THE LOCALS BARTENDER SUBMISSION

Leah began her journey in the beverage industry at 19 years old as a cocktail waitress while also in school and instantly knew this was the industry she was meant to be in. She is always looking to discover new things, and with an industry that is constantly changing, there is always something new to explore or create. Leah lives by the quote, “Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

According to Leah, her family influenced her development as a bartender. They constantly remind her of the importance of ethical behavior. However, her strongest mentor is her sister Laura, who owns two food trucks with her husband in Ft. Collins, Colorado. “Laura leads by example in every way possible. She’s wildly creative and talented. We are in a competitive industry where it can be tough to find people who genuinely support others and cheer for their success as she does,” shares Leah, who says she can always rely on Laura for inspiration.

A piece of advice Leah shares for new bartenders is that we should not compete with others, especially when we all share a passion for our craft. “A rising tide lifts all boats,” she says. “If you start to look at another bartender’s work and become threatened, realize those feelings come from inspiration and try to learn from them.” Leah also adds that you should build relationships with others within your community, let mentors and content creators that inspire you to know it and commit to putting yourself in uncomfortable situations to grow. “Consciously check your ego, don’t let arrogance or self-doubt get in the way of your growth,” adds Leah.

One of Leah’s favorite ingredients to work with is fresh citrus. “Living in the desert, it’s one of the few things we grow locally. Fresh citrus is vital,” shares Leah.

When it comes to creating a cocktail, Leah likes to create a backstory. “I almost try to vision an identity or personality for my project, which helps in times where I have to tweak or change a recipe,” she says. Starting with a vision helps Leah embrace the trial-and-error stage much more than if she were to do it all on paper.

Leah Dufresne

The Atomic Saloon Show

Venetian, Las Vegas

Be A Lot Cooler If You Did

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ oz. Tattersall Aquavit

½ oz. Skinos Mastiha Spirit

1 oz cucumber syrup

¾ oz. fresh lemon juice

½ oz. dill infused white tea

Preparation

Combine all ingredients, give it a light shake, strain over a large cube in Collins glass. Garnish with cucumber slices, fresh dill, lemon.