Over the course of the last 12 months , Houston ’s skilful bartenders have change the elbow room we think about drinks , the way we drink our drinks , and the room we undoubtedly cure hangovers the next day . Some are bar professionals , industry vets that may not wreak behind the bar all the time , but nevertheless are the originative military force behind biz - change beverage programs . Others are young - accelerator pedal ' tender winning over our hearts , minds , and liver through their enthusiastic spirit and hard drink . This is n’t a life accomplishment prize , but rather a way to give thanks the creative brainiac who , this yr , earned award thanks to their deathless dedication to all things boozy .
Alba Huerta
Julep
Houston is favourable to have Alba Huerta , who some may say is the best barman in Texas , and who others say is the best barman in the commonwealth . With her belt ammunition buckle holding up Anvil , The Pastry War , and her own bar , the always - sophisticated Julep – which opened in 2014 to moderately much the good reviews ever and has been rocking top - bar lists ever since – you ’d think maybe she ’d sit around back and rest on her laurels for a hot second . Not Alba . She ’s slingin ’ harder than ever , constantly reinventing the Southern roster at Julep , shining her spark onto this year’sTexas MonthlyWhiskey Affair , and step in to reformulate the drink menu at Houston institution Ninfa ’s on Navigation . Raise your Pappy and say “ sunshine ” to many more years of Alba topping list .
Josh Bearden
Arthur Ave
You would n’t think a scarlet - sauce Italian joint – albeit a hip one – would have one of the most Laputan cocktail programs in the city . But it does , and that ’s thanks to barkeep Josh Bearden and beverage director Lainey Collum ( more on her next ) . Bearden , whose setting include serious locales like Julep and Prohibition Supperclub & Bar , is a rising star in Houston ’s cocktail scene . The vision at Arthur Ave is an American saloon with kitschy Italian influences , infusing The Boot ’s savor into classic American tinctures in a way that seems like it was kismet ( like the Martini Caprese , with Josh ’s home vermouth , raetam gin rummy , and white-hot balsamy vinegar ) . pose at the bar and see as Bearden hone the White Russian soft service , which want a deft hand so as to balance all that John Barleycorn and cream . you’re able to take solace in the fact that he nailed the formula .
Lainey Collum
Lainey may not be thesolereason Arthur Ave is as telling as it is , but as beverage director , she ’s a gracious slice of it . Before she get there , she had stint atThe Pass & ProvisionsandThe Hay Merchant , then made even more of a name for herself as she breathed life into Prohibition Supperclub + Bar . There , Lainey ruffle nostalgia with degeneration and put on a show through bbl - aged Old Fashioneds and original inventions fuse fun material like bourbon , of age tequila , and umber bitters . Her imagination undoubtedly exposit in 2016 . Earlier this year , she co - host aPurple rainfall - inspired political party at Zimm ’s after the red of Prince ; and then came Arthur Ave , where her woolgather - up concoction include an amaro fizz with homemade limoncello and Aperol ; or the house herbaceous plant - infused cotton gin & tonic that you ’ll probably end up ordering every time you dine . Make your best effort not to , because there ’s so many masterpiece to try ( there ’s even a house amaro in the works ) .
Jessey Qi
Anvil Bar & Refuge
Fact : Jessey will locomote to Scotland taste Scotch at 50 distilleries for two workweek flat just so he can pour you some when he gets back . That ’s how passionate the Anvil assistant ecumenical manager is about his workmanship ( it does n’t ache that Anvil supports the locomotion program , but still ) . The Scotch lover want to be able-bodied to describe every label he poured from first - hand experience , and he did so at the extremely coveted Lessons from Scotland tastings earlier this year . His traveling did n’t barricade there . Qi spent a week turning Chicago ’s Lost Lake , a fellow James Beard Award semifinalist , into a “ Texas Tiki Disco ” prevention along with Anvil owner Bobby Heugel and general manager Terry Williams . As long as he continue bringing his worthful experiences back home , we ’re cool with that .
Elyse Blechman
Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge
Another grow adept , Elyse is perpetually reinventing her game , with an frothiness for the beverage diligence that is downright infectious . Just ask anyone who walk into Bad News Bar and declares her their favorite , or ask any of the bars around town that receive her for lessons as a make ambassador for Aviation Gin . Of course , there ’s also the annualSpeed Rackcompetition , a national competition featuring top distaff bartenders that she ’s already part train for , despite the competition not taking place until next year ( not that we ’re surprised about that ) . Captain Foxheart ’s proprietor Justin Burrow may have maltreat back behind the saloon a bit after a stave shake - up belatedly last year , but with gift like her on the team , he may not have to for long .
