A Little About Jules
Get to know the Jules behind Join Jules! How I got here, what I’ve learned, and what I’m dreaming up next...
Welcome back to The Sipper Club!
If you’re new here (or just need a little refresher), I’m Julianna McIntosh… but please, call me Jules. I’m the creator of Join Jules, and I’m your go-to girl for making cocktails feel approachable, fun, and totally doable. What started as a quarantine hobby (with way too much time and maybe too many lemons) turned into a full-blown love affair with all things happy hour.
Since it’s been a minute, and so much has changed since my first Substack back in February 2024, I figured it was time for a little About Jules moment. This year’s a big one: I’m a bride (!!), a new homeowner (!!), and I’ve got some incredible things on the horizon. New recipes, new tips, and yes... something for you to sip. 👀
Speaking of sipping… if you need a cocktail to keep you company while you read, may I suggest one of my all-time faves? This Aperol Coconut Margarita is bright, creamy, and citrusy in the best way.
So grab a glass, and let’s catch up!
The Cocktail Journey I Never Saw Coming
Everyone always wants to know how I got into cocktail making. The truth is, I was your typical twenty-something, fresh out of college, with absolutely no clue what I wanted to do. I did know one thing, though… I loved a good happy hour. And, not just because I enjoyed a good cocktail (duh), but because I was broke… and $6 margaritas were a lifeline.
At the time, I had this dream of becoming San Diego’s Local Happy Hour Officianado. 🍸 I’d post a couple of times a week about my favorite local spots, and I was truly having the time of my life. But like any young “adult,” I started spiraling in that classic “what else could I do?” way. Should I learn how to bartend? Move to Los Angeles? Become an actress? The options felt endless.
In the winter of 2019, I flew to Minnesota to visit my sweet Uncle Brad (read that in your best Minnesotan accent, please). He was hosting a holiday party and had prepped two cocktail stations: one for him… and one just for me. He knew I was curious about cocktails and set up a mini class for us to play bartenders for the night. We made an Old Fashioned, an Aviation, and a Sidecar. I’ll never know if it was the cocktails kicking in or a moment of magic - but something clicked that night. It all felt so natural, and so me.
Lights, Camera… Cocktails?
Before I had my big break into the social media scene, I was working toward my film degree at SDSU (go Aztecs!). I chose SDSU because my sister, Lucianna, was already a student there, and it felt comforting to have her close by. Back then, I had full-on dreams of moving to LA and becoming a big-time actress, red carpet and all.
While that may not have been the life path meant for me, I’m honestly so happy with where I ended up. These days, I get to be the star, director, and producer of all my own content… *evil laugh*. 🎬
As I mentioned earlier, I started posting casually in 2019, mostly cute photos of drinks and happy hour moments. But things took off in fall 2020, when I switched to posting videos of cocktail recipes. My sister, Lucianna (whom I refer to as “Looch”), was actually the one who encouraged me to get things rolling. So, Looch, thank you for the push - I wouldn’t be here without you! People wanted to see how the drinks came together, and I like to think I was one of the first to bring a feminine, approachable touch to cocktail content.
Since then, it’s been a wild (and consistent!) ride. The biggest milestone so far had to have been releasing my very first book (!!), Pretty Simple Cocktails, in July 2024. The process took two entire years… and trust me, it was a journey. But I truly loved every second of it. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me build confidence, and proved to myself that I could take a big idea and bring it to life. I’m already dreaming up the next one.
A Love Story, a Wedding, & a Cat Named Martini
As mentioned... I’m a bride💍!! (screaming!!) My fiance, Eric, and I are getting married this September in the south of France (I still can’t believe I get to type that), and we are SO excited. I’ve been having so much fun bringing you all along for the ride, and just kicked off a little video series featuring the cocktails we plan to serve at the wedding. You can watch the first one here.
Technically, Eric and I went to high school together... but we were not high school sweethearts. In fact, I’m pretty sure we hardly spoke. It wasn’t until my junior year of college that our story really began. We were both celebrating the 4th of July in Lake Tahoe with mutual friends. We started a casual convo, I found out he was moving to San Diego... and we haven’t stopped talking since. It’s been eight years (!!) since that day.
