A buddy of mine, Aaron Ingrao, is getting ready to head across the country in order to capture and preserve a fascinating story – the return of the craft cocktail, and the bartenders that preserve the legacy.
For years, Aaron has been following the craft cocktail movement in Buffalo. He first came to recognize the importance of the scene just before bartender Tim Stevens returned to Buffalo from San Diego and opened Ballyhoo in the Cobblestone District. Previously, Aaron had paid a visit to Tim in San Diego, where Tim was heavily involved with the Bartender’s Guild.
When Aaron returned to Buffalo, he realized that there was no groundswell of craft cocktail activity in his hometown, but shortly thereafter the efforts of local pioneers Vera Pizzeria sprang forth. “Unfortunately, I came home to Buffalo where we had no such cocktail establishments,” Aaron opined. “That was until Vera Pizzeria opened which became the first subject for my passion project. This was our city’s first real classic cocktail bar. I couldn’t have been happier. Vera set the bar really high and is still raising that bar. Over the last 6 years, buffalo has since opened more incredible bars like Ballyhoo, Buffalo Proper, Mes Que, Bourbon and Butter and more. Shooting Vera Pizzeria eventually led to the idea for my current project.”
Since that time, Aaron, who is a photographer by trade, decided that the craft cocktail movement could be told in a way that would capture the passion behind the people who put their cities on the map for mixing, muddling and mastering the art of the craft cocktail.
Aaron’s plan is to travel from state to state, photographing the notable bartenders in the industry, and the establishments where they work. At the end of one year’s time, he intends on publishing a beautiful hard cover book that will document the project. Of course, he will be starting in Buffalo, where there will be a bit heavier slant, since it is the city that inspired him to hit the road. Local bars featured in the book are Buffalo Proper, Bourbon & Butter, Vera, Més Que and Ballyhoo.
“The book will be photo heavy,” Aaron told me. “It’s an art photo book, not a cocktail recipe book, although there might be one signature per bartender included. As of yet, no one has documented this culture as a whole. This book will serve as historical document in years to come. Just take a look at Prohibition and the people and the stories. This will be similar – it’s the comeback of the craft movement, which is something to be revered.”
To get a head start on the project, Aaron friended over 2200 bartenders throughout the country, in order to conduct some initial research and establish an industry audience. He says that the book is a collaboration with a national bartending community that is excited to be featured and celebrated.
In order to fund the book, Aaron has launched a Kickstarter crowd funding campaign. Once the financial goal is reached, he will be working with 19 Ideas here in Buffalo to design the book. 1000 books will then be published, at a $65 retail price. The book will be called Keepers of the Craft | Cocktails Across America. It’s part of an even larger plan that Aaron has been formulating called The Passion Project. The idea is to continue to tackle photographic centered projects that capture the lives and work of people who are passionate about their trade.
To learn more about this particular book, and to support the Kickstarter campaign (with rewards), click here.