Ivy Mix: Redefining Bartending and Championing Change
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In an industry forged through innovation, community, and intense competition, few stand out like Ivy Mix. Co-owner of the celebrated Brooklyn bar Leyenda and co-founder of the trailblazing Speed Rack bartending competition, Mix embodies the dynamic spirit of modern bartending—breaking barriers, building bridges, and transforming both the glass and the industry itself. Her recognition as Bartender of the Year signifies not just her mastery of the craft, but her role as a mentor, advocate, and visionary leader.
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A New Standard for Bartending Excellence
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Ivy Mix brings a distinctive blend of technical skill, cultural curiosity, and passionate advocacy to every facet of her career. Her journey from casual bartender to highly decorated industry leader is both a study in ambition and a lesson in the power of purposeful disruption. At the core of her work: a fierce dedication to fostering community and amplifying underrepresented voices in the hospitality world.
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Early Days & Inspiration
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Long before Mix built an award-winning career in New York City, she gained formative experiences bartending in Guatemala. These years would forever inform her respect for agave spirits and her curiosity about global drinking traditions. Yet, transitioning into the New York bar scene was anything but seamless. Despite hands-on experience, she was initially pegged as a cocktail waitress rather than a true bartender—an episode that catalyzed her enduring commitment to challenging gendered expectations in the drinks industry.
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Influences and Mentors
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The journey from aspiring bartender to industry leader rarely happens in isolation. For Mix, key figures such as Julie Reiner, renowned for her trailblazing work at Clover Club and as Mix’s partner at Leyenda, played a pivotal role. The spirit of mentorship—both giving and receiving—has become one of Mix’s defining values, influencing the next generation of talent rising through her bars and beyond.
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Leyenda: A Brooklyn Temple for Pan-Latin Spirits
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In the spring of 2015, Mix co-founded Leyenda on Smith Street in Brooklyn alongside Julie Reiner. Conceived as a tribute to pan-Latin spirits and flavors, Leyenda quickly established itself as a destination for those interested not only in tequila and mezcal, but in a broader constellation of Latin American spirits—rum, cachaça, pisco, and more. The vision: showcase the regional diversity and dynamism of Latin America through spirits, cocktails, and ingredients often underrepresented in American bars.
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- Agave spirits take center stage, with a robust mezcal and tequila selection.\n
- Innovative cocktails reflect traditions from across Central and South America, while infusing them with local New York energy.\n
- Culinary approach: Fresh-squeezed juices, house-made syrups, and a rotating seasonal menu.\n
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Leyenda’s unique approach to cocktails offers both familiar classics—think Margaritas—and adventurous interpretations like the “Frozen Queen’s Park Swizzle” and other seasonal creations. The bar’s subtle design and convivial spirit reflect both Brooklyn’s culture and the warmth of Latin American hospitality.
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Community and Collaboration
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From the start, Leyenda has functioned not just as a bar or business, but as a community hub. Mix and her team routinely collaborate with brands, distilleries, and guest bartenders, organizing educational events, spirit tastings, and fundraisers. This model of communal growth—borrowing from both Latin American and New York traditions—remains a defining feature of Leyenda’s ethos.
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Speed Rack: Forging a New Path for Women in Bartending
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While excellence in mixology defines Ivy Mix’s on-shift reputation, her co-founding of Speed Rack with industry peer Lynnette Marrero catalyzed a much broader movement. Launched as an all-female, high-stakes speed bartending competition, Speed Rack was created to spotlight emerging women in the cocktail world while raising funds for breast cancer charities. The premise: celebrate skill and speed, while creating a dynamic forum for mentorship and advocacy.
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- Over $1 million raised for breast cancer research and community charities.\n
- Globally recognized platform for women and nonbinary bartenders.\n
- Inspires sisterhood, mentorship, and representation across the industry.\n
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Speed Rack’s dual impact—professional visibility and charitable giving—has energized countless careers and shifted the landscape of bar culture toward greater inclusivity. For Mix, the event’s fastest bartenders aren’t just winners; they’re symbols of a new era of industry leadership.
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Evolving with the Industry
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Speed Rack continues to adapt, embracing online platforms, global reach, and greater intersectionality—paralleling Mix’s own evolution as an entrepreneur and advocate. Participants often become leaders and mentors in their own right, further strengthening the community Mix set out to build.
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Breaking Barriers: Diversity, Advocacy, and Representation
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Mix’s story is fundamentally one of defiance and innovation: a refusal to accept the status quo, and a determination to build structures where none existed before. Her journey has not only centered on advancing women’s visibility, but on expanding what hospitality means by inviting diversity in its many forms—race, background, gender identity, and more.
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- Early setbacks: Dismissed from cocktail work due to gender stereotypes.\n
- Persistent advocacy: Built new opportunities for others, rather than waiting for approval.\n
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The result: Mix isn’t merely a bartender or even a business owner—she is an architect of modern hospitality, expanding who belongs, who leads, and what excellence looks like behind the bar.
