We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Heather ‘Mo-Nether’ Boyle. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Heather below.

Alright, Heather thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve been bartending for over a decade and landed my dream job as a bartender in Denali Alaska, where I could travel as a bartender and enjoy the out doors. Unfortunately due to covid I lost the job because they never opened during the pandemic. I was at a cross roads where my job was no longer essential. I found a job working in the spirit industry and relocated to a town I knew no one in. I was lacking the creativity of bartending but I was still in the same field. Moving to a town during a pandemic wasn’t easy either, because you couldn’t just go out and meet people when the country was still partially on locked down. With no friends and a passion for the outdoors I began hiking and exploring my new home. Typically I would go to a near by watering hole to enjoy a cocktail but I couldn’t at the time so I started to pack a bag with cocktail ingredients because what better place to enjoy a drink then in the National forest while enjoying the sunset. On one of my hikes the name cocktails on the trail came to me and I decided that I needed to share my journey with social media. I’ve always been and artist in everything I do, whether it’s paint, jewelry making, cooking food, or mixing up a cocktail. Cocktails on the trail is allowing me to follow my passion of bartending, being outside in nature, and traveling. It’s allowed me the outlet of creativity I needed to express myself.

Heather, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m originally from Miami and started working in restaurants right after high school. I always dreamed of being a bartender and couldn’t fulfill that dream in Miami because it was a cut throat industry. Most of the bartenders never left once they got that role. I moved out to Mt. Hood Oregon, and started Bartending at Timberline Lodge, where i was allowed the freedom of being creative and trying new things. I started watching and reading up on new trends, and attending classes that were offered to expand my talents and knowledge. I really started to get involved in the industry when i had the chance to attend Portland Cocktail week and Camp Runamok which are hosted by lush life that has created a community of bartenders. This community gave me support from likeminded people and encouraged me to stick with it and follow my passion. Since being a part of this community i started competing in cocktail competitions to see if i had what it took. I’ve currently won a cocktail competition every year since 2015 except for the 2 gap years during covid because nothing was being hosted. I’ve placed first in the Portland Bloody Mary Fest for Original Recipe and 1st and 2nd place for Guest Choice. I’ve won 1st at the Bloody Mary Mix down and was invited to compete nationally in New York. I’ve also placed 1st and 2nd place at Boozed and infused.
I’m most proud of sticking with my passion. It’s easy to give up on a passion when everything gets taken away and you are told it is not essential anymore. I’m proud that i can still call myself a professional bartender even if i am not behind a bar. I know that this was all meant to happen and that this is just the beginning of something bigger than i know. I’m still in the beginning stages of being a content creator and developing my business but I’m enjoying the journey. I hope one day i can start offering services where i guide or meet people at a location and can serve them up tasty beverages while enjoy the beauty mother nature has to offer.
What i offer for my followers is an escape into mother nature, while creating simple and easy do it yourself cocktails. I want to encourage others to do what i am doing and i want them to be able to enjoy something delicious while on the trail.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The main goal of Cocktails on the trail is for me to have a creative outlet and to bartend. My mission is to turn it into a full-time job and to become self-employed doing what i love most, mixing drinks and enjoying the outdoors. .

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I think the most important thing to remember when building your audience on social media is to just stay true to you and what you want to showcase. We tend to get caught up in sticking to trends and doing things to get as many followers as fast as we can but I feel that it’s best to stick to your true self and getting the followers that will truly get more value from your page. I also made business cards with my information and Instagram handle so I can pass them out when going to different networking events or when ever the topic comes up.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @cocktails_on_the_trail

Image Credits
Myself Heather ‘Mo-Nether’ Boyle