We were lucky to catch up with Desmond Edson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Desmond thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I didn’t start out thinking I was going to build a business. I started behind the bar.

For years, I worked in hospitality, serving cocktails and connecting with people from all walks of life. What I noticed was that the moments guests remembered most weren’t necessarily the drinks themselves it was the experience surrounding them. People would stay after receiving their cocktail to ask questions about spirits, techniques, ingredients, and the stories behind what they were drinking. Those conversations often became the highlight of the interaction.

Over time, I realized that what people were really looking for wasn’t just a beverage. They were looking for connection. They wanted to learn something new, meet new people, and be part of an experience rather than simply sit at a table and order a drink.

That realization became the foundation for Mixology 101.

I saw an opportunity to create something that blended education, entertainment, and hospitality into one experience. Instead of serving cocktails across a bar, I could teach people how to make them. Instead of guests sitting separately, I could create an environment where strangers became friends through a shared activity.

What excited me most was that Mixology 101 wasn’t just about cocktails. It was about bringing people together. The cocktail became the vehicle for conversation, community, and memorable experiences.

The first few classes confirmed what I had hoped for. Guests weren’t just enjoying the drinks they were laughing, learning, taking photos, exchanging contact information, and leaving with stories. That’s when I knew the concept had potential beyond a single event.

As the business grew, so did my vision. Mixology 101 evolved from a cocktail class into a hospitality experience brand. Through partnerships with venues, spirit brands, private clients, and community organizations, I’ve continued to explore new ways to create meaningful experiences around food, beverage, wellness, and connection.

Today, that vision extends beyond cocktails through projects like Daily Dose by Dez, a wellness-focused concept that reflects my belief that hospitality isn’t only about what we serve it’s about how we make people feel.

Looking back, the idea came from a simple observation: people crave connection. I believed that if I could create experiences that genuinely brought people together, the business would follow. That belief continues to guide everything I build today.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Desmond Edson, and I’m the founder of Drinksbydez and creator of Mixology 101, an experiential hospitality brand focused on bringing people together through cocktails, education, and memorable experiences.

My journey into hospitality started behind the bar. Like many bartenders, I initially fell in love with the creativity of crafting cocktails, but what kept me in the industry was the connection. Every shift gave me the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds, celebrate milestones, and create moments that guests would remember long after they left. Over time, I realized that hospitality wasn’t just about serving drinks it was about creating experiences.

That realization led me to launch Drinksbydez, which began as a mobile bartending and event service. As I worked more private events and interacted with guests, I noticed that people were increasingly interested in learning how cocktails were made. They wanted to understand the ingredients, techniques, and stories behind what they were drinking.

That observation inspired Mixology 101.

Mixology 101 is an interactive cocktail experience where guests don’t just watch cocktails being made they become part of the process. Participants learn professional techniques, create cocktails themselves, and connect with others in a fun and engaging environment. What makes the experience unique is that it combines education, entertainment, and hospitality into a single event.

Today, Mixology 101 serves private clients, corporate groups, venue partners, member clubs, and spirit brands. We’ve hosted experiences ranging from intimate gatherings to larger community-focused events, all centered around the belief that great hospitality creates meaningful human connection.

One problem I believe we solve is helping people engage with one another in an increasingly disconnected world. Many social experiences today are passive. Guests sit, watch, and consume. Our experiences encourage participation, conversation, and interaction. The cocktail simply becomes the vehicle that brings people together.

What sets us apart is our focus on the guest experience. While many cocktail classes focus solely on recipes, we focus on creating an atmosphere where people feel welcomed, involved, and inspired. Every detail from the cocktail menu to the storytelling and presentation is designed to create memorable moments.

One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing strangers walk into a class and leave as friends. I’ve watched guests celebrate birthdays, network professionally, reconnect with their creativity, and build genuine relationships through our events. Those moments remind me why I started this journey in the first place.

Beyond cocktails, my long-term vision is to continue building hospitality experiences that bring together education, wellness, culture, and community. This vision has also led to projects like Daily Dose by Dez, a wellness-focused concept that reflects my belief that hospitality extends beyond what we drink it’s about how we make people feel.

If there’s one thing I’d want people to know about me and my brand, it’s that we’re in the business of creating connection. The cocktails may bring people into the room, but the experience is what keeps them coming back.

Drinksbydez
Mixology 101
Shake. Sip. Connect.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the belief that working harder automatically leads to greater success.

Early in my career, I believed success meant saying yes to every shift, every opportunity, and every request. As a bartender, I took pride in being the person who was always available and willing to outwork everyone around me. While that mindset helped me develop strong hospitality skills, it eventually became a limitation when I started building my own business.

At some point, I realized I was spending all of my time working in hospitality but very little time building something of my own. I was trading hours for dollars rather than creating systems, partnerships, and experiences that could grow beyond me.

The shift happened when I began developing Mixology 101. Instead of focusing solely on bartending, I started focusing on creating experiences, building relationships, and developing a brand. I learned that entrepreneurship isn’t about doing everything yourself—it’s about creating something that can continue growing through collaboration, creativity, and vision.

Today, I still believe in hard work, but I’ve learned that working strategically is just as important as working hard. That lesson changed the way I approach business, partnerships, and long-term growth.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

The hospitality industry taught me that people rarely remember every detail of a drink, but they always remember how you made them feel.

That’s why relationship-building is at the center of everything we do at Drinksbydez and Mixology 101. We stay connected through social media, event follow-ups, newsletters, personal outreach, and by continually creating opportunities for people to engage with the brand beyond a single event.

One of the most important things we’ve learned is that loyalty isn’t created through marketing alone—it’s created through experiences. When guests attend a Mixology 101 class, they’re not simply learning recipes. They’re becoming part of a community. They’re meeting new people, creating memories, and sharing an experience that feels personal.

We also listen closely to our guests. Feedback surveys, conversations after events, and ongoing communication help us understand what resonates most and where we can improve.

Ultimately, I believe loyalty comes from consistency. If you consistently deliver value, create memorable experiences, and genuinely care about the people you’re serving, they will continue to support your brand and recommend it to others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Drinksbydez.com
• Instagram: Drinksbydez
• Youtube: Drinksbydez
• Yelp: Drinksbydez
• Other: Mixology 101™ – Interactive Cocktail Experiences
  Instagram: @mixology101.la
  Founder: @drinksbydez
  Libations in New York (Mixology 101 Program)
  Corporate, Private & Member-Only Experiences
  Website: Drinksbydez.com

Image Credits

@jvisulas312
@blazetherebel