Ryan Miller
Bio: Promoting and sharing education has always been important-- Be it through training bar staff, hosting seminars, or traveling to see the best of the best speak on their specialties. In addition to opening and running the bar/cocktail program at The Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room in Kansas City’s Crossroads neighborhood (2017), Miller has also worked behind highly regarded bars such as Extra Virgin and The Rieger. He was on the opening staff and ran the bar/cocktail program at Voltaire (2013), and got his start in such Kansas City institutions as le Fou Frog, Westport Café & Bar and The Drop Bar + Bistro. Holding the current title of Logistics Manager for the Paris of the Plains Cocktail Festival, Miller is in his 5th year (2012-2017) as a coordinator of the more and more successful annual conference. Which brings regional and national luminaries of the industry to Kansas City to promote education and arts culture in an industry and enthusiast-focused atmosphere. Additionally, Miller sits as an organizer and Treasurer for local wine, beverage and hospitality education group, Gang of Pour (2016). The group, consisting mostly of Certified Sommeliers, concentrates on bringing wine education to industry professionals (as well as enthusiasts) who may be on their way to furthering themselves through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Previously, Miller held a position on the council of the Kansas City Chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild from 2012-2017, most recently as the Vice President. Working actively with other council members as well as the whole membership to coordinate and organize events, meetings, fundraisers, competitions, et al. The growth of the chapter and the promotion of the great Kansas City community, bartenders and all other aspects of local acclaim, are constantly Miller’s number one priority. Attending Regional Leadership Conferences in Chicago, Cleveland and Indianapolis in consecutive years ultimately lead to both organizing and chairing the conference in Kansas City in 2017. Miller completed the Introductory Course Exam in The Court of Master Sommeliers in 2017 in Milwaukee, WI. He completed both the online (May 2011) and Advanced (September 2012) BarSmarts courses from Beverage Alcohol Resource, and will be attending the 5-Day Program in January 2018. He has attended the Bar Institute at Portland Cocktail week in 2013 (Product Development), 2014 (Beyond the Bar) and 2015 (Bar Ownership Master’s) as well as traveled to Bourbon Country for the 2014 session of Camp Runamok, an American Whiskey educational camp and immersive educational experience designed exclusively for bartenders. In January 2017 Miller volunteered on the Back of House (Team Taco) staff for the San Antonio Cocktail Conference-- a similar conference to Kansas City’s own Paris of the Plains Cocktail Festival, wherein he was able to see the other side of running a festival while compiling and comparing best practices for the future. Through his membership and involvement in the United States Bartenders Guild, Miller has competed and won both local and regional cocktail competitions. In the fall of 2014, he competed in the National Final of the Beefeater Global Bartending Competition “Mix LDN”. In 2012, Miller competed in Campari’s Best Apertivo Cocktail National Final in Portland, Or. In the Spring prior placed fourth regionally in the Four Roses bourbon cocktail competition in Saint Louis, MO, and was a finalist in the Paris of the Plains Bartending Competition is 2013 & 2014.
I Forget to Remember 