Alison Kerr. Alison is Cibon’s resident francophone. She came to Lexington from Pittsburgh by way of La Rochelle, France, where she raised a bicultural family, taught English, and enjoyed la belle vie. By day, Alison is a medical interpreter; by night, she works both front and back of house at Cibon. You may recognize her from her stints at the Morris book shop, Brier Books, Lucia’s World Emporium, or Wine+Market. Alison is also a founding board member of the Lexington Writer’s Room, and is revising her first novel. Her favorite wine depends on the season, but she has a deep fondness for minerally rosés from southern France.
Laura Conrow, General Manager. Laura is known to her devoted fans as “Queen Brie.” She owned an artisan cheese shop and artisan cheese truck in Nevada for 7 years and holds the title of Certified Cheese Professional® (AKA “Curd Nerd!”). You may remember her from Wine + Market or have enjoyed one of her popular Cheese Appreciation Classes or Raclette Dinners here in Lexington. Favorite cheese (one of many favorites!): Chällerhocker produced by Walter Raas. Favorite wine: La Cuadrilla from Stolpman Vineyards. Favorite product: Terre Exotique Fleur de Sel with Roasted Spices.
James King, Wine Buyer. James has spent more than three decades immersed in the world of wine and spirits. After graduating from Edinburgh University in 1994, he earned his WSET Level 4 Diploma in 1996 and went on to build an accomplished career as an entrepreneur, educator, and industry leader. James has founded multiple wine businesses—including King James Wine in Los Angeles, a fine wine store in Bentonville, and Art of Cellaring—as well as three successful wine education programs. A nationally recognized instructor, he holds elite credentials from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rioja, and more, and has served as Beverage Arts Director at Brightwater Culinary School.
Brian Farrell, Assistant Manager and Spirits Buyer. Brian is a culinary professional with more than 20 years of experience in the food service industry. A graduate of the Arizona Culinary Institute, he holds a diploma in Culinary Arts, Baking, and Restaurant Management. Throughout his career, Brian has served in diverse roles including Executive Chef, restaurant consultant, personal chef, and specialty retail buyer. A lifelong student of food and drink, he is deeply interested in every stage of the culinary process, from cultivation and production to preparation and preservation. A Lexington native, Brian spent 12 years managing deli departments at Good Foods Co-op, working closely with local farmers and producers until 2023.
Tim Johnson. Tim is our resident mixologist here at Cibon. He has over seven years of experience crafting cocktails and serving customers at a variety of establishments. His passion for hospitality brought him to join the team here, where he really loves learning more about wine, spirits, and cheese from his awesome coworkers and interacting with our customers. A non-native of Kentucky, he enjoys learning new cooking recipes and using his cocktail skills to entertain friends and family with yummy beverages. In his time away from Cibon, he works as a technical writer during the day and exploring the outdoors on the weekends. His favorite product at Cibon is currently the R.L Seale 12-year rum from Foursquare Distillery out of Barbados - it makes for a great old-fashioned!