Meet Jake Diaz | Bartender

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jake Diaz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jake, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I believe the most important factor behind my success is my ability to make everybody and anybody feel comfortable at my bar. I treat people like they’re at my hanging out with me in my living room and that’s just who I am as a person. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what kind of service you’re expecting, anybody can sit at my bar and be comfortable including people who just want to be left alone and chill. I really love what i do and I strive to learn something from everybody that comes in, I’m not too good to cater to everybody’s personal wants or needs and I am never above making the customer exactly what they want but if they’re willing to explore new cocktails and experiences that’s what I’m here for.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a bartender and I have been involved in food service and hospitality for about 10 years now. I believe what sets me apart from others is the fact that I have a thirst for knowledge, I love learning about everything and anything. I am never too good to create drinks and experiences that cater to everybody’s specific needs, and I believe that a lot of bartenders nowadays put themselves into this weird creative box that really stifles creativity. I have worked in so many different settings with so many cool bartenders and chefs, from country clubs to dive bars it’s been a privilege to have been able to meet so many cool minds. Another thing I pride myself on is learning from everybody I met and any experience I have, you can learn something from everybody everyday even if its how you don’t want to do something. It’s very easy to get a big head being a bartender and I like to think I humble myself and remember that there’s always a way to be a bigger and better version of yourself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living in Brasstown, NC is such a privilege, I am a huge fan of the nature scene around here. I am originally a beach boy from Naples, Florida and I’ve always loved the outdoors. This area has the most beautiful hiking trails that are so accessible, Fire’s Creek is my favorite spot to hang out with my best friend Garrett Madlock, who has taught so much about anything and everything involving the outdoors in these Blue Ridge Mountains. I love fly fishing, even though I’m not the best at it, and swimming in the shockingly cold waters. My favorite bar is Nocturnal Brewing in Hayesville. The head bartender there, Paxton Thorn, is a great point of inspiration for me and is awesome at what he does. he’s truly one of the only bartenders I can just let do their thing and every time I experience an awesome cocktail that I wouldn’t’ve even thought of. Fire’s Creek is great for hanging out but Panther Top is my favorite hike in the area, a beautiful tower with a 360 view of the local landscape. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, panther top is a guaranteed way to impress yourself and any other people you’re hanging out with.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a huge shoutout to my mother Kristen for molding and teaching me how to be the man I am today, my hospitality and love for taking care of others is directly correlated with how she treated me or any other person she ever interacted with. I’d also love to shout out Donna and Robert Forsyth, the owners of The Crown. I would not be where I am professionally or personally without them, I’ve always loved what I’ve done but with their encouragement and support I’ve blossomed into being a better bartender and all around human being. Lastly I have to shout out my two beautiful daughters Alexandra and Isabella, being their father is the only thing I love more than bartending and I strive everyday to make them proud and to be a good example of what it is to be a loving and successful man.

Website: https://thecrownbrasstown.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecrownbrasstown/

Image Credits
Garrett Madlock