Peter Thomas Fornatale

Chris Wertz has been involved in the booze business most of his life,and for the last 16 years, he has been a part of the New York restaurant industry,working as a bartender in Williamsburg and a General Manager in DUMBO. Beforecoming to New York City, Chris traveled through Europe sampling regional drinks forthe sake of science-from homemade grappa in the hills of Tokaj, Hungary; toBecherovka at the source in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic; and pastis in Provence, France. In 2005, he opened his first bar, Professor Thom's, named in homage offamed 19th-century NYC cocktail creator Professor Jerry Thomas. Bestsellingauthor Peter Thomas Fornatale has spent a good part of the last two decadesdrinking in Brooklyn. He's also been a publishing professional in that time frame atSimon and Schuster and Random House. He took cocktail classes from legendaryNew York bartender (and author) Dale DeGroff and spent a summer supporting ahorseracing habit by bartending at the acclaimed Chez Sophie in Saratoga Springs.Cocktails are literally in his blood: his grandfather, John T. Flynn, was a brandmanager at Seagram's for many decades. He is also a site coordinator at The ParkSlope CSA, putting him in close touch with the best local ingredients (and the peoplewho buy them).