Female Bartenders You Need to Know in Memphis

Courtesy of Joey Warner
Courtesy of Joey Warner

Looking for a good drink and some good conversation? Do not make the mistake of over-looking the incredibly talented roster of female bartenders around Memphis. One part cocktail wizardry, one part friendliness and about 10 parts local pride is the recipe followed by our favorite mixologists.

<strong>Where to find her:</strong> <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/memphis/bar/blind-bear-speakeasy&q…; target="_blank">Blind Bear Speakeasy</a>

<strong>Specialty:</strong> Speakeasy Cocktails, her definition of Prohibition-era cocktails and newly created cocktails that emulate the Prohibition style and ingredients: old fashioned, all types of mules, The Flapper, Ritzy Rummy, Swanky Sipper &amp; Raspberry Beret to name a few.<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working</strong>: She’s at games, practices, and events for her 15-year-old son who is a high school freshmen and her 13-year-old twin girls who are in 8th grade. She’s also an owner of Blind Bear and does all of the marketing, bill paying, payroll, menu making, reservation taking, and scheduling.<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: “It's nice to always feel like people are there for you, supporting you and the restaurant. Bar owners, patrons, and really all of our community come together and support one another. Also we are really spoiled by the amazing Memphis music scene!”

Courtesy of Audra Farmer/Tsunami

<strong>Where you can find her</strong>: <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/memphis/restaurants/tsunami&quot; target="_blank">Tsunami</a>

<strong>Speciality</strong>: “I really enjoy making seasonal cocktails, so I get my inspiration from fresh ingredients available at the market. My chef, Ben Smith, and his wife Colleen, would also agree that I make a pretty perfect Sazerac.”<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working</strong>: “I love my Memphis Tigers. Basketball and football, winning season or off season. I’m usually running around the Forum &amp; Liberty Bowl on game days or packed into a local spot glued to a TV. I am also a big Grizzlies fan; but if you know me, you know when the two happen to share a game day, I bleed Tiger Blue all the way.”<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: When the Tigers or Grizzlies are doing well and the city comes together. “That pride and fellowship is the best feeling, and it’s like nothing I have experienced anywhere else.”

Courtesy of&nbsp;Amanda Puckett/Aldo's Pizza Pies

<strong>Where you can find her:</strong> <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/memphis/restaurants/aldos-pizza-pies…; target="_blank">Aldo's Pizza Pies</a>

<strong>Specialty</strong>: Lemon basil sparkler! House-made limoncello, house-made basil syrup, topped with prosecco. Kinda sweet, kinda stout!<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working:</strong> Her free time is scarce, so she likes to spend it quietly. If she can make it to the gym once in awhile and spend one night a week catching up with girlfriends she’s a happy camper.<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: “The way we get behind local/small businesses and restaurants! The variety and quality is really on par with much bigger cities, a lot of folks don't realize that. Memphis might be a lil dangerous and a lil dirty but it's got serious soul and we are all committed to making it a more livable communal place.”

Courtesy of&nbsp;Ginger Kirkpatrick/Buccaneer Lounge

<strong>Where to find her</strong>: <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/memphis/bar/buccaneer-lounge&quot; target="_blank">Buccaneer Lounge</a>

<strong>Specialty</strong>: Shot of Jameson with a PBR draft back.<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working</strong>: Cooking and spending time with her favorite person/Bucc owner, her dad, Wils Davis III.<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: “Music, music, music, we have the most awesome local musicians, and I love hearing them at The Bucc or one of our other wonderful local establishments!”

Courtesy of&nbsp;Sherianne Bangham/Acre

<strong>Where to find her</strong>: <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/memphis/bar/acre-restaurant&quot; target="_blank">Acre</a>

<strong>Specialty</strong>: William Tell (vodka, sherry, creme de cassis, freshly juiced apple)<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working</strong>: She reads, writes short stories, hits the Memphis music scene, and takes her dog patio hopping around Midtown with her friends.<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: “I love the food, the music, that it’s a big city with a small town vibe... I love this city.”

Courtesy of&nbsp;Lisa Gradinger/The Majestic Grille

<strong>Where to find her</strong>: <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/memphis/restaurants/the-majestic-gri…; target="_blank">The Majestic Grille</a>

<strong>Specialty</strong>: Currently a vanilla bean old fashioned -- twist on the classic with vanilla bean, orange zest, orange bitters, and whiskey.<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working</strong>: Playing kickball (Go Hellions!!), studying up on drink recipes and gardening.<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: The ever changing and developing food and drink scene.

Courtesy of&nbsp;Lindsay Roberson/Houston’s

<strong>Where to find her</strong>: <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/memphis/restaurants/houstons-restau…; target="_blank">Houston’s</a>

<strong>Specialty</strong>: Classic cocktails.<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working</strong>: Sleeping! Trying new foods and cocktails.<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: The heart and soul, the grit and grind attitude, and patio season!

