Meet LuLu Ayala of CaliMixers Mixology in Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to LuLu Ayala.

LuLu, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Since childhood, I’ve always been surrounded by the bar industry. My grandfather was a huge role model in my life, and he too was a bartender during his time in the Vietnam war. He would tell me stories of how he would change my diapers on the pool table at my uncle’s bar in Stockton, CA. My memories take me as far back as five years old. I remember my grandparents had a wooden bar top that I would love to eat and play bartender on. Whenever my friends or cousins would come over, we would eat there and I would serve them drinks and food. Yes, I was that child serving Shirley Temples and Rob Roy’s instead of playing dress up. My grandparents would host parties at least once a month for someone’s special occasion or a holiday. Music, food, family, and friends would fill the house with joy as I watched my grandfather and my mom mixing drinks. I would stay in the kitchen snacking and eyeballing every creation. I would even beg my mom for a virgin drink and loved adding on the garnishes myself.

Growing up in Mexican culture, we are introduced to spirits at an early age. I wouldn’t say we are encouraged to drink as minors, but we are allowed to taste and have a few sips from time to time. I was not fond of the spirits, but more-so of the fresh ingredients and process that went into making the cocktails. Bloody Mary and Michelada were my favorites to sample as a kid. I knew from an early age I wanted to bartend. I was a people person and I loved being a part of making people smile, laugh, and creating an overall experience for them. I naturally had the vibe for it and told myself that when I turn 21, I would attend bartending school. At age 16, I moved from California to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Once I reached 21, I took a bartending course at Trinity Bartending Academy. I was trying to find my passion and also enrolled in nursing school at the local community college for over a year. Bartending was initially my side hustle. It was an easy way to make quick money while attending school. I found myself not being able to focus on school and wanting to gain more skills in mixology. I would soon drop out of nursing school and for the next five years, I worked by day as a home care manager for the physically and mentally disabled and bartending during nights and weekends. I moved back to my hometown of Stockton, California in 2009 and started juggling three jobs at one time. Once I was back home I knew the bartending industry was different there and I immersed myself in every opportunity I could get my hands on.

From Chitivas sports bar, brand ambassador for a local tequila company, and working various events in the bay area. I gained tremendous experience in the food, bar and nightclub industry. After I attended my first mobile bar event with Chitivas, I immediately loved the atmosphere and concept. It was such a fun and easy going experience that I knew I had to do this more often. Patrons loved my creations. Customers became regulars and more like friends. As more requests were made to bartend events, I was inspired to create CaliMixers in 2010. My employers played a big role in my growth, allowing me to explore my craft. They knew I attended a course in mixology and wanted to see what I could do to enhance their cocktails. Domo, a sushi and teppanyaki bar, is where I learned a lot about Japanese cuisine, types of fishes, sakes, infusions and pairings. Umai Sushi in Elk Grove is another amazing restaurant I left signature recipes with. Nenas’s Mexican restaurant in Stockton carries a full menu of CaliMixers cocktails. At Cilantro’s sports bar, I helped with the bar set up and entire menu for the opening. I also held bartending classes during the day hours at the bar. It was at that time, my creativity really took over. My challenge was to get sales up, share my craft with others and get our bar noticed. Before starting my classes I also attended ABC bartending college in Sacramento just to get a refresher and ideas on how I should build my curriculum. That’s when I really took to social media and started posting my recipes. Skyy, better known as Tipsy Bartender, began sharing my creations on Instagram and Facebook. I gained many followers as a result of winning his monthly contest.

Shortly after the win, a marketing team hired me for my first contracted cocktail menu styling and promo for social media. They sent me to New York to do a quick mix up on OK!TV for an E&J Gallo product. I wasn’t too fond of being on camera, but it was a great experience. I knew I had to start working on my photography skills so I would turn to YouTube and Google photo tutorials. That’s when I also got to appear on Tipsy Bartender’s YouTube channel, sharing and recreating my most popular signature cocktails. A variety of brands in the industry began hiring me for more work and the demand to be in Los Angeles became more relevant with all my traveling back and forth. In early 2017, I relocated from Northern California to SoCal. In August 2017, I became brand ambassador for the award-winning spirit, Siempre Tequila. Siempre really taught me a lot about the sales part of the industry. I had so much fun sharing my love and knowledge for the brand through events, tastings, staff trainings, cocktail design and within my own mobile gigs as well. I’ve since had the opportunities of collaborating on many different projects and had the pleasure of working with some award-winning CA companies such as Kimo Sabe Mezcal and Habit Crafted Cannabis Cocktails.

Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t think there’s such a thing as a smooth road when it comes to the bar business. You chose to be surrounded by the excitement and chaos of the unknown during every shift or event. Anticipating that your patrons and or clients are completely captivated by your creations, hospitality, and the vibe you set for them in hopes that they will keep returning. You automatically give up your weekends, holidays, and miss out on family gatherings, so you can cater to others’ celebrations of life. Thursday becomes your Monday, your nights are long, and you start to hate mornings even though you still have to get up and function off 3-4 hours of sleep. Some think you have the most fun and glamorous job, but don’t realize it must become a lifestyle and part of who you are. You must have thick skin, a love for meeting people, love the craft and adjust your emotions on a daily to make everyone else happy around you. It can become exhausting at times but it’s certainly rewarding. To know I helped create some great memories or even lifted just one individual’s spirit that day really means the world to me. This road is definitely one that needs a lot of balance, upkeep, trust and support which my family totally gives me. My family is my strength to get over any obstacles and as long as I have them, I know I will continue to prosper through this industry.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
CaliMixers (CALI; short for California, Mixers; mixture of cultures) the name represents a mixture of the California culture I grew up around. Being a native of Northern California, I was surrounded by a diversity of ethnicities. I embrace culture to the fullest and in Cali we are a mixing pot of total united goodness. We have all the best foods, drinks, arts, parks, beaches, fashion, and so forth. I am a Cali Girl that absorbed what I grew up with and turned it into drinkable art. You know how sometimes you see something so beautiful you just want to eat it? Be one with it? And captivate its beauty forever within your existence? Well, that’s my goal when crafting cocktail art. I want you to taste the beauty, learn the spirit, and the love that went into producing it. I love introducing people to flavors, exotic fruits, herbs and mixtures that they haven’t tasted and never even heard of. My formula is simple but unique to my experiences. I take everything I love from the various cultural influences and develop signature cocktails. I draw inspiration from everything I encounter, persons, places and things. My brand offers an experience and a vibe. Drinkable orgasmic flavorings for your eyes and taste buds. I thrive with three main elements: appearance, taste and knowledge.

When serving a drink, I share knowledge and insight on my cocktails. The goal is for the patron to walk away with an understanding of the spirit, what it is fermented from and why I crafted it that way. I specialize in themed crafted drinks, extravagant garnishes and providing all fresh ingredients, homemade mixes, syrups and purees along with unique signature infused spirits. I’m also known for my cannabis-infused cocktails, which I make with a variety of cannabis-infused local California products. I place mindful emphasis on incorporating local spirits, liqueurs, craft beers, wine and sakes into my recipes. What sets my brand apart from others is that I have worn several hats in this industry. I offer multiple services along with my elite bartending, whether it be corporate, high volume, craft and chill, or sports events. I’m the bartender that you seek out because you can’t find my signature cocktail mixtures anywhere else. My drinks are recreatable, but I offer an experience for your eyes and mouth. That wow factor makes you want to take out your camera and snap a picture. Then once you’ve tasted it, you realize two drinks later this isn’t your average spirit, exceeding expectations. I also enjoy making all the classic drinks, and to be honest I love them as well. A filthy vodka martini is among my favorites. I also create cocktails for the nondrinkers that don’t want to taste the alcohol. I don’t drown out the spirit with anything except all-natural fresh ingredients. That’s where I share my knowledge and gain new best friends with my patrons.

What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or planning for – any big changes?
I would love to do more videos and media in the future. I’m not so comfortable being in front of the camera, but I’m going to work on it for my followers. They have been asking for step by step YouTube videos for some time now. So if any videographers need an internship message me please. I also heard the universe whispering about the opening of a new and very unique Vegan Craft bar in Long Beach, CA coming 2020. People often contact me about where they can get my cocktails and I tell them it’s only through hiring me for an event or visiting one of the restaurants where I crafted their signature menu. I am very excited to share my crafted creations that will be available to you all very soon and I will be there in person. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook I will keep everyone updated on the opening.

Every bartender dreams of owning their own bar. That would be great someday, but I feel there are so many options in this industry, so why tie yourself down to one? I love meeting new people, catering events, the creative process, setting up new bars and crafting menus. I love to teach and share my craft and I absolutely love gaining knowledge and evolving with the industry. Last, but surely not least, I would love to expand my team and get a roster of dedicated bartenders in Southern & Northern California. Bartenders with a passion for the craft to represent CaliMixers brand throughout all of California. God willing I can eventually sit back behind the scenes and enjoy the experience with my family and friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: calimixers.com
• Email: calimixersmixology@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Antonie Belote and Chris Harris Catharine Phanavong Lulu Ayala

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.