Can we get a drink, stat? We’ve been pretty damn busy selecting our Top 10 Best Bartenders from your 200-plus nominations. It’s high time we — and you — relax and get to know the masterful mixologists who made the cut.
Read about the barkeeps here, then go visit them and try their drinks. Most important, go to metromix.com to cast a vote for your favorite. Your Final 5 go on to mix it up at our fourth annual Best Bartender Bash on Oct. 3 at Evil Olive. Polls are open at metromix.com now through 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
Jennifer Contraveos, 23
BON V (1100 W. RANDOLPH ST. 312-829-4530)
Signature drink: Cane Juice, $11
Jennifer’s a lucky lady. She cites master mixologist Bridget Albert of Southern Wine & Spirits as a mentor. And this Melrose Park-born bartender, who grew up in Las Vegas, got her first bartending lesson from cocktail heavyweight Tony Abou-Ganim. Armed with a seasonal, fresh-ingredient approach, Jennifer participates in bartending competitions regularly. Her next big gig: beverage director at the soon-to-open La Madia (59 W. Grand Ave. 312-329-0400).
Catch her: Saturday and some Sundays
Dano, fortysomething
SKYLARK (2149 S. HALSTED ST. 312-948-5275)
Signature drink: Beekeeper, $5
Prince. Cher. Madonna. Beyonce. Oprah. Dano? Some people only need one name. This River North resident lopped off his last name when he was tending bar in his native Arizona; with three Daniels working at the same spot, it just seemed easier. He’s a self-professed drink-slinging dyslexic (meaning he’ll remember your drink before your name) and a classically trained photographer who enjoys shooting architecture.
Catch him: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Vanessa Garippo, 27
THE LOCAL OPTION (1102 W. WEBSTER AVE. 773-348-2008)
Signature drink: The Pimms Deluxe, $7
Vanessa started taking Friday-night shifts two years ago to let off steam from her day gig at an ad agency; eventually she left the daily grind and has been whipping up drinks full-time ever since. “I’ve never been happier,” she says. Her real passion, though, is music — especially indie rockers such as Broken Social Scene and Interpol.
Catch her: Wednesday through Friday, Sunday
Amanda Hartman, 22
CHROMIUM (817 W. LAKE ST. 312-666-7230)
Signature drink: Prairie Avenue, $9
She’s got legs, and she knows how to use ’em. The bubbly Art Institute advertising student is an accomplished dancer and choreographer. As a girl, Amanda toured with jazz and theater performances; later, she danced with a Chicago-based hip-hop company. Now she does side gigs when they come up — and when the right song comes on, you might just catch this Bronzeville resident busting out moves behind the bar.
Catch her: Friday and Saturday
Troy Hayden, 24
GOODBAR (2512 N. HALSTED ST. 773-296-9700)
Signature drink: Pineapple Upside Down Cake Martini, $12
This is the true story of a recent DePaul grad who was almost picked to live in a house and have his life taped. But things really started getting real for Troy when he didn’t make it past the final 13 for “The Real Word: Denver.” He did, however, discover his dream of becoming a casting director — hence a double major in business advertising and communications. Psst: Ladies, we hear Troy’s quite the dancer too!
Catch him: Thursday and Friday
Rashed Islam, 32
VIET BISTRO (1346 W. DEVON AVE. 773-465-5720)
Signature drink: Passion Fruit Martini, $8
Born to Bangladeshi parents and raised in Zambia, this Rogers Park resident says working for his uncle’s restaurant is the “best job security you can ever have.” (He’s kept things relative for more than a decade now, starting out at the family-run Pasteur.) Of course, they also might keep him around because his skills go beyond cocktails: He also knows a thing or two about wines, ports, cognacs and single-malt scotches.
Catch him: Sunday through Saturday
Mariah Naella, 27
BUTTERFLY SOCIAL CLUB (722 W. GRAND AVE. 312-666-1695)
Signature drink: All Island Tea, $6 small; $12 large
Do you know what a djembe is? Mariah does — she’s been playing the African drum for 12 years. She also plays the congas and sings. Originally from Madison, she lived between New York and the Caribbean for about seven years. The laid-back island way of life and her work experience on an organic farm primed her well for a stint at eco-friendly Butterfly.
Catch her: Wednesday through Sunday, at Butterfly or neighboring Funky Buddha Lounge
Joey Kot, 34
ROSCOE’S (3356 N. HALSTED ST. 773-281-3355)
Signature drink: Blue Bayou, $6
Joey’s a Mac, not a PC. “I’m a big geek at heart,” he says. How big? Well, he admits to owning several laptops this year alone because he’s addicted to all things Mac. He’s also passionate about photography. The self-taught shutterbug, born and raised in the south ‘burbs, bartends to feed both of his passions. He’s been serving drinks for the past nine years at bustling Boystown spot Roscoe’s.
Catch him: Friday through Sunday
Ann Regan, 30
BLARNEY STONE (3424 N. SHEFFIELD AVE. 773-348-1078)
Signature drink: Sex on the Pool Table shot, $5
Grab a seat at Ann’s bar and you might be lucky enough to score a side of free legal advice with your beer and a shot. The attorney uses her Blarney Stone gig as an outlet — a fun pastime, if you will. Speaking of pastimes, Ann’s a die-hard Cubs fan. Baseball’s in her blood: Her grandfather was head groundskeeper at Yankee Stadium, where he had the privilege of escorting “Joe’s wife” (Mrs. DiMaggio, a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe) to the upper deck.
Catch her: Tuesday, Thursday and every other Saturday
Danny Woods, 37
MARTINI PARK (151 W. ERIE ST. 312-640-0577)
Signature drink: Strawberry Basil Martini, $10
We like our drinks with ice, ice, baby. And if our bartender used to be a backup dancer for Vanilla Ice, well, even better. Believe it or not, Dallas native Danny used to cruise teen dance clubs with friend and fellow Texan Rob Van Winkle, before Rob turned into a one-hit wonder. Danny, a single dad, recently left the Lone Star state for a new home in Uptown and a gig slinging drinks at the new Martini Park.
Catch him: Wednesday through Saturday
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KMBUDELL@TRIBUNE.COM
