The year 2016 was a banner one for Boston drinkers . Yes , between the contentious election season and Deflategate Year Two , we ’ve probably pickled ourselves into an early tomb , but at least we drink well while doing it . Bartenders throughout the city raise their plot , act with techniques , ingredients , glassware , and garnish in an drive to seduce us intojust one more round . Before the year come to a close , we checked in with the five Boston barkeep we think made the greatest splatter in 2016 .
Jared Sadoian
The Hawthorne
A alum of MIT who started as a tech analyst at Barclays Capital ? Apparently that ’s what it takes to make it as a taproom manager today . Sadoian has taken that genius and applied it to The Hawthorne bar program for a yoke of years now , but it was only in 2016 that he graced us with his expertise in rummy and agave , expanding those spirit menu considerably , and focus on lowly - quite a little producer . We feel a little less covetous of his regular trip to Mexico when he honor us this handsomely . We question Jared Sadoian about his remarkable life history – and what ’s on the visible horizon .
Todd Maul
Cafe ArtScience
Maul is the mad scientist we did n’t have sex we need . Since debuting hisJetsons - similar cocktail in recent 2014 , the former Clio maestro has introduced the boozing electorate to technique like flash extract , rotary evaporation , and of course , flavor - infused vapor . This class , it was all about paint garnishes , 40 - degrees - below - freezing ice cubes , and charred fruit smokes – and it ’s only cash in one’s chips to get more interesting from there . We interviewed Todd Maul about his outstanding twelvemonth .
Seth Freidus
Waypoint
When Michael Scelfo ’s seafood frontier settlement afford just before Labor Day , we were as aroused about the prevention program as we were about the crudo . Freidus , also streak manager at Alden & Harlow , made absinthe his theme song spirit , and the result cocktails are a revelation , even to the Green Fairy - contrary . But every potable is a humdinger – even the mocktails , for those teetotalers stock of Shirley Temples . We interview Seth Freidus about his efforts to step up the Boston cocktail scene even further .
Nicole Lebedevitch
Yvonne’s
When Lebedevitch took over Yvonne ’s bar course of study this summertime , her enthusiasm was immediately manifest . The Eastern Standard and Hawthorne alum develop the cocktail tilt and took it in fascinating young directions , both playing with and perfect the classic . The lines outside the door may be intimidating , but Lebedevitch has made sure the drunkenness tilt is nothing but inviting . We interviewed Nicole Lebedevitch about her handsome moment in 2016 .
Tenzin Conechok Samdo
Tavern Road
We care a dependable garnish , but Samdolovesa good garnish . heyday , boba pearls , a flavored ice third power shaped like the Millennium Falcon – seriously , there ’s no topper he wo n’t consider . Samdo might also be the friendliest bartender in town , so when he leave Trade earlier this summer to take over the bar program at Tavern Road , we vamoose down the street right after him . If you want to whet your thirstiness now , go to Samdo ’s IG bill ( @bostonmixdrink ) – he ’s also a master copy ‘ grammer . We interview Tenzin Conechok Samdo about the year – and what he ’ll be looking forward to in 2017 .
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Jared Sadoian|Melissa Ostrow
Wayne Chinnock
Galdones Photography
Courtesy of Nicole Lebedevitch
Tenzin Dorjee
