Today & Tonight Magazine October 2022

CLASSIE SANDERS

MOJO FEDERAL SWINE & SPIRITS

130 S Tennessee Ave • Lakeland

1st Place "Polk's Beloved Bartenders 2022" Classie Sanders

Photo by Chris Douglas

How many years you have worked as a bartender? 15 years.

How long have you worked for this company? 3 years.

What is the secret to your success as a bartender? I don’t know if there’s a “secret” but two things I love are people and learning. I love to laugh and have fun with people and that makes bartending enjoyable. I also love to learn. New drinks, new liquors, new recipes, and new skills have kept bartending interesting.

Do you feel that we are back on track with the hospitality industry after coming out of the ‘dome and gloom’ of COVID-19? YES! You don’t know what you have until its gone. Not being able to get out, socialize, eat and drink at our favorite places was terrible! Employees and customers both are happy things are back to normal and we can enjoy good food, great drinks, and amazing company TOGETHER!

Have you been able to take any trips over the last year? Where and what did it mean to be able to travel again? The last year has been a busy one for me. I’m in nursing school and it’s been nonstop! The last trip I went on was with two of my daughters to North Carolina this past May to compete in their Junior Bible Quiz Regional competition. It was a fun road trip, the team did well, and we had our first “BUC-EES” experience and we loved it.

S’mores Inspired Old Fashioned

Photo by Chris Douglas

Where is the one place in the world you want to visit? Traveling is a dream of mine! While I have dreams of Italy, Japan, and Greece I am most looking forward to taking my daughters on a cruise to the Caribbean after I graduate nursing school. It will be their first cruise and their first time to the Caribbean and I can’t wait to watch them enjoy it!

On a desert island, what 5 things can you NOT live without? Electricity. I’m not built for outside life. A tent, like a nice one. Publix water, I’m not filtering my own. Cheese. Music and Books.

If you weren’t a bartender, what would your profession be? In 6 months, I’ll be a nurse. I am so excited to help people, make them smile, and hopefully leave them feeling better than when I found them. Kind of like being a bartender! The decision to leave the hospitality industry and bartending was hard. I truly LOVE what I do. Over the years being a bartender has brought me and my family such a wonderful experience and I will miss it. Although if I could have it my way, I would be a stay-at-home mom and cook and clean all day and not have to work at all!

What is your favorite food? And why? Cheese. I didn’t choose the cheese life; the cheese life chose me.

Do you have a passion project or non-profit that you admire or are involved with? And why? I love my church VICTORY! I’ve been there for 11 years and I’m always in awe of the remarkable things they do for this community! I’m a sponsor with Girls Ministry, coach for the Junior Bible Quiz team, and I have volunteered at the Dream Center here in Lakeland. The Dream Center serves the Lakeland community by meeting needs and offering resources all while inspiring and restoring hope through Christ’s abundant love!

What’s your zodiac sign? Is your personality type defined by this character? Sagittarius is my zodiac sign, and my best friend Laura will tell you that I embody that role very well. Energetic, outgoing, adventurous, curious, and confident fit my personality well. But you can’t leave out being blunt and argumentative which also fit into my repertoire.

Do you believe in psychics? Have you ever had a reading? If so, what was the takeaway? No. Won’t even think about it and would never go.

As a child, what was your favorite Halloween Costume? What was your fondest memory of Trick or Treating? When I was 9, I was Scary Spice from the Spice Girls, for obvious reasons. I loved dressing up, roaming my neighborhood, and getting a chance to be wild and fun with my friends! My neighborhood as a kid was so much fun with every house decorated, every garage open, and every family outside having a blast!

What was your favorite Halloween Candy to receive as a child? How about now as an adult? Reese’s Cups for life!

Do you still like to dress up for Halloween? What’s your favorite costume? I dress up for work usually as we don’t celebrate Halloween so much as we just celebrate the fall season. I’ve dressed up as Beetlejuice, a scarecrow, Winnie the Pooh and lots of others. Anytime I can paint up my face and have fun with it and make customers smile is nice.

Queen Elizabeth II just passed away. And a beautiful ceremony was held in her honor. When you pass, how and what do you want to be remembered for? I hope I’m old, with great grandchildren, and surrounded by my huge family when I pass. My ceremony will be loud from laughter as the reel of pictures scroll across the screen at the church. My children, grandchildren, and family will tell stories of my love for them, my love for cooking, my love for God and after I’m ushered away to Queens “Fat Bottomed Girls” everyone will eat lots of food, play cards, and visit my grave often.

What’s your “spirit animal”? And why. I’ve been told I’m reminiscent of a wild horse. I don’t like being tamed or told what to do also known as ‘hardheaded’. I enjoy adventure and roaming free. I would add in that I’m big, strong, and beautiful like a wild horse. I think that’s what my dad meant when he said I was “crazier than a wild horse on the loose”

What’s your favorite Fall-flavored or Halloween inspired cocktail? And, what’s your signature cocktail? ANYTHING WHISKEY! I love the warmth a wellmade whiskey drink gives and its perfect for fall. There are so many good ones from a fun s’mores inspired old fashioned, a bright cinnamon maple whiskey sour, or a mysterious martini. Fall drinks pack a punch and taste amazing.

Is there anything you would like to add? We’d love to know more about you! Visit Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits for yummy barbecue and amazing drinks with the best happy hour around! Catch me Sunday nights at Mojo now until April! Then I’ll be a customer instead of a bartender! Thank You Lakeland. CHEERS!

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