Portland has a band of great bartenders , and 2016 has been one of the busiest year yet with a flurry of bar and eating house openings . Meanwhile , spots that opened in 2015 have been focused on rarify and smoothen their programs . What makes or break of serve these bar can be a lot of things , but when it comes down to it , nothing ’s more crucial to a bar ’s success than the mortal create your drink . Here are the self-aggrandizing , most influential , most kickass bartenders that have form Portland in 2016 . Apparently , it helps to be attractive and tattooed .
Jon Lewis
Rue
Rue has n’t been attracting as much attention as it perhaps should be , having open in a year with literally tons of other eatery , but bartender Jon Lewis should n’t be pretermit . After helping to open up the bar atTaylor Railworksin late 2015 , he was convey on to launch the bar at Rue in 2016 , where he bring in his original , now and again eccentric approach to cocktails . With drinks that admit banana liqueurs ( the Sharknana , inspired by his own shark / banana tree tattoo ) , or one based on multiple types of bitters and vermouths , Jon ’s distinctiveness seems to be cocktails that should n’t function , but really do , and are unlike anything else in township .
Alise Moffatt
Shift Drinks
It takes a fate of study to own and manage a measure , but the monocled Alise Moffatt does so with aplomb , and makes it count almost gentle . Though it took Shift Drinks a moment to find its ground , as of 2016 , it offers one of the best and most inventive cocktail programs in the urban center , raising the standards for everyone . Alise can be found behind the stick almost every night of the calendar week process originative and pleasant-tasting cocktails with expertise and an endearing passion .
Douglas Derrick
Ava Gene’s
The dapper Douglas Derrickis mostly love for the Negroni , having started the Negroni of the Month computer programme at his previous restaurant , Nostrana , as well as the Negroni Social which inspiredNegroni Week . In 2016 , he ’s been leading the motility of " farm - to - crank , " with local constituent from some of the top Fannie Farmer in the state going directly into his cocktail . With his sympathy of green goods ’s role in cocktails , Douglas has create some unique and pleasant-tasting beverage that strongly ruminate the time of year . In the meanwhile , he spends clock time guess cocktail competitions , including the Northwest portion of theEspolon Cocktail Fights .
Michelle Ruocco
Han Oak
Michelle Ruocco set forth her Portland life history as bar director for the now - shuttered Bent Brick . In May of 2016 , she grabbed the gold at theWhiskeytown Cocktail Competitionbefore proceed on from Bent Brick and becoming possibly the metropolis ’s most omnipresent mixologist . you could find Michelle almost any time of the week at one of many bars , including the fabulous Korean pop - up Han Oak . There , she design a unique cocktail program , with novel beverage every hebdomad , often inspired by Korean dishes or just full of unexpected feeling combos . The uncommon times she ’s not tending bar there or atTusk , Woodsman Tavern , orRue , she ’s posting photos of her stunning creations on Instagram , under the name BigMixshake .
Joe Frade
LeChon
Joe Frade is create some in truth exciting beverage at LeChon , especially with tequila and rummy . He freeze his own ice for clarity and consistency , and hand - carves it . He smoke cocktails and fat - washes cachaça . He ’s been a home Finalist twice in theBacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition , and is preparing for his third time , and he runs a beverage consulting and education company called theLiquid Courage Corporation . But what really matters to Joe is his community work : With a degree in Exercise Science , he ’s planning on tally a blog to his Liquid Courage internet site to give advice on goodly animation to diligence proletarian . As a veteran of the Marine Corps , he plans to open a nonprofit cake which will engage military veterans who are look to link up the service industry .
Natasha Hill
The Benson Hotel
Natasha Hill was the Portland cocktail scenery ’s considerably - kept secret for a while , until she started gain ground serious competitions . Natasha spent most of her bartending clock time at the Trio Club , a engaged dance lodge . While the measure taught her velocity and efficiency , she get bored makingAMFsand vodka soda , so she self - train with cocktail literature before joining the Oregon Bartending Guild and pop a small , semi - close craft cocktail night at Trio . Eventually , she would utilise her combination of stop number and craft in competitions , make headway theEspolon Cocktail Fightsin 2015 and again in 2016 . Recently she moved on to a craft position at the Benson Hotel , and is necessitate her skills to the Espolon Nationals in New York City on November 9th .
Estanislado Orona
The Rookery at Raven & Rose
Estanislado Orona , better acknowledge as Tanis , is creditworthy for most of the barroom action materialize atRaven and Rose’supstairs bar , The Rookery . There he crafts amazing cocktails , including some of the good version of “ classics ” you could find in Portland ( we hold back all year for his flock mint julep in summer ) . Much of 2016 for him was focused on defending his victory at the regionals for theMost Imaginative Bartender competition , which he successfully did , and traveling to London for finals . Still , he ’s carry off to find sentence to craft house syrups and spice ; attend for his enticing house - made cola soon , preferably mixed with red wine for the best kalimotxo you ’ve ever had .
Angel Teta
Ataula
While wine is broadly the favour pairing with food , cocktail are making strides towards being food for thought - friendly . Angel Teta exemplifies this at Ataula , where she pairs delicious sherry ground - cocktail ( and more ) with Jose Chesa ’s Spanish culinary art . She ’s been behind the control stick for a number of long time now , exercise behind a tiny bar that serves a monolithic eating place space , but 2016 has been big for her – she was theTales of the Cocktailwinner , beat out hundreds of others for one of the most prestigious awards in bartending . Still , she remains a delightful and talented barkeeper , pop with guests as well as her match .
