The Art of Craft Cocktails: A Dive into Atlanta’s Mixologist and Bartender Scene

By Aubree Dumas

Published October 29, 2024
Last Updated November 15, 2024

Atlanta is known for many things: its rich history, lively music scene and one-of-a-kind food culture. The city also has become a hub for a blossoming community of skilled mixologists and bartenders, making a significant mark on the craft cocktail scene. With an emphasis on creativity, technique and locally sourced ingredients, Atlanta bartenders are transforming simple drinks into an art form. Atlanta is filled with foodies and connoisseurs who want an experience, not just a drink, and that’s where the art of craft cocktails shines. Let’s take a deep dive into Atlanta’s cocktail culture.

Locally Sourced

Tesserae at Thompson Atlanta – Buckhead

A huge part of the experience of consuming some of Atlanta’s best cocktails occurs before the cocktail is even conceived. Many bartenders first get their inspiration from the ingredients and then let those influence the direction of the cocktail. Thandi Xolisile Mnyakeni Nduna Lonkosi Bhaqela, president of Thandi Pours and Head of Beverage of Tesserae at Thompson Atlanta – Buckhead, is a pioneer in Atlanta’s bartender community who gets her inspiration from locally sourced ingredients like mangoes, peaches, papaya and more that bring her back to her childhood home in Africa.

Being “just a girl from Zimbabwe,” she says, her start in the industry began in the garden at a young age. She explained that sourcing from local farmers and often picking the fresh fruit herself aligns with her upbringing and culture.

“If we didn’t have it, the neighbors did,” she says as she emphasizes the importance of having a local community in Atlanta that reflects the same support she received from her neighbors growing up. Bhaqela brought that same passion to Atlanta. In crafting the beverage menu at Tesserae, her journey often starts at Sip of Paradise, a community garden for bartenders in East Atlanta where she gets her fingers in the soil before bringing back her harvest to create her next cocktail.

Bhaqela is not the only one who gets her inspiration from Sip of Paradise. This community-focused garden allows bartenders from all walks of life and experiences a chance to connect and get inspired with other like-minded bartenders. Starting in 2020, Sip of Paradise owner, Keyatta Mincey Parker, “wanted a space for bartenders.” Allowing everyone in the hospitality community an opportunity for membership creates space for aspiring bartenders to engage with the community and learn the art of craft cocktails from the ground up. This garden influences some of Atlanta’s favorite bartenders and the city’s thriving cocktail scene and also positively impacts the future of sustainability in Atlanta.

Where: 415 East Paces Ferry Road NE

THE CHASTAIN

At the Buckhead neighborhood favorite, THE CHASTAIN, there is an on-site garden tucked behind the restaurant. “Great food does not start in the kitchen; it starts with the soil and seeds that are sown,” says executive chef Christopher Grossman. Not only does that passion translate throughout the food menu but it also is reflected in the beverage menu. There are home-grown ingredients in popular beverages like the TC garden basil featured in the Tulsi & Pearls cocktail.

Where: 4320 Powers Ferry Road NW

MidCity

The art of crafting cocktails and sustainability continues to intersect at the popular Midtown gem, MidCity. With a cocktail menu driven by fresh fruit, the lead bartender and partner, Jose Pereiro, crafts cocktails with locally sourced fresh ingredients. While the name of each beverage is as simple as the fruit you might taste, it requires a skilled palate to appreciate the quality of each cocktail. The Apple cocktail is a MidCity favorite with vodka, sweet vermouth, St. Germain, Alessio Bianco, Tio Pepe Fino and apple. As Pereiro aims toward sustainability he makes sure the fresh fruit remains at the center of his menu.

“I just feel like what I’m trying to showcase is the main ingredient, which is the fruit or vegetable,” he says. With every sip, customers taste the fresh apple and parsley foam that tops the cocktail.

Where: 850 West Peachtree St. NW

Experiential Craft Cocktails

The art of craft cocktails goes beyond the ingredients. The true experience begins in the unique environments in which guests enjoy these libations. From table-side mixing, unique garnishes and smokey finishes, these special moments are what turn a quick sip into a story. 

Boccalupo

Nestled in the bustling Inman Park neighborhood, Boccalupo sits at the intersection of fine dining and a creative dining experience. With an Italian menu to match skillfully crafted cocktails, it’s no surprise that Boccalupo received recognition as MICHELIN Guide Atlanta’s 2023 Exceptional Cocktail Winner. Creative bar lead Connor Hammond is one of the bartenders who blends culinary artistry with mixology to create an unforgettable dining experience. The journey starts with a look at the cocktail menu, or what may appear as a list of jokes and riddles.

Where: 753 Edgewood Ave. NE

“They actually have to engage with us and communicate,” says Jason Furst, general manager. Instead of allowing customers to pick their cocktail based on ingredients and flavor profile, the menu allows them to think outside the box and interact with their bartender to discover more about the cocktails behind the jokes on the menu. What better way to start a culinary journey than with a laugh? Boccalupo is the only bar using a special freezing technique that originates in a unique freezer encased in a black trunk. At first glance, you would never think it’s a special freezer that can get down to extremely low temperatures allowing for a unique infusion of flavors, or that it can even freeze alcohol. Furst explains that beyond the freezer, the art lies in being “totally ingredient-driven, technique-driven.”

