My 2020 Quarantine Project

In April of 2020, one month into COVID quarantine, I watched Stanley Tucci make a Negroni on Instagram, and I thought, “How cool.  He put so much care into a few ounces of tastiness in a pretty glass.  Too bad I don’t like cocktails.”  But then I remembered that I didn’t even really know if I liked cocktails or not, because I’d never really tried them.  Beer and wine gal, me.  

So I decided to make it a project to learn more about mixed drinks.  Being stuck at home meant that I’d have to get a few bottles for my own bar.  After some research and advice from a friend, I started with a five-bottle bar:  gin, bourbon, Grand Marnier, sweet vermouth, and dry vermouth.  And a bottle of bitters.  The Drinky-Drink Project was born.   I worked with those five bottles for about a month, then added vodka.  Then tequila.  And I just kept adding.

Along the way I’ve learned what I like and dislike, and I love the planning, researching, writing, mixing, juicing, photographing – every part of the project.  In November 2020 I decided to enroll in online bartending school, and graduated!  In January 2021 I became a certified mixologist. I hope you can trust me to mix you if we get that opportunity.

In my real life, I’m a YouTube knitting teacher and pattern designer, my full-time job since 2009.  I live in Austin, Texas, and I am quarantined with three dogs – two Basenjis and one Whippet.

You can reach me at staci@verypink.com.

My mailing address is:
Staci Perry
PO Box 152442
Austin, TX 78715
(Please don’t mail packages to this address.)