Though we ’d highly suggest pay off to cognise every bartender in this city , wereallyhighly suggest familiarize yourself with these innovators of all thing boozy . Not only does this gravely creative crew sling the most masterfully craft cocktails in the city , they are also pretty cool people . Here ’s exactly who you require to become your new bartending BFFs .
Leslie Ross
Canard
Working as everything from a dive bar cocktail waitress to paw - selling a portfolio of boutique spirit , Leslie spent her time conquering Houston ’s good cocktail ginmill and restaurants . She ’s now the HBIC and bar director for the Treadsack group , where she oversee six unique concepts , including her own badass bar , Canard . you may find her there with her team , stoked about their tardy menu , Cocktail Exotica – their take on Tiki with circumstances of French flavour , over the top garnishes , and really complex and fun flavor profiles . Be trusted to ask her where the name of her strength cocktail ( below ) came from because the story is reasonably nerveless and this rockstar is knowledgeable as sin . Specialty cocktail:“Absinthe & The Sisters Henriod- an incredibly reachable and brisk cocktail featuring Pernod Absinthe , Celery Cordial , Celery Shrub , Celery Bitters , Canard ’s House Parfait Amour , overstep with Rosé Champagne attend to in a Pontarlier Absinthe glass , complete with edible Parfait Amour and celery seed absinthe spoon . ”Where she drinks when she ’s not working:“I care to keep it simple when I ’m not at Canard . I love seeing what they have got going on down at Alex Gregg ’s prevention Moving Sidewalk , peculiarly when Shannon is there ! And sometimes , when the champion line up just correctly , you may discover most of us at Grand Prize Bar with a cold Lone Star and a shot of Green Chartreuse . ”What she have sex about Houston:“Our adopted slogan is FYHA ( F**k Yeah Houston ’s Awesome ) and I could n’t correspond more . I really feel that Houston is in this double-dyed point in prison term . Our food and drinkable community is the strongest it has ever been , and there is just so much talent in this metropolis ! I ’m proud to survive and lick in a urban center that has as much to offer as Houston ! ”
Jessica Johnson
Wooster’s Garden
One of the fastest ( and coolest ) cocktail bartenders in the city , Jessica pulls off duple obligation as General Manager and full - time bartender at the in high spirits - oddment & high - volume cocktail bar , Wooster ’s Garden . Somehow , she even contend to make friend with all her guests as she works on a six drink stack . Specialty cocktail:“Bells & Whistles - Cordial of Carrot - Tarragon - Coriander shaken with Grapefruit Juice . take hold of the formula on her blogladybartender.com . ”Where she drinks when she ’s not working:“Public Services . There ’s just nothing like sit down on an art - art deco couch , listening to decade music , while enjoy a glass of bubbles and brandy . ”What she loves about Houston:“The access to food from so many dissimilar nation . Dim sum for dejeuner , biryani for dinner party , fajitas for 2d dinner ! ”
Tommy Ho
Anvil Bar and Refuge
Houston born and elevate , Tommy has been in the service industry nearly a decade now . For the past two years of aforementioned ten , he ’s been observe patron quenched at the be - all - closing - all of Houston cocktaileries , Anvil . His dedication to the craft shows in every concoction he daydream up and you swiftly take down . speciality cocktail:“Currently on Anvil ’s summer carte du jour , which just debut , I ’ve develop the Peddling Fiction , a tonic blueberry bush and rum cocktail with hints of spice . ”Where he drinks when he ’s not working:“Whenever I have a piffling clip off , I like to manoeuvre downtown and chaffer Nightingale Room , Moving Sidewalk , Captain Foxheart ’s Bad News Bar and Public Services . ”What he fuck about Houston:“I love that Houston is a diverse melting pot . I forever get the chance to acquire new things from people of all walk of life . ”
David Perez
Lei Low
This Houston Heights aboriginal start into bartending through beer , which eventually catapulted him on an adventure through cocktail and into the world of Tiki . A ego - exclaim large account nerd and the beachbum , you’re able to find him as the head purser at Lei Low , sharing his heat for flavor and rum one tiki - fied cocktail at a time . Specialty cocktail:“Song Bird - an alien themed drink which admit Ed Hamilton Jamaican sess still black , Zaya Gran Reserva , Maraschino liqueur , Campari , Grapefruit juice , Lime juice , Donn ’s mixing # 2 , and Bittercube ’s Jamaican # 1 bitterness . ”Where he pledge when he ’s not working:“Where you drink in Houston when not working ? Public Services for a hunky-dory glass of sherry . Mongoose versus Cobra to sip some ale . ”What he eff about Houston:“Houston is my domicile . It feels like we ’ve both grown up together . All the changes in the urban center are bittersweet but it ’s never lost its spirit to me . Running through the bayous , eating pupusas at a flatulence post , find a tiki barroom in an unassuming shopping flight strip , going to chinatown for dim sum , sweating your weight off during the summer are all reasons ( among others ) why I have sex this city . It maintains its character and diverseness even through all the change and growth it ’s going through . ”
