I'm Rob

Houston-based cocktail specialist, content creator, and the person behind Spirit Box. Events, videos, bar consulting, and a belief that cocktails shouldn’t be intimidating.

The Story

It Started with the Drinks

The Beginning

I didn’t start with the idea of building a brand. I just wanted to make good cocktails — the kind people could actually replicate at home without needing obscure ingredients or a degree in chemistry. Drinks that felt elevated but approachable. Something you could make for yourself after a long day, or confidently serve to guests and instantly level up the moment.

That’s what pushed me to start a YouTube channel. A place where I could share cocktails, break things down simply, and teach people about spirits along the way.

It was a journey from day one. I had never worked with video before — I didn’t know how to edit, didn’t understand lighting, and had no clue what an aspect ratio even was. Every video became part of the learning process. Messy at first, but honest. And slowly, better.

“Cocktails bring joy! To be enjoyed, not be intimidating.”

— Rob Rivas

They’re a portal , a way to engage the senses, trigger memories, and bring people together.

Whether someone is making their first Old Fashioned at home or a venue is rethinking its entire cocktail program and brand relationships, I meet them where they are.

And from there, we level up together.

The Journey

The Path to Spirit Box

While I was workign out the content creation process , I was also working behind the bar. That combination opened doors; cocktail competitions, brand collaborations, and opportunities to experiment beyond the bar top. When I eventually went out on my own, those experiences naturally evolved into events and classes.

Along the way, I met some of the most talented and generous people in the industry. I had the chance to create commissioned cocktails for brands, consult and advise venues, collaborate with master distillers, and learn directly from people shaping the spirits world. That path eventually led me into a focused role in agave education and market development with Mezcal Local, bringing mezcal knowledge, context, and accessibility to bars and bartenders across Houston.

Since then, I’ve led cocktail science and technique workshops, zero-proof drink clinics, bar takeovers, and masterclasses alongside distillers and brand founders. Every event is a new challenge and an opportunity to connect with people who genuinely enjoy the creativity, curiosity, and yes, sometimes the chaos behind my cocktails.