Courtesy of&nbsp;Brittany Redmond-Hawk/Bardog Tavern

<strong>Where to find her:</strong> <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/memphis/restaurants/bardog-tavern&qu…; target="_blank">Bardog Tavern</a>

<strong>Specialty</strong>: &nbsp;Her "Porch drank" made of Hendrick's gin, peach schnapps, lime, and tonic.<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working:</strong> She plays roller derby! And when not busy with that, she goes to school, spends time with her husband and their two pugs, and friends, of course. “Bartending has made my life awesome, including blessing me with great friends.”<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: Everything. It's cheap, Midtown is beautiful, and everyone knows everyone somehow. There are so many great places to eat and drink, secret kayak spots on the Wolf River, an amazingly talented music scene, and the Grizzlies! But mostly, she loves that Memphis still holds on to its grit, and doubts it will ever try to be something it isn't.

Courtesy of&nbsp;Cora Pitt/Aldo's Pizza Pies

<strong>Where to find her:</strong> <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/eat/memphis/restaurants/aldos-pizza-pies…; target="_blank">Aldo's Pizza Pies</a>

<strong>Specialty</strong>: The Godfather Part 2 (Bulleit bourbon, Lillet Blanc, rosemary honey syrup, fresh lemon juice, topped with an Italian herb tincture) and The Ramble Tamble (Big gin, fresh lemon juice, a sea salt simple syrup, a few dashes of rhubarb bitters, and topped with a splash of wild strawberry liqueur). &nbsp;<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working</strong>: She loves being outdoors. She runs A LOT. She’s currently training to run her first half marathon. She’s also recently picked up gardening, and has quite a few flowers and herbs growing. She also cooks and bakes quite a bit.<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: The food, music, people, places, and DEFINITELY the Grizzlies and Tigers!!! Grit &amp; Grind all day long!!!!!

Courtesy of&nbsp;Leanna Tedford/The Grove Grill

<strong>Where to find her:</strong> <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/eat/memphis/restaurants/the-grove-grill…; target="_blank">The Grove Grill</a>

<strong>Specialty</strong>: “I can open a Coors Light faster than anyone. Really I just like making people happy so I will mix anything for them.”<br />
<strong>What’s she’s doing when she’s not working</strong>: Normally fly fishing somewhere but now you can always find her working on her new business, Double Barrel Party Lights.<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: Memphis people are the ones that make it feel like home and make it special.<br />
&nbsp;

Courtesy of Dana Doggrell

<strong>Where to find her</strong>: <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/memphis/bar/rec-room&quot; target="_blank">Rec Room</a>

<strong>Specialty</strong>: She likes to make custom shooters based on customers' likes or dislikes. “I kind of make it up as I go along!”<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working</strong>: She’s a senior in college, so when she’s not working she’s usually studying or doing other college kid things while she still can.<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: The rich culture and history the city has, which has created a really vibrant and diverse population.

Courtesy of&nbsp;Christine Farris

Christine Farris

Where you can find her: Bar DKDC and Beauty Shop Restaurant
Specialty: Craft cocktails with seasonal fresh squeezed juices and herbs, or a simple High Life and Jameson shot.
What she’s doing when she’s not working: Traveling anywhere and everywhere she can.
Favorite thing about Memphis: “There is more grit and soul in this city than anywhere I've ever been. It's a city that's always trying to build itself up, and these past few years have been great to witness. There is nowhere like Memphis. It's home.”

Courtesy of&nbsp;Rachel Bray/Memphis Made Taproom

<strong>Where you can find her:</strong> <a href="http://www.thrillist.com/venues/drink/memphis/bars/memphis-made-brewing…; target="_blank">Memphis Made Taproom</a>

<strong>Specialty</strong>: Beer, beer, and more beer!<br />
<strong>What she’s doing when she’s not working</strong>: Most likely spending time with her dog-child, Luna.<br />
<strong>Favorite thing about Memphis</strong>: “I love Memphis because this city never sleeps, and there is always somewhere to have a good time.”

Courtesy of&nbsp;Ruth Herndon

Ruth Herndon

Where to find her: The Second Line and The Green Room (a new concept in Memphis that will host private events and pop up restaurants).
Specialty: “Personally I enjoy all things wine, but lately I've been intrigued by the rise in popularity of barrel aged gin. I find them very versatile in a wide variety of cocktails.”
What she’s doing when she’s not working: Studying to take her real estate licensing exam. She’s already been hired with Marx-Bensdorf Realtors.
Favorite thing about Memphis: The people. “This town's got soul!”

Courtesy of&nbsp;Morgan McKinney

Morgan McKinney

Where you can find her: Felicia Suzanne's and Mulan Asian Bistro.
Specialty: Classic cocktails (old fashions, Champagne cocktails, Sazeracs, etc.)
What she’s doing when she’s not working: She’s an artist who works with paint and charcoals, and she’s working on writing a collection of poetry. She also trains in Shotokan karate, Krav Maga, and Kali.
Favorite thing about Memphis: The community. “I consider every person in this city as my neighbor. And the Grizzlies are my heart and soul.”

Sign up here for our daily Memphis email and be the first to get all the food/drink/fun in the Blues City.

Stacey Greenberg lives in Cooper Young with her two sons. She bartends on occasion just for fun. She is the author of the award winning blog, Dining with Monkeys.