Laurie Harvey
Cherry Pie Hospitality ( address and info)Various locationsThis seriously creative cocktail all - star sleep together how to keep Houstonians quenched and happy . After serving as the measure handler at Triniti , Laurie ’s current position as Beverage Director for Cherry Pie Hospitality , where she oversees all things limpid for eating house concept admit State Fare and the coming - shortly Pi Pizza . Her heat lies in creating culinary - base , original cocktail creations using the in high spirits quality invigorated constituent and spirits available , and she expend a great deal of sentence playing with fetid new flavor visibility . Specialty cocktail:“The Garden Variety because of its longevity and organic evolution . It has been on every cocktail computer menu in every program I have written in some form or fashion . It is light , spicy and novel with a Thai spicy vodka , lemongrass , powdered ginger , cucumber , and citrus classic serve with a cucumber vine garnish . ”Where she salute when she ’s not working : “ My favorite piazza to wassail when I am not working these days would be Wooster ’s Garden in Midtown . The menu is always original and interesting without being close or assumptive . Spirit options are always on point . ”What she be intimate about Houston:“My favorite thing about Houston is the diversity and size of it . There are sempiternal neighborhoods to search for raw aspiration ! ”
Alex Gregg
Moving Sidewalk
Alex is a bartender of 16 age and hometown son ( yes , we ’ll consider Galveston as hometown ) with some serious pedigree . After sharpen his skills at Anvil and winning a bunch of contention and awards , he now have Moving Sidewalk and Ice Age , a hand - cut ice company that he set forth with fellow bar guy Aaron Lara . you’re able to find Alex at the bar being totally stoked about their new summertime menu , which is dedicated to the revered Daiquiri , and go on being the man with collaboration throughout the urban center . Like the coaction cocktail that Alex worked on with Sean Beck featuring Sotol , Moving Sidewalk ’s Strawberry Basil Soda , a few other things and some deal cut , perfectly unmortgaged cocktail ice from Ice Age that ’s currently usable at Hugo’s . Specialty cocktail:“The Watermelon Daiquiri on the menu is probably my favorite . Its super simpleton , and straight onward , comprised of Cana Brava White Rum , our business firm made Clarified Lime Cordial , Fresh Lime Juice , and a Cold Process Watermelon Syrup . The only problem with that one is drink less than three . ”Where he pledge when he ’s not working:“Poison Girl , Grand Prize , Anvil , Lolas , Little Dipper , Houston Watch Co. ”What he loves about Houston:“The food . All the food . Also our diverseness . The food is diverse too . Did I mention food ? ( I say this as I latterly stopped deplete out every Clarence Day … ) . ”
Mike Criss
The Nightingale Room
A diddlyshit of all trade , Mike Criss is a former comptroller , Anvil alum , and alive music enthusiast who now own and tend The Nightingale Room . He ’s from Los Angeles , but we wo n’t hold our jealousy against him . forte cocktail:“Inconceiva - Bowl at The Nightingale Room . It serves 3 - 4 hoi polloi , and we rig it on fire . It ’s made with overproof dark Jamaican rum , Falernum , lime , honey and house made grenadine . ”Where he drinks when he ’s not working:“They are a lot of great bars in Houston . One my favorite stead is Poison Girl . It ’s perfectly divey with an awesome whisky selection . ”What he loves about Houston:“Houston has some of the most gifted and laborious do work people that are unforced to force things forward . It ’s a large city with small Ithiel Town feel . It ’s an awing place . ”
Brad Stringer
DTO
After honing his acquirement as a individual bartender and at red-hot hangouts like Boheme and Johnny ’s Gold Brick , Brad ’s now the owner / hustler at his new beach dive , Daiquiri Time Out ( DTO ) . He ’s idle set on introducing Galveston to classic , island - style cocktail made with reinvigorated juices and house - made syrups , so tick off it out for a refresher course . specialization cocktail : Pineapple Daiquiri : Plantation Pineapple , Ananas comosus , lime tree , sugar ; and Zombie on rap : Plantation 3 Star , Eldorado 8 year , Plantation overproof , stinker , birdlime , pineapple , passion fruit , bitters , turbinado . Where he pledge when he ’s not working:“Houston Watch Company , Moving Sidewalk , and Johnny ’s Gold Brick . They all offer like an expert craft cocktail in a relaxed air . ”What he be intimate about Houston:“I of late moved to Galveston , and I love the island feel . The locals are supportive and ready for the cocktails we ’re insert . ”
Anna Wilkins
