Aimee Arciuolo
Bar: Kings County Saloon
Been a bartender for: 12 years
Signature drink: Smurf Bomb
The best thing about being a bartender is: I'm the apex predator in the bar and I don't have to see anyone in daylight.
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Whether you’re a fan of dive bars, beer bars, rooftop bars, romantic bars or any other kind of bar, you can always find what you’re looking for in New York—most of us don’t even need to leave our neighborhoods to visit a bar (and bartender) we love. If your favorite bartender made it to the shortlist below, vote for them, then come back on March 17 to see if they made it into the final 50.
Bar: Kings County Saloon
Been a bartender for: 12 years
Signature drink: Smurf Bomb
The best thing about being a bartender is: I'm the apex predator in the bar and I don't have to see anyone in daylight.
Bar: Donna
Been a bartender for: 4 years
Signature drink: Forbidden Planet
The best thing about being a bartender is: My favorite aspect of bartending has to be working the busiest nights of the weekend.
Bar: The Gorbals
Been a bartender for: 2 years
Signature drink: Burn After Writing
The best thing about being a bartender is: Being able to cultivate and create a personal experience for every single customer, while in turn being granted a glimpse into the lives and thoughts of NYC natives and visitors.
Bar: Black Rabbit
Been a bartender for: “Too long.”
Signature drink: Alcohol
The best thing about being a bartender is: A monkey could do my job.
Bar: Dram
Been a bartender for: 13 years
Signature drink: Teenage Riot
The best thing about being a bartender is: The people. The flavor. The fact that every single day my job is different. I get to be a psychologist, an artist, a party planner, a DJ, a chef—every day!
Bar: Verboten
Been a bartender for: 4 years
Signature drink: Clockwork orange
The best thing about being a bartender is: Paid to party!
Bar: Videology
Been a bartender for: 2.5 years
Signature drink: The Travisty
The best thing about being a bartender is: My customers.
Bar: Reclamation
Been a bartender for: 9 years
Signature drink: Old Fashioned
The best thing about being a bartender is: The community and then the whiskey.
Bar: The Richardson
Been a bartender for: 7-8 years
Signature drink: Russell's Reserve Barrel 69 Old Fashioned
The best thing about being a bartender is: It's one of the few places I don't feel awkward. I love adapting to a changing room, the energy, giving customers an awesome night and making killer drinks—from classic cocktails to shots of Fernet or whiskey to opening a bottle of beer. I love it all.
Bartenders are such a big part of our day-to-day life in New York that it’s easy to take them for granted, but where would we be without their beer-pouring, drink-mixing, sob-story–listening, make-all-your-evenings-magical-through-the-power-of-booze ways? That’s why we’re celebrating them with a competition to find the absolute best bartender in NYC.
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