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The Bartender of the Year: What Sets Ivy Mix Apart?
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Being named Bartender of the Year is no small feat. For Ivy Mix, the award is not just a recognition of mixological skill, but a reflection of her steadfast commitment to industry evolution. Her approach is technical yet creative, grounded in ritual but excited by experimentation. Whether inventing new drinks, sourcing rare spirits, or nurturing younger bartenders, she exemplifies the highest standards of both craft and character.
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| Quality | How Ivy Mix Embodies It |
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| Creativity | Original cocktails, global flavors, and reinterpreted classics. |
| Advocacy | Mentorship, Speed Rack, community events. |
| Technical Skill | Expert ice carving, spirit knowledge, bartending technique. |
| Leadership | Team-building, public speaking, and cultural ambassadorship. |
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Signature Style & Approach
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Mix’s bartending style is characterized by precision, hospitality, and a genuine curiosity for the people across the bar. Drawing on both her academic background and her travels, she sees the bar as a platform for storytelling and connection—not just a space for serving drinks.
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Beyond the Bar: Teaching, Writing, and Speaking
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Outside of Leyenda and Speed Rack, Mix is a sought-after educator, writer, and public speaker. She regularly leads seminars and workshops on spirits, cocktail history, and the business of hospitality. Her voice is a fixture at industry conferences, where she addresses topics ranging from agave spirit trends to gender equity on a global scale.
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- Guest appearances at Tales of the Cocktail, Bar Convent Brooklyn, and more.\n
- Titles and awards from Spirit Awards, trade publications, and advocacy groups.\n
- Articles and essays in leading drinks media.\n
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These educational efforts further amplify Ivy Mix’s influence, ensuring the next generation of bartenders inherits not only her skillset but her values of inclusivity and community stewardship.
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Looking Forward: The Future of Bartending, According to Ivy Mix
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If the past decade marked the rise of craft cocktails and industry advocacy, Ivy Mix believes the next era will demand even more bold voices, creativity, and communal energy. She sees challenges—the pressures of pandemic era shifts, economic uncertainty, and the slow progress of equity—and meets them with characteristic optimism and drive. Her goals: deepen community connections, increase diversity at every level, and use the bar as a force for social good.
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Advice for Aspiring Bartenders
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- Never stop learning: Study both technical skills and the cultural history behind spirits and cocktails.
- Find good mentors: Seek wisdom and support from established professionals.
- Advocate for others: Success in hospitality is measured by the strength of the community you build.
- Embrace your own style: Authenticity draws in regulars, creates memorable experiences, and inspires others.
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Signature Cocktails & Ingredients at Leyenda
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- Queen’s Park Swizzle (rum, mint, bitters) – a seasonal frozen favorite.
- Pan-Latin Sours featuring mezcal, pisco, or cachaca, often with creative infusions and local produce.
- Agave Forward: A rotating list of tequila, mezcal, and rare agave distillates assembled from Mix’s travels.
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Each menu item pays homage both to traditional techniques and to the creative spirit that defines both Ivy Mix and Leyenda. The backbar is a living archive of agave, rum, and sugarcane spirits, while the cocktail menu blends approachability with a sense of discovery.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Q: What inspired Ivy Mix to co-found Leyenda?
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A: After years immersed in global spirits and Latin American bartending culture, Mix wanted to create a space that not only showcased agave but celebrated the full spectrum of pan-Latin spirits while fostering genuine hospitality and community.
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Q: How does Speed Rack promote positive change in the bar industry?
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A: Speed Rack amplifies the talent of women and nonbinary bartenders, raises significant funds for breast cancer charities, and builds a powerful sense of camaraderie and mentorship, reshaping the way talent is discovered and celebrated in the drinks world.
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Q: Why is mentorship so central to Ivy Mix’s career?
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A: Having benefited from influential mentors herself, Mix is committed to passing on knowledge, support, and opportunity, believing that genuine growth in hospitality depends on community care and collective progress.
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Q: What makes Leyenda unique among cocktail bars?
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A: Leyenda’s commitment to the full range of Latin American spirits, innovative yet rooted cocktails, and a community-forward, collaborative culture distinguishes it as much more than a standard bar—it is a neighborhood gathering space and industry benchmark.
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Q: What are Ivy Mix’s hopes for the future of bartending?
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A: Mix advocates for a more inclusive, diverse, and compassionate bar world where talent from all backgrounds is recognized, the community gives back, and the craft continues to evolve beyond traditional boundaries.
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Conclusion: A Lasting Legacy of Change
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Ivy Mix’s career is far from a closed story. As Leyenda evolves, Speed Rack expands, and new generations enter the fold, her legacy as both bartender and builder of community only grows deeper. For guests at Leyenda, aspiring bartenders, and industry leaders alike, Mix’s example is not just about what you pour—but about how you serve, who you empower, and the kind of world you help to build.
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