Mujō

Mujō, an Edomae-style Sushiya, puts just as much attention and detail into its cocktails as it does its food. Guests might agree the cocktail experience is what sets the tone for the rest of the meal. Those lucky enough to score a reservation at this one-star MICHELIN Guide Restaurant have the option of beginning their journey at the intimate bar upon arrival or ending their experience with a cocktail at the bar. Guests select from a menu of curated cocktails and watch as the cocktail is prepared table-side. The optional cocktail pairing elevates each dish. Bartender Mike Satusky says that because Mujō is an “American restaurant that is executing in a Japanese tradition” the experience allows guests to enjoy several classics with an emphasis on Japanese ingredients. A seat at the bar allows guests to share a more intimate experience with the bartender than would occur in a normal restaurant or bar.

“Just because it’s unfamiliar doesn’t mean that they can’t get comfortable with things really quickly,” Satusky explains. For example, the Silent Bishop cocktail is more than just a mezcal-based drink, it is carefully crafted, infusing the flavors of fresh raw ginger and lemon, complimented with Sfumato Rubarbaro, Yellow Chartreuse, mezcal and egg whites.

Where: 691 Fourteenth St. NW

Red Phone Booth

Journey back in time to the 1920s with a visit to the Red Phone Booth. True to the Prohibition experience, guests must have an exclusive code to enter this hole in the wall. Those lucky enough to crack the code are met inside with a vast menu of award-winning cocktails. Michael Macias, the “booze librarian,” creates an environment that educates guests on the art of cocktail making and also entertains and engages them. The process of preparing ice for certain cocktails stands out, in particular.

“Our creation is actually, double reverse osmosis,” where the air is sucked out to make a solid, airless block of ice weighing about 20 to 30 pounds, Macias explains. Bartenders chop away at the ice to get the perfect piece. While the menu consists of several complex and enticing beverages, the Red Phone Booth team keeps things approachable for guests. “Anybody can come in here and order a cocktail just like the Ramos Gin Fizz, or they can order a Tito’s and soda with two limes,” Macias says. The Red Phone Booth guarantees a memorable experience that will make you feel like you stepped back into the Roaring ’20s.

Where: 17 Andrew Young International Blvd., Downtown, and 3242 Peachtree Road NE, Buckhead

Local Favorites

What makes Atlanta so special is the people who reside here and the places they frequent. Here are some craft cocktail experiences that keep locals returning for more.

Ticonderoga Club

Right along the Eastside Beltline trail, Ticonderoga Club provides an intimate cocktail experience. Known as a place where people go for drinks and end up staying for the food, Ticonderoga Club has a beverage menu filled with classics and new creations crafted with global inspiration. Bartender Alec Bales says a big part of the Ticonderoga Club cocktail experience is hospitality.

“From the second someone comes in, that’s where the focus starts ” he says. “If you don’t make somebody feel welcome in your bar just like they’re coming into your home, then you might not even get into that conversation about crafting drinks.” At Ticonderoga Club, the bartenders involve guests in conversation and the creation of the cocktail, which is an art form within itself. One thing that makes this a local favorite is the fact that the citrus and syrups remain the same. Bales explains that they’ll get guests who return and describe a cocktail they might’ve had a year ago and, because Ticonderoga Club keeps these same local ingredients, harvested in the South, the bartender can always make the drink. These cocktails become staples that people can rely on always being there for a long time.

Where: 99 Krog St. NE

One Flew South

Continue your journey further along the Beltline and stop by the award-winning One Flew South. Starting with just one location at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, One Flew South became one of the few upscale dining establishments at the airport with a full craft cocktail program. Prioritizing craft over convenience, One Flew South’s distinct Southern flair expanded into its second location on the Eastside Beltline with an even more expansive cocktail experience. Locals and visitors alike stop here for cocktails infused with local ingredients and Southern flavor. Cocktails such as the Sweet Georgia Brown known for its delicious blend of Coopers’ Craft, cappelletti, peach bitters, tea and simple syrup prove why this ATL favorite is a James Beard-nominated restaurant.

Where: Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, concourse E, and 670 DeKalb Ave. NE

El Valle

Midtown’s bar scene brings energy to the heart of the arts in Atlanta. El Valle adds an inventive Mexican style to the mix with its authentic cuisine and craft cocktails by mixologists like Carlos Parada also known as Cocktail Papi. Whether you go for the impressive collection of Mexican wines or a delicious drink whipped up in style by Parada, it’s hard for El Valle not to become one of your Midtown staples. The art of Parada’s cocktails lies in the freshness of the ingredients. From the natural juices they make in-house to the fresh fruits sourced locally and used for garnishes, El Valle’s cocktails go hand-in-hand with the chic and intimate setting.

Where: 800 Peachtree St NE

Spaceman

Open since 2022, Spaceman quickly grew to become one of Atlanta’s favorite spots to throw back a cocktail or two. Bartender Margarita Pinto describes the process of curating the cocktail menu as an art form.

“We want to cater to different palates, making sure that everyone is taken care of and that there’s something for them,” she says, noting that at Spaceman they use a lot of flavors that they feel are influenced by the city. Guests can expect flavors of peach with hints of passion fruit and blood orange. While the menu rotates, it always includes cocktails inspired by the love Atlantans have for their city. The Lost in Space cocktail takes a classic lemon drop up a notch with ingredients that include hints of blood orange and passion fruit to compliment the gin. Whether you’re staying at Hyatt Centric Buckhead or just socializing on this view-centric rooftop, you’ll easily find that the drinks are what keep the lively atmosphere intact. 

Where: 3301 Lenox Parkway

While dining in Atlanta often starts with a sip of a craft cocktail, the experience continues with the work of talented chefs. Check out these Women Chefs Redefining Culinary Excellence in Atlanta. 

Aubree is a content creator with a passion for all things food and travel. You can find her around Atlanta tasting some of the most iconic bites or burning it all off on the dance floor.