Matt Ray

Background

About Matt Ray

Matt Ray is part of the Marketing team for Sazerac Company. He has worked in hospitality for most of his life, from Walt Disney to New Orleans legend, “Cure". He left the industry to teach English and history in public school but returned to hospitality with his education experience in tow. Originally from Alabama, he uses his Appalachia accent to make spirits and cocktails fun and approachable for the average person. As a resource for Sazerac, Matt does brand R&D, product launches, and trainings for Sazerac, their customers, and distributors. In addition to cocktail development and public speaking, he has appeared in commercials, interviews, and the “Imbibe 75”. In 2024, he was awarded Whiskey Magazine's "Icons of Whiskey" Honorable Mention for Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year, which is basically like saying he's the second-best brand ambassador for whiskey, but he's pretty proud of that! Recognition- Imbibe Magazine's "Imbibe 75: The People and Places That Will Shape the Way You Drink in 2022" for his work at the Sazerac House- Sazerac Marketing Awards 2023:"Team of Teams" award for his contributions to the Mr. Boston brand - Whiskey Magazine's "Icons of Whiskey" Awards, 2024: Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year - Honorable Mention Matt has presented at these past conferences- US Bartender's Guild National Summit 2025 - Arizona Cocktail Week, 2025 - Bourbon Classic, Louisville, 2025 - San Diego Food & Wine Festival, 2024 - Chilled: ELEVATE 2024, Louisville - Kohler Food & Wine Festival 2024 - Bar Convent Brooklyn 2024, On-Premise Trends - Total Wine & More, Manager in Training conference, 2024 - US Bartender's Guild 75th Anniversary - Bar Convent Brooklyn 2023 - New Orleans Bourbon Fest 2022, 2023, 2024. 2025 - Reyes Distribution -"Seize the Opportunity" 2023 - Total Wine and More - Train the Trainer 2023 - Keynote Address - Tales of the Cocktail 2022 - New Orleans -"What Works (and Doesn't Work) for Staff Development"- US Bartender's Guild Western Regional 2022 - Portland -"Good Witch/Bad Witch: The Fairy Tales of Hospitality"- Tales of the Cocktail 2021 - Mythology of Hospitality - US Bartender's Guild Southern Regional 2021 -"Creating Spirited Storytellers" and "Life After Bartending"- Tales of the Cocktail 2020 (virtual)- History of Rye Whiskey in America