Join Modern Luxury and Maker’s Mark® Bourbon as we highlight Houston’s talented and diverse restauranteurs, chefs, and bartenders
Joel Ramirez, Beverage Director at The Kirby Group
Joel Ramirez is living The American Dream. Long before he moved to Texas, Ramirez, who is a first-generation Mexican American, grew up in Watsonville, California, roughly twenty miles southeast of Santa Cruz. His father and mother, who worked in agriculture and the hotel business respectively, were the living embodiment of dedication and hard work. “Work is what my family does,” he says, assuredly. “It’s something that we pride ourselves in.” As for Ramirez, he got his start in the hospitality industry at age fourteen and has never looked back. Even as he dabbled in photography and other creative pursuits, he worked jobs bussing tables, washing dishes, and bartending to help pay the bills. Whether he’s building relationships with new brands or developing recipes, the Beverage Director still enjoys flexing his creative muscles in the workplace. Admittedly, he takes a self-proclaimed ‘culinary approach’ to recipe production, spending time training his bartenders on each drink’s unique composition and thought process. Over the years, mentoring has become another foremost passion. “This job is really strenuous, and it almost takes more than it gives,” he explains. “I like to coach people through the ups and downs and help them develop.” At the end of the day, he’s deeply committed to providing consistent professional service, which means showing up for guests, and leaving any personal problems at the door. After all, he says, “We're here to provide an experience.”
Heights Bier Garten Featured Cocktails
Baggage Claim Maker's 46® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, Sweet Vermouth, Yuzu, Angostura Orange Bitters.
War-Buck Maker's Mark® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, Cognac, Blueberry-Lavender, Lemon, Ginger Beer. 
Whisky Sour Maker’s Mark® Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, Ramazzotti, Crème De Peche, Lemon, Turbo, Egg White.
DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
Maker's Mark® and Maker's 46® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky and Maker’s Mark® Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, 45-57% Alc./Vol. ©2024 Maker's Mark Distillery, Inc., Loretto, KY.
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