We now live in San Diego together, right across the street from my sister (she is stuck with me), with our sweet little cat, Martini. One Christmas, my godmother called us, saying she had found a stray kitten stuck to a mousetrap outside the winery where she worked. Thanks to a mix of oil, dish soap, and a lot of patience, she was saved, and we welcomed her into our little family. It’s especially funny because Eric insisted we’d never have pets. Now, we’re both completely obsessed. Martini loves being outside, loves people, and every morning she runs into our bedroom and curls up with me the moment Eric opens the door. Pure Martini magic.
Where I Come From (& Why I Love to Host)
This might surprise some of you… but I actually consider myself a pretty quiet and private person. I’ve always been one of those “extroverted introverts.” I’m totally happy to be the life of the party as long as I get some good alone time to recharge after. If I had it my way, I’d spend most days rotting (happily!) at home.
Confidence hasn’t always come easily for me, but Join Jules really helped me break out of my shell. There’s something about finding the thing you’re good at. For me, this is it.
Let’s do some rapid-fire fun facts (because who doesn’t love those?):
I was a swimmer all four years of high school, and I’m still pretty decent in the water!
I love to cook and bake. I love following a good recipe, so drop your favorite cookbooks in the comments.
I’m a huge film buff. Every year, my fiance and I make it a goal to watch every Oscar-nominated movie.
My love for hosting comes from my mom’s side of the family. We’re Italian 🇮🇹, so it’s practically in our DNA. Growing up, we had Sunday dinners like clockwork (which, full honesty, I used to dread as a kid). Now, I’d do anything to bring that kind of magic into my own home. We used any excuse to gather: birthdays, holidays, you name it. The unspoken rule was that no one leaves hungry. Or thirsty!
My mom actually has a cooking show on PBS called Bringing It Home with Laura McIntosh (yes, you can still find it online!). Her show was all about connecting people to where their food came from with the farmers themselves, and then bringing it into the kitchen to create something beautiful. Watching her taught me everything I know about storytelling, hospitality, and the pure joy of sharing something you made with the people you love. She was my first role model… and still is. 🥹
What’s Next for Join Jules (And For Me!)
Right now, I’m in full grind mode. No kids, dual income… we’re living that DINK life. I’m embracing this season. I want to push myself, build more, dream big… you know, while I have the time before starting our family!
Professionally, my biggest dream has always been to have my own cocktail TV show: think happy hour meets Martha Stewart (but with more shaking and less baking), or maybe an Anthony Bourdain-style travel series. Drinks and hospitality touch every part of our lives, and I’d love to share that on a bigger scale.
Beyond that, I’d love to write more books, and yes, hitting the New York Times bestseller list and winning a James Beard Award are both very much on the vision board. Pretty Simple Cocktails didn’t get there… but hey, we’re just getting started!! I’m also dreaming up a glassware and home bar line. Picture feminine, elevated barware… Joanna Gaines, but for your bar cart.
On the personal side… I can’t wait to be a mom. It’s something I’ve always dreamed about. I’m not quite there yet (still got a lot of work to do, clearly… see above lol), but when the time comes, I know my heart is going to be so ready. And something a little unexpected… I’m also planning to take up acting again someday. Because why not? Life is way too short not to chase every dream you have!!
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. Truly!!! This experience wouldn’t be what it is without you, whether you’ve been here since the early days of happy hour hopping or just found me through a reel that made you smile. You’ve helped me turn a quarantine passion into a career, and I’m forever grateful!
Let this be your reminder: you don’t need to be a mixologist to make a great drink. You just need a few ingredients, a little curiosity, and maybe a playlist 🎶 that makes you feel like the lead actress in your show.
So here’s to more cocktails, more connection, and more reasons to clink glasses. Cheers!
I love learning more about you! And that Aperol coconut margarita is 💣
I love Alison Roman cookbooks!