DANIEL BERES
Hotel Madrid, Movida
Beres went from mixmaster at Movida to beverage director for all the parent company establishments. The Spanish edge to Movida’s cocktails is matched by Madrid’s swaggery concoctions that border on over-the-top (the blue “Honolulu” comes with edible “sand”).
SAM BERMAN
Tin Widow
703 S. Second St.
Owner of this dark, classy escape from life’s dark moments presides over a bar known for its impressive list of gins (300, at last count), which he uses to great efficacy in cocktails.
JEFF KINDER
The Jazz Estate
2423 N. Murray Ave.
The Kansas City native tended at Bryant’s (the Estate’s sister) before becoming the East Side music club’s manager and helping develop the drink menu, with standouts like the Grasshopper Redux and coffee-infused Jazz Estate Old Fashioned.
GEN LONGORIA
Kimpton Journeyman Hotel
310 E. Chicago St.
The hotel’s lead bartender – former bev director at SURG’s Distil – brings culinary arts skills to cocktail crafting, which means not only are her drinks complex and clever, they enhance the rich, Mediterranean menu.
KATIE ROSE
Goodkind
2457 S. Wentworth Ave.
Story goes that Rose was a regular at Burnhearts bar, her potential noticed by co-owner Jess Seidel, who asked her – had to convince her, really – to tend bar. Rose became Burnhearts manager before opening Goodkind with her partners. There she’s honed her talent for layering flavors, sometimes unexpectedly.
The Ultimate Milwaukee Drinking Guide
