23, and Ray relocated to Tel Aviv, managing renowned cocktail bars like Bellboy, Spicehouse, and Bushwick. Ray has not only competed and judged in cocktail competitions but also served as an ambassador for Mezcal IBA for four years and Beluga vodka for two years.

Currently, Ray is a co-owner of R2D (Ready to Drink) with her husband and another partner. R2D offers bar consulting services that include crafting cocktail menus, bars, and providing service and alcohol history lessons. R2D organizes private and large-scale cocktail events, tailoring experiences from boutique affairs with handcrafted syrups to massive festivals. The company also produces products like AI Foam (a vegan foam) and AI Mix (foam + sweet + sour). R2D supply draft cocktails in beer kegs throughout Israel.

Beyond Ray's professional endeavors, she is also a proud mother of three kids. Despite the demands of her dynamic career, Ray also finds time to host a monthly alcohol TV show called "SaneDrink" and actively contribute to the local bartenders' school by teaching a special Mixology course.

Ray's goal is to share her expertise and passion for cocktails, inspiring the next generation of bartenders.

Links

@rayyo

@r2disrael

R2D Website

@sugarrunbar

@babylonsistersbar

@the_industry_podcast

email us:  [email protected]

Podcast Artwork by Zak Hannah zakhannah.co