Personalities

Josh Harris

Josh's Links:

Bon Vivants

In 2009, close friends Josh Harris and Scott Baird, co-founded The Bon Vivants. In early 2011, The Bon Vivants hired their Los Angeles Ambassador, Alex Straus. The Bon Vivants is a nationally recognized cocktail and spirit consulting company specializing in the creation of on premise beverage programs, branding and guerilla marketing strategies for liquor companies, audience identification, ambassadorship, the concepting and execution of exceptionally curated and tailored events, and a soon-to-be released line of aromatic bitters and liqueurs, as well as an umbrella for a growing brick and mortar component. One of the principle tenets of The Bon Vivants is to bridge the gap between the beverage industry and the consumer while building community through the act of enjoying a delicious drink.

Through their work with The Bon Vivants, Josh and Scott have garnered acclaim for his bar programs at the Michelin-starred, fine dining restaurant Quince in San Francisco, the UK - styled gastropubs Againn and Againn Tavern in Washington D.C. and Rockville, Maryland, respectively, and also Food Network Star Tyler Florence's restaurant Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco. On the event side, the San Francisco celebration of Benedictine's 500th Birthday, the Studio 54 inspired New Years Eve event "Standing on Stardust," the San Francisco Cocktail Week gala event "Cocktail Carnival," and the philanthropic event "Pig & Punch" have all received much attention and praise. On the brand-side, The Bon Vivants have worked with numerous companies on a wide array of projects including Altamar Brands, most notably with Tequila Ocho, Combier, Skyy Spirits, Tempus Fugit Spirits, and Bacardi USA to name a few.

Josh and Scott are also partners in Trick Dog. Trick Dog is slated to open at the beginning of 2012 in the Mission District of San Francisco and will be a 30's - 50's inspired, solidly constructed, good time, non-pretentious cocktail bar also serving food until late in the evening. Trick Dog will also be a gallery for The Bon Vivants' immense collections of "bar-curio," glassware, and highly collectable bottles and reflect a very personal design sensibility.

Josh is a born-and-raised San Francisco native who attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory, former college athlete at The University of Southern California, and graduate with high honors from the University of San Francisco in 2005, Josh Harris passed on his family's traditional leanings toward law school and a career as a lawyer to pursue his innate talent and passion for bars and restaurants; he's never looked back. His experience runs the gamut, from neighborhood bars and fine dining restaurants to fast-paced clubs and cocktail bars with extensive management experience throughout.

Prior to founding The Bon Vivants, Josh was the brand ambassador and corporate mixologist for Altamar Brands, where he represented Right Gin, Tequila Ocho and Kübler Absinthe in multiple markets throughout California. His role included educating industry peers and consumers, creating original cocktails featuring the spirits, and executing events of all types in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Louisville and New Orleans. Josh is constantly on a quest for discovery. He is inspired by old things that are made well. He is fervent attendee of flea markets and estate sales. He loves old cars and motorcycles. But, the biggest love of his life is his 3 year old English Bull Dog named Stephen. Outside of that long-term position, he bartended full time doing what he loves best, creating delicious drinks, good energy, and memorable experiences for his guests.

The Bon Vivants are members of the United States Bartenders Guild and a seasoned contest circuit participants. Recently named a San Francisco Chronicle 2010 Bar Stars, they has taken first place in numerous competitions with their original cocktail creations, including the Suntory National Competition, Appleton Remixology San Francisco, Cointreau's Master of the Margarita, the 42 Below World Cup in San Francisco 2010, Skyy Spirits' San Francisco-wide "Mixology madness" competition in 2009 for the title City's Best Bartender, with a feature story in 7x7 magazine. The Bon Vivants and their cocktails have appeared in Wine & Spirits, Details, C Magazine, Beverage Industry News, Inc. Magazine, The Bold Italic, Served Raw, Nightclub and Bar, Tasting Panel, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle, Gary Regan's Bartenders Gin Compendium, Imbibe, Daily Candy, Eater National, Tablehopper, Alcademics, 7x7, CUESA publications, Urban Daddy, and more. Additionally, The Bon Vivants have been interviewed on "Dining Around with Gene Burns" on KGO Radio in San Francisco and "The Tasting Room with Tom Leykis" in Los Angeles, and has appeared live 7 Live and and KRON 4 television news channels.