Lynnette Marrero, Bar Manager of New York’s Llama Inn, has been announced as the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award winner for 2021. The Award forms part of the World’s 50 Best Bars awards of 2021.
This award is voted for by bartenders at the venues listed on the World’s 50 Best Bars, the criteria of being a bartender ‘who pushes the boundaries of that it means to be a great bartender.’
On her victory, Marrero said: “The Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award means so much to me, especially this year. Not being able to connect in person with the wonderful people in this industry was really hard. It is these connections with peers that I value so much in this industry.”
“A peer-voted award is such an honour to receive, and I have nothing but gratitude for everyone who took the time to participate in this process.”
Mark Sansom, Content Editor for The World’s 50 Best Bars said: “Lynnette is known and respected all over the world for her outstanding bartending skills, spirits knowledge and the work she does for the drinks community. Her work with Speed Rack has put talented, up-and-coming femme-identifying bartenders on the cocktail map, while also raising over $1m for breast cancer research charities.”
“She is a philanthropist, a pioneer and truly passionate about making the bar sector the best it can be in every regard. Lynnette represents what this industry should be about – she is the archetypal winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award.”
Marrero is renowned for co-founding Speed Rack, the world’s first all-femme-identifying speed bartending competition. She is regarded as a pioneer in the cocktail industry, having begun her career as a server at New York’s famous Flatiron Lounge. Here, she met Julie Reiner, owner of the Flatiron Lounge, and herself a legend of the bartending world. Marrero soon realised that spirits and bartending were her calling.
Marrero has previously worked in Guatemala, shadowing a master rum blender, before returning to New York to create her company, Drinksat6.
In 2015, Marrero helped to design the bar programme at Llama Inn, an acclaimed Peruvian restaurant in Brooklyn, soon followed by its sister restaurant, Llama San in Manhattan. Both venues have picked up many awards under her direction.
Marrero has also served on the board of the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation and is known for her work on hospitality workers’ mental health.
First introduced in 2017, The Atlos Bartenders’ Bartender of The Year award has been given to some of the industry’s biggest names over the years, including Iain Griffiths of Dandelyan (2017 winner), Monica Berg of Tayēr + Elementary (2018 winner) and Renato ‘Tato’ Giovannoni, of Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires, who won in 2020.
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2021 list will be revealed on December 7 at 8:30 GMT, during a ceremony held at London’s Roundhouse venue. The event will be streamed on 50 Best Bar’s Facebook page, and its YouTube channel.
