Growing up in EagleVail, Colorado, Jessica Backhus enjoyed skiing and bussing tables at a ranch her parents had transformed into an event venue. From ages 12-25 she worked there on and off, learning all aspects of hospitality. By the time Backhus turned 21, she started bartending and found that she loved interacting with the family’s guests.
After attending college on the East Coast, Backhus returned home to the Rocky Mountain slopes to work and ski while figuring out her next steps. She was then drawn to Northern California, where she cooked in a kitchen and bartended.
Ever the adventurer, Backhus moved to Nashville in 2013 when Husk opened. For the next five years, she experimented with craft cocktails there behind the bar. The journey then took her to Savannah when Husk launched that location. In 2019, she relocated to Charleston and helped open Delaney Oyster House, where she stayed for two years. Then in 2021, when a position to train bartenders and develop cocktail menus for the various themed restaurants at Wild Dunes Resort opened up, the timing aligned, and she’s been there ever since.
At the resort, The Nest, which she likened to a “speakeasy where you get to stare out at the ocean,” has become her laboratory for creating top-of-theline cocktails. Two of her favorites to make and sip, she said, are a Negroni and a classic daiquiri. She also recommended the best-selling paloma and the Patagonia sour, which she called “an esoteric, adventuresome and visually-stunning beverage.”
However, as Backhus emphasized, she is not a bartender or a mixologist. “Rather, I’m a ‘liquid cook,’ because when it comes to crafting cocktails, using basic components and ingredients requires the same good technique, patience and persistence to get the formula just right.”
In addition to her creative freedom and encouraging the bartenders on her team to explore new recipes, what Backhus loves most about The Nest is meeting people from all over the world and hearing their stories.
In her spare time, Backhaus enjoys patronizing local restaurants and immersing herself in nature. “Trying foods of all kinds makes me more adventurous in my own cooking and cocktail creation. Kayaking and exploring our waterways lends inspiration to my work as well,” she shared.
Backhaus added that all Wild Dunes restaurants are open to the public and offer free valet parking.
By Sarah Rose
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