Becca June
Altabira City Tavern
Altabira City Tavern is rapidly becoming a terminus after open up last yr . Some of that is due to its beautiful balcony that overlook the city , as well as its proximity to the Moda Center for Blazers game . But a lot of it is also because of its talented bar manager , Becca June . Becca is an Oregon aboriginal who grew up in Portland , though she spent prison term mastering her craft in New Orleans , and only return home last class . Now she brings her charm and acquisition to the bar at Altabira , arrive at cocktail from a variety of inspiration , from pop culture to music , or even what is pass off at the nearby convention center ; her drinks almost always have a story behind them .
Jacob Grier
Wayfinder Beer
Jacob Grier is one of those bartenders whose influence go beyond his study behind the prevention ; last class he published his book on beer cocktails , Cocktails on Tap , and this year his brainchild , Aquavit Week(December 4th-10th ) , will be bigger than ever , unfold out of doors of Portland to cities nationwide . The year 2016 also assure him writing and publishing article on alcohol statute law , teaching classes atTales of the CocktailandBar Institute , and assist to open Portland ’s new pub and soon - to - be brewery , Wayfinder Beer , where he designed the bar program , contribute his signatures of aquavit and beer cocktails to the masses . And while 2016 is no different in this regard , Jacob remain one of the nicest hoi polloi to function you a drinkable in Portland .
Lisa Victoria Hare
Victoria
TheLightning Bar Collectiveseems to always fall gold , having one of the most popular line of prevention in the city . With Victoria , which open up in summer of 2015 , the understanding for succeeder is clean : its eponymous co - possessor and bar manager , Lisa Victoria Hare . Lisa is even more stylish than the bar named for her , and has made it the most welcoming and playfulness bar in the Collective by letting her personality and talent inform the elbow room the prevention cultivate – for instance , the cocktail card , with names all taken fromThe Princess Bride , or the dog - friendly patio .
Colin Carroll
Trifecta Tavern
Gregarious and endearing , Colin Carroll is a mad scientist behind the taproom at Trifecta Tavern . Who else would think to char forest in a wood - fired oven and sous vide it with batched cocktails ? Colin ’s cocktail card is much like him : all at once refined yet wild ; sheer but cagey . The year 2016 has been his most playful yet – like his summer menu that included zany racing yacht drink , or the fall menu with bone marrow - infused bourbon .
Bex Karnofski and Anna Moss
La Moule
La Moule opened in 2015 with a heavy collaborative cocktail programme managed by Mark Macminn and guided by owner Tommy Klus , but Mark has left , while bartending super - duo Bex Karnofski and Anna Moss , who both helped reach the bar , have taken over . The two have tightened and refined the menu , making it more focused and seasonal , while working in tandem bicycle to create more venturesome cocktails , swear on the public corporate trust that La Moule built up over its first year . While it was a great spot to begin with , under Bex and Anna ’s watch , it ’s growing up well , and it does n’t search to be slow down down .
Eric Rickey and Gabe Pearlman
Renata
Another slur that spread out in 2015 and slay its tread in 2016 is Renata . Gabe Pearlman take on over as bar manager from Gabe Lowe in May 2016 , with Eric Rickey joining as point barkeeper at the same time . While the two were stranger at first , they immediately connected as “ twin souls ” when it come up to bartending . They view a enceinte bar program , but one that could be meliorate , and have shape and focused the computer menu since then , adding on an extensive classic lean and creating newfangled , exciting Italian - revolutionize drinks , all the while being piquant , entertaining mixologist . While Renata is still a great spot for diners looking for Italian food , Eric and Gabe have made it a destination for cocktail drinkers as well .
Lucas Plant and Daniel Osborne
The Green Room
It ’s arguable that Lucas Plant and Daniel Osborne are the most influential mixologist in town … as least as far as barware is concerned . The two , along with social selling maven Katie Burnett , formedBull in Chinatwo years ago , an artisan barware shop , and now you could hardly find a cocktail bar that does n’t expend their rousing glasses , Lewis udder , and ice mallets . This year , they ’ve been busy lay out up their own brick and mortar shop , as well as consulting with bars and assist to launch barroom plan at spot likeBesaw’sandSolo Club . Somehow , they still managed to find time to be given legal community , with Luke at the Green Room and Daniel at the popular newfangled restaurant , Tusk .
Team Riff Raff
Bit House Saloon
Nick Cifuni , Chauncey Roach , Brian Gilbert , Jesse Card , Chris Churilla , and Chino Lee : It could n’t be just one . Bit House Saloon was an whole collaborative venture from the moment it opened its doors ahead of time last twelvemonth , and has rest with the same core crew ( Team Riff - Raff as they call themselves ) ever since – an unequaled skill in this city . This coaction helped put Bit House on every metier bar list , including multiple Bar of the Year prize , and made it a vivacious hot spot with its cordial reception - driven approach and incredible drinking menu . The squad is traveling to New York for the closing curtain of the Bar Institute to give a presentation on their collaborative programme – one of five ginmill chosen nationally to do so .
John Lewis of Rue|Thomas Teal
Courtesy of Alise Moffat
Courtesy of Douglas Derrick
Dina Avila
Courtesy of Lechon
Courtesy of Natasha Hill
Cassandra Ericson
Carly Diaz
John Valls
Alex Frane/Thrillist
Dina Avila
Kayt Mathers
Alex Frane/Thrillist
Alex Frane/Thrillist
Carly Diaz
Kari Young
