In the News

To help you navigate the world of coffee cocktails, I spoke to Lisa Belczyk, beverage manager at Lucky Sign Spirits, who has shared her favorite liquors to add to coffee and how to use them to craft delicious, creative drinks. From fruity liqueurs to bold spirits, these liquors will transform your usual coffee into a delectable grown-up treat.

“Nothing beats sharing an exquisitely crafted whiskey with friends while sitting in a circle around a fire, hearkening back to our earliest ancestors who broke bread and built the bonds of community surrounding an open flame,” says Lisa Belczyk, beverage manager with Lucky Sign Spirits.

“You can’t beat Fords Gin for versatility and being the star spirit across a range of gin cocktails. From Martinis and Negronis to Gimlets and beyond, its classic botanical and citrus profile complements a variety of aromas and flavors. Famously created for bartenders by bartenders, Fords Gin is a terrific offering in the London Dry gin category, and it gets bonus points for the ergonomically designed bottle!” —Lisa Belczyk, beverage manager, Lucky Sign Spirits

“You can typically batch a cocktail the night before your event and refrigerate it overnight so it's completely chilled when it's time to serve,” says Lisa Belczyk, beverage manager for Pittsburgh's Lucky Sign Spirits. “Look for an insulated cooler beverage dispenser, such as an Igloo, for easy transport and serving and to keep your cocktail nice and chilly.”

According to Lisa Belczyk, manager at boutique distillery Lucky Sign Spirits and cocktail educator at the Fizzy Coupe, "We (distillers) see ourselves as a flavour company first – whether
the beverages we create contain alcohol or not takes a backseat to whether they taste delicious and create memorable sensory experiences for our guests."

The United States Bartenders’ Guild announces that three newest members have been appointed to the organization’s National Board of Directors.

“In the past decade, there’s been a growing interest and curiosity among whiskey enthusiasts for Monongahela rye whiskey,” said Lisa Belczyk of The Fizzy Coupe, which offers cocktail experiences and spirits education. “Rye offers a spicy, peppery, and assertive set of flavors that are exciting. The combination of big, bold flavors tied to a storied rebellious legacy has made Monongahela rye whiskey the basis for a complex cocktail of local flavors and history in a glass.”

Jump behind the bar with Lisa Belczyk! Lisa stumbled into the beverage industry while DJing at a Pittsburgh venue and is now the innovative mind behind Lucky Sign’s cocktail program. From infusing the tasting room with cozy aesthetics inspired by her experience designing and producing music education programs at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, to seamlessly blending art, history and culture into our seasonal cocktails, Lisa's creativity and artistic touch shine through in everything she does.

Lisa Belczyk & Annette Tomei of Wander, Eat & Tell Experiences will share their expertise on developing creative programming for guests in your tasting rooms and hospitality spaces. Experience live cooking, beverage mixing, and sampling of delicious apple-based delights, while Annette and Lisa share an example of a bespoke program designed to share the culture, history, beauty, and lore of our beloved apple-growing region.