J.P. Smith began his journey bartending in Holland, Mich., and returned home in 2019 after more than two decades building acclaimed cocktail programs across Montana, Colorado and California. In Denver, he led bar programs at Twelve, TAG, TAG RAW BAR and Le Rouge Lounge, and helped open the globally renowned speakeasy Williams & Graham. In Aspen, he built one of the largest cocktail programs in the world at Justice Snow’s, earning international acclaim including a #1 ranking from Playboy Magazine. In San Francisco, he served as creative & managing bar director at Michelin-starred Mourad, working privately with tech CEOs, musicians and athletes. Upon returning to Holland, J.P. launched the award-winning Obstacle No.1. A 21-time competition winner across 33 global cocktail competitions, he has taught and guest-bartended on three continents and been featured in five cocktail books. He currently works for Mad Honey Culinary Studio as the in-house beverage expert.