Hi, I’m Susannah Brinkley Henry, a cocktail blogger and graphic designer based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
I have called Charlotte my home for my entire life. My mother hails from South Africa, and that combined with my Southern heritage has given me a deep appreciation for treasured family recipes. As a child I was fortunate to travel often, which instilled in me an adoration for new places and cultures, but I’ve always been drawn to the South and Charlotte’s creative community.
My interest in cocktails goes back to my college days. While I was training to become a graphic designer, I was also reading blogs and learning about cocktails. I was the friend who brought inspired drinks to parties and served sorbet-topped libations in my tiny apartment.
After graduation, I attended bartending school. While I didn’t become a professional bartender, I’ve taken what I learned there and transformed it into Feast + West to help others discover their inner cocktail creativity.
When I’m not mixing drinks, I celebrate all things design-related, travel with my husband Chris, explore the local food scene with friends and chill with our rescue pets, Julep and Mojito (cats) and Rey (dog).
Education & Expertise
- My childhood was filled with learning about cooking and baking from my mom — a professional chef herself! — and I’ve been experimenting with cocktail-making techniques since 2010.
- I attended ABC Bartending School in Raleigh, where I took my self-taught techniques to the next level and learned even more about the art of crafting delicious cocktails.
- I have been sharing my recipes here on Feast + West since 2014. While blogging trends come and go, I have learned that one thing is consistent: The joy that comes from helping readers achieve their cocktail-making dreams through tried-and-true recipes and home bartending guides.
More about me
Want to know more? Here are a few fun facts!
- Places visited: I’ve loved to travel since I was a young child. I’ve visited 22 countries and 42 states (and want to see them all!).
- Astrology sign: I’m a pretty textbook Pisces: creative, intuitive and deeply passionate. I pour my heart into everything I do — whether it’s crafting the perfect cocktail, designing for clients or updating our mid-century home.
- Things I love: In my spare time, I enjoy caring for my indoor plant collection and am always working on growing my outdoor garden. (My once-black thumb gets greener every year.) I also love to sew, read, write and bake. Lately I’ve been experimenting with fermentation by making my own sourdough and kombucha.
- Favorite spirit: Whiskey all the way! I love to sip it neat as much as I like to mix it into drinks, like a simple whiskey smash or a classic Manhattan cocktail. My second fave is tequila — I cannot ever turn down a margarita.
- Favorite cocktail: I cringe when people ask me this because I really do like most of them! It’s so hard to choose. But if I have to choose a go-to, it’d be a Moscow Mule because I always have the ingredients on hand, plus they’re easy to prepare and customize! And oh-so-delicious, too.
- Secret talent: I am really good at finding four-leaf clovers. Like, annoyingly good. If I look down at a patch of shamrocks, I can spot one easily!
