The FMC Spotlight: AshPoursDrinks

Photos by Alyson Brown

No party is complete without a cocktail (or mocktail–if liquor isn't your thing). Rum and Cokes or Jack and Gingers are nice if you are short on time, but if you really want to impress your guests, the perfect way to do that is with a themed cocktail. These days, inspiration isn't hard to find, with YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest filled to the brim with easily accessible tutorials and recipes. Fun drinks fit for any occasion are just a click away. However, as the host or hostess, you must often decide just how the refreshment coincides with your celebration. Or, if you are lucky enough to stumble upon a creator, such as Ash, known as AshPoursDrinks on TikTok and Instagram, that work is done for you.

Since 2019, Ash has been filling her downtime learning the art of hosting, and while her inviting home is filled with cozy and pleasing curated decor, her specialty is drinks. The self-described "pop culture freak" often uses songs to inspire her integrations, which has led over one hundred and thirty-eight thousand TikTok users and fellow fans to her account. With a clean, clear and frequently sparkly aesthetic suitable for both admiration and following along, Ash welcomes newcomers to her craft with open arms, often offering advice and barware links in her comment section. Her colorful and eye-catching concoctions prove that art can be made from any medium, even if it only lasts for a night.

The FMC is so excited to shine our spotlight on Ash as she fills us in on the rewards and challenges of curating a fast-growing account, her top bar cart essentials, writing her upcoming book, and more.

Let’s start where you did. How did the account begin? What sparked the idea?

I was spending a LOT of time at home. In 2019, I left my career to be home with my daughter when we discovered she had a dairy allergy that could cause her to asphyxiate. While I was home, I spent a lot of time making cute drinks: coffee, matcha, and cocktails. I couldn't really drink at the time (breastfeeding), but I enjoyed crafting things I thought my husband might enjoy. I went back to work in 2020, but I work from home, and since I was still home alone ALL THE TIME, I continued making little drinks. One of my good friends (@alliesherman on IG) inspired me to film my process, so I did! My first videos were absolutely terrible. I didn't have a tripod and was just holding the phone shakily. I was still figuring out my aesthetic direction. It was a MESS at first.

But you have to start somewhere. I think lots of people forget that. When did you realize, “Oh, people are really interested in this?”

It was probably when I made my Zodiac drinks series. Astrology is really having a moment, so those blew up. Those drinks were also my first real dive into exploring mixing my own concoctions.

Where did you learn how to make syrups and cocktails and the other pieces included in the presentation of your videos?

The internet! I watch a LOT of YouTube videos and TikTok. I am a visual learner, so thank god for the people who make tutorial videos. The first cocktail I ever learned to make was a dirty martini–my favorite drink. I watched many different creators make a dirty martini and pieced together my way of making it from all the videos. I encourage everyone to do that. Watch a lot of creators and keep the methods that feel right to you.

What is the most challenging part of having a social media presence dedicated to such specific content?

Burn out. I am going through a sober period right now, so alcohol is not something I'm drawn to at the moment. When I don't want it for myself, motivating myself to create it for others is difficult. I'm also big on resting when you feel burnt out instead of forcing yourself to "power through it." I am not someone who can do that. I also, admittedly, am not the biggest fan of sweet cocktails, even though a LOT of the cocktails I make are sweet. I'm more of a savory cocktail girl. I'm trying to think of ways I can incorporate that into my content, but bright colors and glitter don't really go with savory drinks.

With the traction the account has gotten, especially on TikTok, do you feel more pressure than you used to when you post a video?

I struggle with that. The most pressure I ever felt was when I was doing the Zodiac Drink series because I wanted to make them perfect. People would almost get angry when they didn't like the drink for their sign, so I got some negative comments during that period that really got to me. It did, however, thicken my skin. Now, negative comments hardly affect me. Currently, I do feel pressured to post, but I'm having a hard time motivating myself. I'm trying to think of a way to keep the account going without making drinks so often. It gets expensive and exhausting.

I'm sure. Liquor and special ingredients aren't cheap. Because so many of your drinks are themed, what is your creative process when crafting a new cocktail?

I honestly LOVE making drinks based on Taylor Swift songs. I think that's pretty obvious [laughter]. When I hear her music, I see certain colors and try to make the drinks reflect what I see in my mind. She's also so good at associating colors with emotions: Red, Blue, Gold, etc., so sometimes she makes it pretty easy to pick the color I want the drink to be. Once I've chosen the color, I start crafting from there. I figure out what will make the drink the color I want, and then I start pairing that with other ingredients.

Have there been any ideas that you thought would look/taste amazing but didn’t turn out how you’d hoped?

ALL THE TIME. I have made some things that have tasted and looked horrible. I'm a Gemini Mars, so my process is extremely chaotic. I don't make a plan. I just dive in and start mixing. I make a huge mess in the kitchen. Sometimes, I even make a drink and forget how I made it because I have so many ingredients sprawled around the kitchen. I need to figure out how to be less of a mad scientist. Instacart should sponsor me because I often realize I need an ingredient as I'm mixing a drink and have to order it. [laughter]

Which creations are your favorite?

My favorite creations are the drinks I did for Sweet Nothing, Mad Woman, and Ojitos Lindos (a Bad Bunny song). These are my tried and trues that I make over and over. I love a cocktail with muddled peppers or pepper syrup.

What is something you know now that you wish you had known when you were starting out?

Honestly, nothing. I'm glad I went into it with blind optimism because I probably wouldn't have started in the first place if I didn't. I think that's how I achieve anything at all: blind optimism and a dose of delusion.

Honestly same. I'm not very patient once I have an idea. I just start the process. What are your top essential products for anyone reading this who is building their bar cart?

A cute cocktail shaker, beautiful glassware, a mixing glass, a bar spoon, a citrus squeezer, a Jigger, and a muddler. It's really not expensive to get started with these. Amazon has some affordable options. You can even find stuff at the dollar store sometimes. And thrift stores are WONDERFUL for glassware!

Looking toward the future, you have a book coming out, which is so exciting!! What can you tell me about it?

AHHH!!! I'm so excited. I don't think I can say a lot. BUT it is so gorgeous. I worked with such a talented photographer, Alyson Brown. We instantly vibed, and she 100% understood my vision. The book is broken up into chapters: Heartbreak, Fury, Healing, Celebration, Comfort, Longing, and Love. Each chapter has a playlist of pop songs, and each song has a corresponding drink. It features Women of Pop music: Taylor, Beyonce, Mariah, Britney, Lana, Ariana, Billie, Janet and a lot more!

That is so cool. I will definitely be buying it! Lastly, since this is The FMC, which Female Main Character archetype do you relate to most?

Probably The Misfit. I've always felt "odd" for lack of a better word, and a bit misplaced no matter where I am. I remember at a work event, we all had to take the Myers-Brigg personality quiz, and I was the ONLY person in all of corporate leadership who was an INFP. INFPs are free-spirited, aloof, introverted, idealistic, and shy. I was like, "What am I even doing here? Do I even belong at this job?" I felt isolated, misunderstood and weird at that event. Even in art school, I didn't feel like I belonged there, even though I consider myself an artist. I was an awful art student; I don't like keeping myself within parameters that others have set, and you have to do that first in art school before you can start creating in your own way. I flunked out because I was so bad at that. Now, I've found ways to express myself creatively in my own ways and appreciate myself for who I am. I love that I'm an INFP.