Meet our crew: Ally Oveson

August 25, 2020Erica Sagon

Meet our crew: get to know the awesome humans that make Cardinal Spirits possible!

Ally Oveson

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manager at Cardinal Spirits bar/restaurant/tasting room

Ally on Instagram: @replicant.ally

pronouns: she/her

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Tell us about your role at Cardinal Spirits.

I am a front-of-house manager. My role pre-coronavirus was to manage the tasting room, and work with private groups and organizations with planning on-site events. Now, we’ve made everything carry-out so my duties have morphed. A lot of email correspondence! (Editor’s note: Ally just recently stepped away from Cardinal Spirits to focus on her kids’ education. We wish Ally and her fam all the best!)

Share a skill that you have outside of work!

I am a ceramist. I studied ceramics and art history at IU, and have worked in the community as an educator.

Where are you from? Where have you lived?

I grew up here in Bloomington, and graduated from Indiana University in 2014. I spent school breaks in Massachusetts growing up, there was a short time in Denver, but for the most part I’ve stayed rooted.

Any pets or family members that you'd like to introduce?

My family is my favorite part of my life! Terrance, Izzy, Rylan, and Nola.

Favorite Cardinal Spirits product?

Terra Gin, and the Vodka Soda cans. They’re light and refreshing, and I like to flavor them myself.

It's happy hour. What are you drinking?

It’s always weather/climate/mood dependent, but I really miss the Big in Japan. That cocktail was so juicy and a little umami and perfect IMO. (Editor’s note: Big In Japan was a cocktail on our winter 2019 menu, made with kaffir-lime-infused Terra Botanical Gin, red miso, guava, ginger, honey, lime, and club soda.)

Do you have any advice for people who want to make better drinks at home?

Get a shaker and strainer, and a shot glass for measuring. Most cocktails just come down to ratios. A general rule (with plenty of exceptions), is to shake a cocktail that contains fruit juice. Aged spirits are typically stirred. Just have fun and drink what you like and you think tastes good. Don’t focus on trends!

What's Cardinal's best kept secret?

I’m not sure if it’s a secret or not, but we have an extremely accepting culture here. I feel like restaurant/bar industry culture is very alpha, and maybe it’s because we’re a distillery and not strictly a bar, but it definitely is different from other places I’ve worked. Another best-kept secret: family meal! Because we get to be guinea pigs for new menu items or we just get some crazy-delicious stuff that no one else will get to try.

Have you ever thought of a good business idea?

Of course I have, but if I tell you and you use it, I will be sad.

What's your coffee order?

Just coffee with cream only, or a mocha if I’m being fancy. You have to ask that they put it in a larger cup, though, so the whipped cream doesn’t get smashed.

How do you start your morning?

Tip-toeing into the kitchen for some coffee. I’m a really early riser - like 5 or 6. I might doze back off if there’s time. Otherwise, I check in with the news and wait for the whirlwind of kids to begin.

Any favorite places on the Internet?

I’m an avid online shopper. But other than that, I’m pretty glued to the news. NYT, CNN, Forbes.

What's your favorite midnight snack?

Reese’s Pieces

Most used-emoji?

🤣 is probably my most frequently used, but my favorite is 🥟. Who doesn’t love dumplings?

Favorite condiment?

Dijon. And I just want to go on the record as saying that ketchup is disgusting!

Thanks, Ally! We love having you on our team!