The art of making the perfect cocktail isn’t new to Black culture. Mixology has been documented at least back to the 1900s when The Colored American magazine introduced the public to the Black Mixologists Club, a group of professional Black mixologists.
But don’t confuse mixology with bartending.
Often used interchangeably, bartending and mixology have distinct roles. A mixologist may never serve you a drink but is the mastermind behind crafting your favorite cocktail. On the other hand, the bartender works at the bar to make sure that drinks get into the right hand or prepare cocktails based on mixologists’ recipes.
Though The Colored American magazine article helped make the existence of Black mixologists official to the rest of the world, people are confident that there were Black people who were perfecting drinks long before the 1900s.
Here is a list of mixologists preserving that tradition one signature cocktail at a time.
Sheena Harrison, a Michigan-based mixologist, owns Drinks of Essence. Harrison launched her county’s only licensed bartending school in 2021.
Shannon Mustipher is a New York-based cocktail consultant. She authored the book, Tiki, Modern Tropical Cocktails.
Ian Burrell, aka the Rum Ambassador, is a London-based drinks consultant and television personality.
Anthony Bates is based in Harlem, NY and is the head mixologist at The Polo Bar, the classic Ralph Lauren restaurant in NYC.
Tiffanie Barriere aka the “Drinking Coach,” is a mixologist, influencer, and connector. She is based in Atlanta, GA and her cocktails have been featured in publications across the nation.
Jessica Robinson is a New Orleans-based mixologist. Robinson, the owner of JusTini Cocktails has been serving signature drinks at weddings and corporate events throughout Louisiana.