Kate fell in love with cane spirits in 2011 when she was researching & developing the program for Rumba in Seattle, WA. With degrees in both Anthropology and Geography, Kate finds the intersection of people, places & liquid to have compelling depth which has been the focus of her work since. Her attention was captured by the bottles that spoke most directly of the people, cultures and landscapes from which they come. Like many rum fans, she found these values existed and were reflected in the practices of the Italian company, Velier.
In 2017, she moved to New York City to launch La Maison & Velier in the US Market, showcasing some of the world’s most unique and dynamic spirits.