Tastemaker Awards
9 best bartenders in Dallas pour the coolest drinks with warm service
Smoke on the cocktail.
The applause continues in CultureMap Dallas' 2024 Tastemaker Awards, our annual awards event honoring the best in Dallas food and drink.
Restaurant industry stars have been nominated for awards in 10 categories, spotlighted in a special editorial series. We've already celebrated candidates for Rising Star Chef, Pastry Chef, Neighborhood Restaurant, Patios, and Bars; now we've arrived at the nine finalists for Bartender of the Year, as voted by our panel of esteemed judges.
One winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on May 16 at the Fashion Industry Gallery, where we'll toast the nominees, while indulging in bites and sips. Tickets are on sale now.
For the Best Bartender category, we're handing the microphone to Rosey Sullivan - accomplished bartender, founder of The Shakeup cocktail competition which highlights women bartenders in Dallas, and past Tastemaker Awards nominee - who shares her insight on what makes these award-winning bartenders tick.
Here, with comments by Rosey, are the nominees for Bartender of the Year in Dallas:
Christyn Stallworth, Whiskeys
Christyn is knowledgeable and charismatic. She's been at Whiskeys Dallas for several years, and is a huge supporter of other bartenders, including mentoring many up-and-comers with her vast whiskey and cocktail knowledge. She was also the winner of 2022 The Shake Up. With her big personality and even bigger heart, she is the perfect representation of what a well rounded bartender looks like. Quote: "I love working hard, and I try to have a Mamba Mentality in my efforts."
Davin Massengale,
Candleroom
There are all different kinds of bartenders. The "nightclub" bartender might not make it on to best of lists often, but Davin "Ding Dong" stands out. He is fast, has an impeccable memory for faces, and will remember you have a tab open and what you were drinking. In a scene where guests can feel like so many nameless sardines, he makes you feel like an individual, perhaps even a real bar patron. He’ll even flash a smile and a “have a good night” when he drops your check.
Fernanda Rossano,
Kaiyo
Cubby has been a mainstay on the Dallas bar scene for almost two decades. Her resume seems endless. She was part of the original team at Sfuzzi, worked at Alamo Club, Tipsy Alchemist, Nickel City, and many others. She is currently behind the bar and running the cocktail program at Kaiyo. Cubby is so funny and unassuming, you can almost forget just how much she knows about spirits and cocktails. But don’t let her self-deprecating humor fool you: Cubby is the real deal.
Jared Beall,
Parliament
Beall is a bit of a phenomenon, having worked at notable cocktail spots such as Pepper Smash in Plano (back when it was still a cocktail haven), Henry's Majestic, Bourbon & Banter at the Statler Dallas, and Bar Eden. No surprise he'd end up at Parliament, Dallas' original craft cocktail bar owned by pioneer Eddie "Lucky" Campbell, where he's rolling out crazy creations like a whiskey cocktail with carrot foam on top. Jared knows how to put on a show and takes the time to give every guest a memorable experience.
Kate Rivera,
Atlas
Kate Rivera is a young rising star who is already making big moves. She pushes the envelope of what a cocktail is and is constantly looking for new flavors and techniques to create an experience for those on the other side of the bar. Kate also takes bartending seriously. Her technique is flawless, she is clean, she is smart, and she is very very fast. She was a finalist in the 2023 rendition of The Shake Up, and we can’t wait to she what she’ll be doing next.
Libby Flood,
Ruins
Libby has been the GM at Ruins for almost five years and is largely responsible for their impressive cocktail menu that focuses on agave and cane spirits. She knows everything there is to know about agave. Often behind the scenes, she is hardworking and has been running the cocktail side of the Shake Up for the past three years. Libby was winner of 2023 Battle of the Burbs. The low profile she keeps is a testament to her nose-down mentality and her ability to always let others shine. Once you get to know her, you see how much she herself does.
Millie Saenz,
Atlas
Fast, talented, funny, and full of personality - Millie is the kind of bartender that you send a guest to when they are looking for a party. Millie is bursting with energy and a smile. She’ll keep talking while building an elaborate round of drinks and not bat an eye. A native of Kentucky who studied English literature at A&M, Millie was the winner of the inaugural Double D’s Daq Off in 2023 as well as winner of The Shake Up in 2021.
Norell Benson,
Twilite Lounge
What makes a good bartender? At the end of the day, it's how you feel walking away from the bar. And no one leaves an impression like Norell. He has been behind the bar at Twilite for three years, and before that was GM at Off The Record for many more. Norell always has a smile and wave for everyone he sees and is a familiar and loved face to anyone who has spent time working or drinking in Deep Ellum. He makes everyone feel like his friend… but if you’re lucky enough to be offered “a scooch” of something, you might really be one.
Zak Houara,
Ranch in Las Colinas
Like many bartenders, Houara has a multifaceted work history - in his case, standup comedy and political campaigning which both prove to be great for bartending, as well. His bar experience includes Alamo Drafthouse, Nickel City, Reata in Fort Worth, the Ranch in Las Colinas, and Atlas, where he helped open the new location in Fort Worth. His favorite drink: the Negroni. "I find myself to be a little bit like a Negroni: with the bitterness of the gin, but with a floral element on the sweet side," he says.
Frita, a Cuban-style burger. Photo by Noah Fecks 