“Here's to alcohol, the rose colored glasses of life.” Who are we to argue with the great F. Scott Fitzgerald? Elliott Clark certainly wasn't about to when he founded Apartment Bartender, one of the web's most popular destinations for handy home bartending how tos and deliciously clever cocktail recipes (from a tequila-tinged Negroni to a spicy chai Old Fashioned). The epitome of taking a passion and turning it into a profit-producing enterprise, Clark now travels the globe, touching down at the hottest bars and old world distilleries, and Instagramming the whole way.

For those that are beholden to corporate America, Elliott's success as a connoisseur of libations and all that goes along with them is an inspiration. So, as someone whose professional life is surrounded by alcohol, it begs the question: how does Elliott handle mornings? Turns out, he values his routines in the early hours just like we do. The only difference is, he has shit way more together when you consider the fact that he may have thrown down three Old Fashioneds and a beer the night before. Venture into Elliott's early hours, heed his hangover advice and be a better man for it.

Elliott balances out the calories in those cocktails with his fitness-focused brand, Earn Your Booze.

Every now and then, I really enjoy sleeping in ...

but on average, I'm up around 7 am. Anything after that and I start getting anxious.

Working in the spirits industry, it can be tough to get enough sleep,

but I shoot for 6-7 hours. I need my beauty sleep.

Home in Denver, I wake up, slam lemon water and hop in the shower with a podcast playing.

I do my best not to immediately jump on my phone and check email and what not, but, of course, it doesn't always work out.

For breakfast, it's usually eggs, oatmeal and a green drink or shot of ginger.

I gotta keep the liver functioning at peak performance.