Christine Wiseman, The LA Bartender Who Turned Playfulness Into a Global Standard

Name: Christine Wiseman
Base: Los Angeles, California
Current Role: Global Beverage Director, Bar Lab Hospitality
Former Venues: Broken Shaker Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago
Known For: Vibrant, high-energy cocktail style and bold, colourful menus that shaped LA’s modern drinking culture
Accolades: Multiple nominations and industry recognitions; widely regarded as one of America’s most creative beverage minds
Signature Style: Fresh, bright, tropical-leaning cocktails that feel fun, unpretentious, and personality-driven
Instagram: Public at time of writing

How She Began

When Christine Wiseman talks about bartending, she talks about joy first. She entered the industry for the same reason many do, picking up shifts to make ends meet, but stayed because she loved the feeling of being behind the bar.

She recalls how bartending allowed her to be fully herself. Loud. Colourful. Energetic. No part of her personality needed to shrink. The bar, for her, became a stage for both creativity and genuine connection.
“It was the first job where I felt like I didn’t have to tone anything down,” she has said in past interviews.

That freedom set the tone for the bartender she would become.

Finding Her Voice in LA

Los Angeles gave Christine the playground she needed. When she joined Broken Shaker, she stepped into a venue known for its bright colours, tropical energy, and artistic cocktails. But she pushed the identity even further.

Her drinks were known for their vibrancy and humour. She created menus that felt alive, filled with unexpected ingredients, big flavours and surprising twists. Yet behind every playful idea was serious technique.
“Fun doesn’t mean sloppy,” she often tells younger bartenders. The drink can be joyful and still be precise.

While LA is a city saturated in wellness, aesthetics, and trend cycling, Christine carved out a lane that was uniquely hers. Her cocktails were approachable but world class, expressive but balanced. Guests trusted her because her drinks always delivered.

Creativity as Philosophy

Christine’s approach to cocktail creation is rooted in her personality. Bold colours, big garnishes, tropical fruit, herbaceous accents, and a flair for the unexpected define her style. But the heart of her craft is intention.

She does not believe in cocktails that feel intimidating. Instead, she wants drinks that feel like invitations. Drinks that feel like the start of a great night. Drinks that make you loosen your shoulders and smile.

She has said before that the only rule she refuses to compromise on is flavour. No matter how whimsical the concept, the drink must taste incredible.

Her menus across Bar Lab properties share that DNA. They are full of life. Full of personality. Full of deliberate, layered, technicolour flavour.

Leadership in an Industry That Needs Better Leaders

Despite the joyful energy of her cocktails, Christine is deeply serious about mentorship, professionalism and culture.

She has been vocal about creating safe, welcoming bar environments. She actively supports women, queer bartenders and newcomers who feel out of place in a male-dominated field. Her leadership style is grounded in empathy and accountability.
“Take care of your people,” she often tells young bar managers.

Behind the scenes she is known for her work ethic. She shows up early, preps hard, communicates clearly, and keeps standards high. Her team sees both sides of her: the creative force and the disciplined professional.

That duality is part of why she is so respected in LA and beyond.

What She Represents for Los Angeles

Christine Wiseman is not just a bartender. She is part of what makes LA’s cocktail culture feel modern, expressive and global.

She represents:

• A commitment to joy in hospitality
• A shift toward inclusive leadership behind the bar
• A style of cocktails that feels Californian in all the right ways
• A belief that fun and excellence can coexist beautifully

Her work helped position LA as a city where cocktails could be bold, bright, and artistically daring without losing their sense of hospitality.

What Drives Her Today

When asked what keeps her excited after so many years, Christine always returns to people.

She loves the energy of a busy service. She loves the unpredictable moments. She loves the creativity of building menus that feel alive. And she especially loves seeing younger bartenders find their voice.
“I want to leave the industry better than I found it,” she has said.

Her career reflects that mission — loud, colourful, disciplined, human.

Christine Wiseman helped show LA that cocktails do not have to whisper. They can laugh, glow, dance and shine. And in doing so, she made the city’s bar culture feel more like itself.