After journeyman gigs at OTP's Trattoria 141 and Buckhead's Prohibition, Kevin Bragg has fully come into his own behind the decks at 4th & Swift. The Old Fourth Ward eatery doubles as Bragg's personal laboratory for concocting an impressive array of bitters, tinctures, and other spicy and herbaceous potions. But beyond their quirky ingredients - lemongrass-black sesame syrup and sage-infused Pinot Blanc reduction, to name a couple - Bragg's beverages are models of control and balance, creating a delightful interplay of flavors that can only be the product of hours of experimentation and a gift for counterintuitive blending. In other words, his drinks are damn tasty, down to the final sip. And, while Bragg is serious about cocktails, he manages to remain polite and composed when someone orders a Grey Goose and cranberry. Now that takes talent. less...

Best bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2012
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

The Shelter (Permanently Closed)

Best bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

Adrienne Eoley

Best bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Type of Award » Oral Pleasures
Picked By » Critics

Paul Calvert

Back when Paul Calvert worked at the Sound Table, he was a great mixologist. His drinks were remarkable, but when the place filled up, the frenzied pace of a dance club didn't match the careful construction of Calvert's drinks. He could seem a little ... grumpy. Now that Calvert's at Pura Vida, he's a whole new man. His drinks are as good as ever, and he now has the time to be the gracious, knowledgeable, friendly host we always knew he could be. Calvert has gone beyond mixology to become a great bartender. 656 N. Highland Ave. 404-870-9797. puravidatapas.com. less...

Best bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2010
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

Tie: Brook at Flatiron Restaurant & Bar AND Miles Leon's Full Service

Runner-up: David at Mary's

1287 Glenwood Avenue S.E., 404-624-4411, marysatlanta.com/

Best bartender BOA Award Winner

Miles MacQuarrie at Leon's Full Service

Best bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2009
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

Miles MacQuarrie at Leon's Full Service

Runner-up
Darren Foley at Ship & Anchor Pub
5975 Roswell Road, 404-256-3550, www.dunwoodyrestaurantgroup.com

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2008
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

Over Da Edge (Permanently Closed)

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2008
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Critics

MJQ Concourse (Featured)

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

Grant Henry, The Local

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2006
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

Grant Henry

Best Hard-Working, Drink-Slinging Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Critics

Carla, at the Vortex

&#147;It&#146;s the name of the car, not me!&#148; Sure, CARLA, we believe you ... maybe. &#147;Ms. Kitty&#148; is her convertible, and in our estimation, her combination of sexy and stiff &#151; as in drinks, you pervs &#151; makes Carla a purrfect bartender. Although she cut out the late-night hours at the Vortex a few years ago, the dark-haired mama with the tavern-tinged voice and sassy smile still serves &#146;em strong for the weekday regulars at the L5P location. less...

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Michele - Chaplins/Roswell

Best Hard-Working, Drink-Slinging Bartender BOA Award Winner

Carla

"It's the name of the car, not me!" Sure, CARLA, we believe you ... maybe. "Ms. Kitty" is her convertible, and in our estimation, her combination of sexy and stiff - as in drinks, you pervs - makes Carla a purrfect bartender. Although she cut out the late-night hours at the Vortex a few years ago, the dark-haired mama with the tavern-tinged voice and sassy smile still serves 'em strong for the weekday regulars at the L5P location. less...

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2005
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

Michele

Chaplins, 555 S. Atlanta St., Roswell 770-552-1147 www.chaplinsroswell.com

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2004
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Critics

Joel At Trader Vic's

You're probably expecting us to pick some hot, tattooed young thing at the Local, Echo Lounge, Vinyl or some other hot spot. But we've got to give a contrarian's nod to JOEL AT TRADER VIC'S in the downtown Hilton. His degree in philosophy, keen baseball mind, dry wit and unflappable demeanor make him one of the city's more engrossing mixologists to engage in a barstool debate. He slings a mean Zombie - just ask the devotees who sing his praises on tiki-bar message boards. (We're not making this up.) And somehow, he makes that Hawaiian-shirt uniform "work". "255 Courtland St., Hilton Hotel. 404-221-6339. www.tradervics.com/rest-atlanta.html" less...

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2004
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

Chris Bing (at Slice)

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2003
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

Colleen Burley at The Local

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2002
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Critics

Eddie Johnson

The decor and the clientele are so gosh-darned beautiful at Halo, it can be unnerving. So thank God for bartender Eddie Johnson. Don't get us wrong - he's cute as hell and all. But he's also welcoming and considerate, both atypical traits among the posh and hip. Plus, only the best servers remember what you're drinking "and" make sure you have a fresh one the very moment you start looking around for the bartender. Eddie handles both with ease and a smile. "817 W. Peachtree St. 404-962-7333. www.halolounge.com." less...

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2002
Type of Award » After Dark
Picked By » Readers

Robert Holland at Universal Joint

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Hammy

Star Community Bar, 437 Moreland Ave. 404-681-9018 http://www.cloun.com/starhome.html He looks like he might need a step stool to reach the bar, but Hammy's one of the best in the business. The Star Bar's drink mixer remembers faces and doesn't have to ask what you're drinking on your return visit. Sometimes his hat's pulled down so far on his head, you can barely see his eyes, but make no mistake, he sees you and will keep the beer flowing, even when the bar's packed and you're sweating like a redneck at a rodeo. less...

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2000
Type of Award » Oral Pleasures
Picked By » Readers

Dawn Dean and Jeff Rader

Come to the cabaret, old chum — the Dawn and Jeff Friday night sing-a-long boozefest cabaret, that is. These roommates/workmates, (not a couple) sling the drinks fast and strong while keeping the crowd entertained with songs and jokes in a distinct, but not exclusive, Midtown style. Oh yeah, the custom-brewedmore...

Best Bartender BOA Award Winner

Year » 2000
Type of Award » Oral Pleasures
Picked By » Critics

Gino Halliday, Fay-Lynn Owen and Anna Bender

If neither the more-piercings-than-thou-Midtown-type bartender nor the Coyote-stunning-bottle-flippin'-Buckhead-type holds any appeal for you, the Yacht's tag-team of Gino, Fay-Lynn and Anna are probably just who you're looking for. The trio pour 'em strong, keep 'em comin', remember what yer drinkin'more...

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