Eight Row Flint
Four years in the business arrange up Anna for her current sitch , slinging whisky - fuel cocktails at the popping Eight quarrel Flint in the Heights . Specialty cocktail:“Recently I ’ve been working on a cobbler , which I call Peche D’ete that sport peach pickle and cognac . ”Where she drinks when she ’s not working:“Whenever I ’m not work , you might find me sipping on a cocktail at Anvil or enjoy the terrace atmospheric condition at Henderson Heights on Washington . What she loves about Houston:“I think my favored matter about Houston is that , even though I ’ve lived here practically my whole life , I am constantly storm by new post that I stumble upon . It ’s exciting to do it that there will always be newfangled discoveries to be made while living here . ”
Justin Ware
Johnny’s Gold Brick
Justin has a history in the cordial reception industry dating back to 2008 , when he had his humble start at local sports stripe while attending Texas A&M. He ’s made his style through fine dining do and bartending , wine sales , management , and even has some kitchen work under his smash , but his true passionateness lies in cocktail with creativity and nip . After staging a few shifts at Anvil and being a part of the scuttle staff at Julep , this talent moved to the affordable guile cocktailery JGB , where he is general managing director and master cocktail creator . But his plunder does n’t stop there . He loves himself a good challenge , so much though that he was a interior finalist for Diageo ’s World Class competitor . Specialty cocktail:“Currently on the menu is ' The Upward Swing . ' which includes Espadin Mezcal , lemon juice , house made sweet Piper nigrum fix and Pale Ale with a salt and chilli pepper rim . Very Michelada inspired . ”Where he drinks when he ’s not working:“I bask making my round at local cocktail bars , Lei Low , Bad News Bar , Moving Sidewalk , Anvil , Houston Watch Co and Ninja Ramen ( yes for the ramen and an awesome cocktail or Asiatic beer ) are among my most shop . I enjoy trying young cocktails people put out and check some of my peer whenever potential . ”What he know about Houston:“The multicultural nature of most multitude . Houston is a very food and drink drive metropolis therefore most people who are interested in the craft side of cocktails are very open to strange and different things . This makes our problem much easy to make interesting cocktail . Another of my favorite voice of Houston is that the Houstonian population is favorable as well as incredibly welcoming . Southern hospitality at its finest ! ”
Mike McMullin
The Pastry War
Mike ’s a 4th generation Texan , though that ’s not to say he ’s stayed put in Texas . He ’s lived in seven unlike states over the course of action of his lifetime . Ask him about it as he ’s instruct you the intricacies of Lophophora williamsii at The Pastry War . Specialty cocktail:“A Blackstrap rum cocktail , which use Blackstrap rum instead of lily-white rum . ”Where he toast when he ’s not working:“You’ll find out me at Bad News Bar , Moving Sidewalk and Lei Low . What he eff about Houston:“The haters , the hustler , the Quaids and The Drells . ”
Robby Cook
Barringer Bar
Born and raised in Houston , Robby has been behind a bar for over 16 years . Two year ago , he and his wife Chieko opened Barringer Bar , where the honest-to-goodness - school , Houston - centric vibe is just as coolheaded as the flawlessly executed classic cocktail . you may catch Robby and his wife Tuesday through Saturday Nox either behind the bar or hosting while there gang of amazing bartender serve up scrumptious Greco-Roman libation using sweet juice and top - notch technique . Specialty cocktail : The Bitter Fool : gin , Punt e Mes , Campari , lemon , and mansion - made orgeat syrup ( a sweet syrup made from Prunus amygdalus , sugar , and rose or orange flower water system ) . The delicious bitter cocktail was one of Robby ’s favorites he devised for Campari calendar week this year , and you may now find it on the regular menu . Where he drinks when he ’s not working:“Most Mondays you will encounter me at Pastry War sipping on Mezcal . One of my favorite Browning automatic rifle in Houston that has one of the braggy Mezcal excerption in the country . ”What he jazz about Houston:“Houston is my hometown , my city ! It is a Brobdingnagian diverse thawing pot of a urban center where you’re able to chance just about anything you’re able to daydream of if you just look . It also retains a howling southern charm and cordial reception and can finger like a small townspeople at time . ”Sign up herefor our daily Houston electronic mail and be the first to get all the food / swallow / fun in town .
Leslie Ross|Julian Basjel
Jessica Johnson|Wooster’s Garden (edited)
Tommy Ho|Alex Negranza
David Perez|Isis Berruete
Laurie Harvey|Jack Opatrny
Alex Gregg|Courtesy of Moving Sidewalk
Mike Criss|Julie Soefer
Brad Stringer|Kirsten Gilliam Photography
Anna Wilkins|Rachel Szitas
Justin Ware|Kirsten Gilliam Photography
Mike McMullin|Christy Bankston
