Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/430172
1 14 / the tasting panel / december 2014 Cars whiz by on the busy intersection of La Brea and Hollywood in Los Angeles as Mitch Kordonowy, bartender at the whiskey bar Seven Grand in Downtown L.A., places one of the percolators on the lone table. Pedestrians glance curiously at the set up as they walk by. "We get such a collection of people here—people from the street, people coming to the service and the vol- unteers," Kordonowy notes as he puts the caddy, filled with creamers and coffee lids, down near the teas. As part of the hospitality team at Hollywood church MOSAIC, he comes every Sunday and Wednesday and doles out free tea, coffee and hot chocolate, just outside of the brick building on a patio where one would expect to find at a trendy L.A. restaurant. Originally from a small town in Missouri, Kordonowy came to the city of lights to work as an audio engineer, but soon discovered a love of the service industry at Seven Grand—where a patron told him about MOSAIC. "I started volun- teering to meet people; I found a community. It felt so natural to serve people with not only a warm beverage, but also an inviting interaction. I think it is so important to greet people and make them feel welcome, which translates directly to working at a bar or restaurant," he noted. While serving others, he has also learned a valuable lesson for himself: "I was initially shy, but am now much more extraverted. This experience has helped me hone my interpersonal skills— something that helps me at Seven Grand without a doubt." A hobby that improves your job? Two birds, one stone. As an All-Star Mixologist: Recommended by Seven Grand's GM to rep- resent Michter's in the competition, Kordonowy seemed like the perfect match for the brand, given his love of whiskey and history: "There is definitely a whiskey for everyone. Ryes have such great tradition behind them, and Michter's proof balances out the spice beautifully. The history behind the distillery also adds great value to the brand." What will he do with his third-place prize money? "I bought a ticket home for Christmas to see my little sister and mom." Well, if that doesn't warm your heart! Calamus ◗ 1¾ oz. Michter's US*1 Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey ◗ ½ oz. freshly-squeezed lemon juice ◗ ½ oz. homemade spiced Granny Smith apple butter ◗ ½ oz. homemade honey-maple syrup ◗ 3–4 dashes Bar Keep Vanilla Peppercorn Organic Bitters ◗ 1 twist of lemon PHOTO: CAL BINGHAM PHOTO: ADAM JAMES Mitch Kordonowy: Serving the Community