Behind the Bar, Above the Noise: NYC’s Most Influential Women in Mixology

New York City’s cocktail culture is often loud. There are big names, bigger egos, and ever-shifting trends. But above all the noise, certain voices carry with grace, precision, and quiet authority. These voices belong to women—bartenders, beverage directors, and bar owners—who aren’t just part of the story, they’ve rewritten the script.

This is a tribute to five of the most influential women in NYC mixology, whose leadership, creativity, and mentorship have helped shape one of the most exciting cocktail cities in the world.

1. Lynnette Marrero – The Architect of Empowerment

You can’t talk about women in cocktails without starting with Lynnette Marrero.

Co-founder of Speed Rack, the first all-female speed bartending competition, Marrero has turned advocacy into action. The competition doesn’t just spotlight talent—it raises significant funds for breast cancer research and opens doors for women across the industry. She’s also a world-renowned mixologist and educator, with collaborations ranging from Llama Inn to the MasterClass series on mixology (alongside Ryan Chetiyawardana).

Her mission? Empowerment with elegance. Speed with soul.

🔗 Wikipedia – Lynnette Marrero

2. Audrey Saunders – The Original Visionary

Before Instagrammable drinks and speakeasy aesthetics became standard, there was Audrey Saunders—quietly redefining modern cocktail culture with an obsessive focus on technique and taste.

As founder of the legendary Pegu Club (2005–2020), Saunders helped ignite the craft cocktail revival in NYC. Her bar became a training ground for a generation of bartenders, many of whom have gone on to lead bars across the globe. Her influence is felt in every perfectly balanced sour and stirred Manhattan served in this city.

If New York’s cocktail culture has a matriarch, it’s Audrey.

🔗 Chanticleer Society – Audrey Saunders

3. Ivy Mix – The Cultural Connector

With a name like Ivy Mix, it almost feels destined. But her success comes not from luck, but from relentless dedication to inclusion and education.

Also a co-founder of Speed Rack, Ivy is a James Beard Award winner and the co-owner of Leyenda, a Brooklyn bar celebrating the spirits and traditions of Latin America. Her drink menus are deeply rooted in heritage and story, and her work continually elevates underrepresented voices in the world of spirits.

She’s proof that cocktails can be a bridge between cultures—and between people.

🔗 Speed Rack / Ivy Mix Profile

4. Meaghan Dorman – The Quiet Innovator

Some bartenders create buzz. Meaghan Dorman creates balance.

As bar director of Dear Irving and The Raines Law Room, she’s helped design some of the most intimate, beautifully appointed cocktail spaces in NYC. Dorman’s menus are elegant without being precious, offering classics with quiet twists and modern drinks that respect the past.

She’s also a mentor to many, shaping the tone and training of a new generation. Her style isn’t flashy—it’s intentional, restrained, and quietly revolutionary.

🔗 NYC Tourism – Women Changing the Cocktail Scene

5. Regina Christiansen – The Neighborhood Icon

In Park Slope, Brooklyn, Blueprint is more than a bar—it’s a sanctuary of thoughtful cocktails and understated hospitality. At its helm is Regina Christiansen, co-owner and veteran of NYC’s hospitality world.

She brings warmth, technical skill, and a commitment to community. In a city full of spectacle, Christiansen reminds us that a great cocktail doesn’t need to shout. It just needs to be right.

🔗 Marie Claire – NYC Bartenders

What These Women Share

• A refusal to conform to industry stereotypes

• A belief in mentorship and legacy

• A commitment to both innovation and integrity

Each of these women has created more than cocktails—they’ve built culture, infrastructure, and access. And in doing so, they’ve made the New York bar world stronger, more inclusive, and infinitely more interesting.

Bring That Brilliance to Your Own Event

Looking to work with expert mixologists who blend substance and style? The team at Art of the Cocktail includes some of NYC’s most accomplished women in mixology, available for private events, luxury gatherings, and immersive cocktail classes.

We bring thoughtfulness, presence, and flawless drinks—because behind every memorable event is someone who knows how to run the bar, and the room.

Let’s build an experience together that’s as refined and unforgettable as the women who inspire it.