About Us
Hello Weary Traveler!
The Weary Traveler's club is a celebration of unique spirits around the world. Since their inception alcoholic beverages have been used as a vehicle to connect with others. We seek to do a deep dive into these spirits while examining their origin, production method, rituals, cocktail application, and historical significance. Ideally we can all drink our way into having deeper knowledge and appreciation for the cultures who produce these spirits and the way they helped them foster a deeper connection with one another.
Founder - Kyle Rioux
Kyle Rioux is the national ambassador for Liquid Alchemist premium cocktail syrups. He has a decade of experience building cocktail menus for California bars from Hollywood to Sacramento. He believes that drinkers and non-drinkers should have an equal seat at the proverbial bar top, leading to the development of beverage programs celebrated for their traditional and non-alcoholic cocktail curation.
Founding Member - Robert Martinez
As President of USBG SoCal and a 14 year veteran of the Hospitality Industry Robert believes it is his mission in life to educate, uplift, protect, and lead the hospitality community. An LA Native, Robert loves to celebrate Los Angeles’ diversity through its food and drinking culture. He believes bars and restaurants use food and drinks as a vehicle to create connections with people and build communities. He’s created these connections while bartending at neighborhood bars like Cole’s French Dip, and as Beverage Director for acclaimed Michelin Star Chef, Curtis Stone, at Gwen.
A University of California Davis graduate with a degree in Political Science, he married his love of public service and hospitality by becoming involved in local government. He is the current President of the United States Bartenders’ Guild for Los Angeles, Serves on the US Bartenders’ Guild National Council of Chapters, and is seeking re-election to the DTLA Neighborhood Council.
He stands up for people who have historically been discriminated against and is a voice for the working class community. This includes events and initiatives to raise money or advocate for the following: The LGBTQ community, emergency grants for bartenders, women in leadership, addiction resources, homeless resources, a sustainable future, safety in the historic core, cleaner streets, labor rights, S.A. & S.H. protections, D.E.I., Health/Wellness/Physical fitness, free standardized education for hospitality professionals, coalition building across hospitality facing organizations, and clear/transparent paths to promotion in the hospitality community.
Its a lot to take on, but Robert strives to create the kind of Hospitality Community he would have liked to experience when he was first a barback and tries to create that for the barbacks joining us today.
INSTA: @cocktailsandotherlies
