Ivy Mix and the New American Cocktail Spirit

Name: Ivy Mix
Origin / Base: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Current Role: Co Owner of Leyenda (Brooklyn), Co Founder of Speed Rack
Claim to Fame: One of the most influential American bartenders of the past decade, winner of major industry awards, pioneer in elevating Latin American spirits
Accolades:
American Bartender of the Year
Best New American Cocktail Bar
Recognised leader in promoting female bartenders through Speed Rack
Signature Style: Agave and cane spirit forward cocktails, bold Latin American flavours, vibrant acidity, modern twists on regional classics
Known For: Advocacy for women in bartending, educational work on spirits, shaping cocktail identity in New York

A Beginning Shaped by Curiosity and Travel

Ivy Mix’s career did not begin in a bar. It began in Guatemala, where she worked after high school and discovered the warmth and vibrancy of Latin American hospitality. She became fascinated by local spirits, especially mezcal and agricole rum. The culture reshaped her understanding of flavour and taught her that drinks could represent a region’s soul.

When she eventually returned to the United States, she started bartending in New York. At first, she was simply trying to make a living. Yet every shift revealed something deeper. The speed. The precision. The connection with strangers. The ability to tell a story through taste. She was pulled in.

Her fluency in Latin American spirits set her apart quickly. While the American public still knew little about mezcal or rhum agricole, Ivy became one of the earliest voices to champion these spirits in New York. She educated guests. She taught peers. She introduced an entire generation of bartenders to flavours that felt electric and alive.

Her identity as a bartender was shaped not by trend, but by genuine cultural respect.

The Bar That Became Her Voice: Leyenda

In 2015, Ivy opened Leyenda in Brooklyn with her mentor and collaborator Julie Reiner. The bar had a clear purpose. To celebrate the spirits and flavours of Latin America while presenting them through a modern American lens.

The menu centred on agave, cane spirits, tropical accents, bright acidity, and imaginative cocktails rooted in genuine regional traditions. Leyenda became an instant neighbourhood favourite and later a national reference point. It earned multiple awards and cemented Ivy’s place as a leader in redefining American cocktail identity.

Inside Leyenda, she created a space that felt warm and unpretentious. The drinks were bright, bold, expressive. The hospitality was familiar and generous. The energy was joyful. Guests discovered the craft and depth of mezcal, pisco, cachaça and rum in ways that felt accessible and exciting.

Leyenda is a bar built with heart, cultural memory and celebration.

Speed Rack and the Fight for Representation

Ivy is not only a bartender. She is an advocate and a force for change.

In 2011, she cofounded Speed Rack, a high speed cocktail competition featuring only women bartenders. The goal was simple. Create visibility. Build community. Raise money for breast cancer charities. Speed Rack became a phenomenon across the United States, celebrated for its energy, inclusivity and impact.

More importantly, it created real, lasting opportunities for women in hospitality. Judges, bar owners, media and industry leaders all began to take notice. A pipeline of female talent began to emerge more publicly.

Ivy helped change how the American bar world viewed women behind the stick. She gave others a platform she never had.
Speed Rack became one of the most meaningful movements in modern American bartending.

A Style That Defines the New American Palate

Ivy’s cocktails are known for their clarity, brightness and boldness. Her approach is deeply influenced by Latin American flavours and her years of immersion in regional drinking cultures. Her drinks often feature:

• Agave spirits with balance and structure
• Rhum agricole and its grassy intensity
• Fresh tropical fruits layered with acidity
• Spices and herbs used with intention
• Cocktails that carry both precision and personality

Her style helped shift American drinking culture toward agave and cane spirits. The modern American cocktail bar owes much of its current flavour profile to pioneers like her.

Leadership Through Authenticity

Ivy Mix’s rise was never built on ego. It was built on work. On passion. On authenticity. She leads with sincerity and lifts others as she grows. She speaks openly about the challenges women face in the industry, about the importance of representation, and about the need for genuine hospitality in a world that often chases trends.

Her influence goes far beyond New York. She shaped a movement.
A new era of bartending that values cultural respect, creativity and community.

In the story of American cocktails, Ivy Mix is not just a contributor. She is a defining chapter.