In the world of craft cider, we often talk about the divide between the makers in the cellar and the enthusiasts in the taproom. But once in a while, someone bridges that gap so authentically they become a trailblazer for the entire industry. This month, we are thrilled to spotlight Damin Sawyer, the Upstate Sales Manager for Original Sin Cider and the creative force behind the widely recognized Bone & Bottle Reviews.

Damin’s journey into the "cider-verse" didn’t start in an orchard; it began on a cold, snowy February evening in 2014 at a hotel bar in Syracuse. Attending a sports expo with the tab completely covered, Damin knew he couldn’t keep up with heavy mixed drinks, so he spotted an Angry Orchard on the menu. Six ciders later, a passion was born.

Before he was ever "inside the house" at Original Sin, Damin spent years building his own brand. Living in a rural area where craft cider knowledge was scarce in 2015, Damin felt a calling to educate his community. But there was a catch: he was a picky eater and drinker. He realized he had to find something people would like so they’d follow the page and eventually see the cider content. The solution? Chicken wings. He began pairing cider reviews with wing reviews, sketching a logo on a sticky note; an apple skull with crossbones made of a chicken wing and a cider bottle. Thus, Bone & Bottle Reviews was born. Damin is quick to reject the title of "influencer," preferring "cider enthusiast." For him, the mission was always about the community and the liquid, not the "likes."

Damin’s transition to the professional side of cider is a true "seat-of-the-pants" success story. In 2021, wanting to attend the Cider Feast in NYC but on a tight budget, he reached out to industry legend Ron Sansone to see if he could help out. Days before the event, Damin got the call: Gidon Coll, the founder of Original Sin, couldn't make it. Would Damin run the table? Damin spent the next two days Googling everything he could find on the brand, and he did such a stellar job that a friendship, and eventually a career, was forged. Today, Damin manages Upstate sales and distribution, with a heavy focus on Original Sin's growing Non-Alcoholic (NA) sector.

Even as a sales manager, Damin remains grounded. He stopped "ranking" ciders years ago, realizing that taste is entirely subjective. He sees Original Sin as a "premium stepping stone"; a high-quality, fresh-pressed canned product that introduces drinkers to the craft before they dive into the complex bottled heirlooms. When asked what surprised him most about going pro, Damin points to the sheer diversity of the industry. He was shocked at how varied you can make cider taste with just a few small tweaks of the weather or variety.

Damin’s advice for aspiring enthusiasts is simple: Show up and show interest. He believes you need to bring good attention to yourself by being more descriptive than just saying a drink is "good." Cider is a tight-knit community, and while it's not hard to get into, you have to show that you want to be there. Tag the makers, interact with other accounts, and don't be a recluse.

Today, Damin continues to be an anomaly; a salesperson driven by pure, unadulterated passion for the apple. Whether he’s pounding the pavement for NA distribution or sharing a glass with a fellow enthusiast, Damin Sawyer is a reminder that the best way to sell cider is to truly, deeply love it.