Lynnette Marrero is a New York City bar director,
philanthropist, and food and beverage icon. She is also a cofounder of Speed
Rack, a competition that recognizes the accomplishments of the country's top
female mixologists.
A Brief Introduction to Lynnette Marrero
Lynnette Marrero is a well-known mixologist, bartender, and
philanthropist. She has a James Beard Award for mixology and speaks at the
Tales of the Cocktail bartending convention. Lynnette began her mixology career
at Manhattan's The Flatiron Lounge, where she worked alongside mixologist and
bar owner Julie Reiner. She later became a Rum Ambassador for Diageo, a UK-based
alcoholic beverage company.
Lynnette founded Drinksat6 and later became beverage
director at New York's Rye House, where she won Time Out's Eat Out Award for
Best New Cocktail Bar in 2010. She and consulting partner Jim Kearns created
the cocktail program at Astor Room in New York City's Kaufman Astoria Studios.
She also oversees the bar programs at several other well-known restaurants,
including the Peruvian Llama Inn in Brooklyn and its sister restaurant, Llama
San in Manhattan.
5 Fast Facts About Lynnette Marrero
Lynnette is a pioneer in the global craft cocktail
renaissance. Here are five facts about this James Beard Award winner and her
career:
1. Her identity influences her business ethos. Lynnette is a
New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent”a "Nuyorican"”and the tenets of
cocktail culture reflect her heritage. Her approach to crafting cocktails is
influenced by the marriage of hospitality and family, the inspiration of global
culinary influences, and a social setting where people come together to share
ideas.
2. She established the LUPEC chapter in New York. Lynnette
founded the Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails chapter
in New York (LUPEC). This organization promotes sisterhood, shares stories, and
focuses on cocktail culture's history, from the Gin Fizz to the Widow's Kiss.
3. She is a pioneer in her field. Lynnette was named one of
America's Leading Female Mixologists by the James Beard Foundation in 2009.
Lynnette was named one of the Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink by Food
& Wine and Fortune Magazine in 2015. Lynnette was named one of the World's
Best Bar Mentors by Tales of the Cocktails in 2019. Lynnette was also the 2021
winner of the Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award.
4. She co-founded Speed Rack. Lynnette cofounded Speed Rack, the world's first all-woman speed bartending competition, in 2011. The competition, created in collaboration with bartender Ivy Mix, brings together female mixologists from the world's best bars, with the finals held in New York City. Speed Rack raises funds for breast cancer education, prevention, and research while highlighting female bartenders in an industry dominated by men.
5. She considers cocktail mixing to be a highly creative profession. Lynnette creates her drink programs with equal parts memory and new experiences. Her drinks demonstrate how experimentation and precision can lead to stunning alchemy.