Morgan Weber
Agricole Hospitality/Eight Row Flint
Along with Ryan Pera , Morgan is the conceiver behind Agricole Hospitality , which was already run game with Revival Market and Coltivare before spread out up the whisky - soak , revisionist icehouse Eight Row Flint at the death of last twelvemonth . In plus to being the bossman , he ’s in charge of nurturing the cordial reception group ’s cocktail program , and his imposing workplace at Eight Row Flint earned him a spot in this listing . The deep lineup of whiskey , cocktail , and proprietary single - barrel selection of bourbon cherry - picked by Morgan himself and service directly from the barrel via custom - built taps has allow the program to rival other well - shew ones in the city . The streak has also been popping off a Tuesday night outdoor cookery serial featuring everything from cony paella to cold picnic poulet , and Weber seems to pair the card with the perfect beverage every damn fourth dimension .
Leslie Krockenberger
Moving Sidewalk
It ’s been a hell of a year for Leslie Krockenberger ( née Ross ) . More accurately , a blaze of a few class . After killing it as Treadsack ’s measure director , in which she morphed into Superwoman and miraculously created standout beverage programs for three bars at the same time , she went on to spread out the first concept of her own , Canard . Not amazingly , the French - spoon lulu opened to rave reviews , even being named one ofPlayboy’s“50 Best Bars in the U.S. ” despite only being open since March . Leslie has amicably parted means with Treadsack and Canard since , prompt on to link up the already - powerhouse squad atMoving Sidewalk , which has obviously welcome her with arm open wide as hell . Co - owner and drink guru Alex Gregg mused , “ Her creativity , her vividness , attention to point , ability to think out of doors of the boxwood – hell , even her tattoos ! – fit right in . ” Somehow , in the midst of all this , she also found time to get married overseas . Now that we remember about it , is she Superwoman ?
Tommy Ho
Completing the stringent training program at Anvil requires that you pass a “ unreasoning 50 ” spirits exam , where you have to apply your sense of taste , smell , and sense of touch ( perchance ) to identify 47/50 spirit right . That may seem virtually impossible , but of course Tommy passed . He ’s one of the fast in the business , and he ’s square - up inspirational when it comes to thinking up cocktail , always playing an integral part in Anvil ’s seasonal rollouts . In the summer , it was the Peddling Fiction , a fresh blueberry and rummy cocktail with hints of spice . This fall , it ’s a clever Pandanime , with rummy , Malus pumila brandy , pandan , ointment , and orgeat . If you ca n’t make it to Anvil , dear news program ! you could craft his spirits at base , as he share his formula for Minch ’s Lure – a touchy Scotch , sherry , and pear brandy tincture –with the JBF .
Alex Negranza
You should n’t be surprised that three Anvil bartenders made this year ’s list . The team there is serious about endlessly educating themselves , and allowing up - and - coming gift the room it needs to thrive . Now a senior team member , Alex has thrived this year without a doubt . For starters , he gain the home 2016 Eater Young Gun award and defend Negroni Week . But it was n’t just that . He toldThirsty Mag , “ Between the Eater award , being a elderly staff member at Anvil , being the Negroni Week Chapter Lead , Education Chair of the United States Bartenders ' Guild chapter here in Houston , go with Bar Institute Austin for outreach in Houston , and planning Anvil ’s pop - up at the conference , all on top of being a Global Brand Ambassador for Scrappy ’s Bitters … it ’s a batch . ” Looks like he can address it .
Laurie Harvey
Cherry Pie Hospitality
A few years back , Laurie Harvey brought Triniti and Sanctuari Bar ’s beverage programme to the forefront ( along with Leslie Krockenberger ) ; and now , she ’s doing it all over with Cherry Pie Hospitality . As drinkable director , the experimental cocktail queen oversee all things liquid for State Fare and Pi Pizza , two 2016 conception that benefit endlessly from her expertness . Her cocktails experience svelte , but unstuffy . A cinnamon- and red pepper - spiced Pineapple Express block with a Grizzly Hawaiian pizza pie ? Uhh , yes please . Black - Mission - common fig - inculcate Manhattan with a smoked , source - beer - glazed twofold pork chop shot ? Hell yeah ! Harvey ’s passionate about fashioning smart cocktails that stand on the highest - timber fresh component and spirits available . That means , her foul , never - tired flavor profiles shine like the celestial bodies they are .
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Alba Huerta of Julep|Julie Soefer Photography
Courtesy of Arthur Ave
Courtesy of Arthur Ave
Julie Soefer
Andrew Calisteri
Joshua Black Wilkins
Alex Gregg
Alex Negranza
Julie Soefer
Jack Opatrny
