Going 10 Rounds with Top Bartender Ryan Welliver

Noah Rothbaum
·2 min read
Eric Medsker
Eric Medsker

What do you like to drink after a shift? “If life was perfect, I’d have an ice-cold Daiquiri waiting for me. Those are not always an option, so I generally go with a lager and a bourbon, neat.”

What is the all-time best dive bar jukebox song? “‘You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth’ by Meatloaf.”

The Past, Present and Future of Rye Whiskey

The Canned Cocktails Craze: Are They Here to Stay?

After all these years bartending and creating drinks, do you still enjoy going out to bars? “I do! I think it is a must for anyone in the business. Seeing other places’ approach to service helps realign my thoughts on how our service should be done. Always great to see different perspectives.”

Name the first good drink you ever drank and where you had it. “A honey-jalapeño Gin Gimlet at the Belmont in Charleston, South Carolina. It felt like a discovery.”

What book on cocktails or spirits is your go-to resource? “The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks by David Embury. It’s an easy read and full of classics to build from.”

What’s your favorite cocktail and food pairing? “A Mezcal Negroni and tacos.”

What drink are you most proud of creating? “Hard to say one drink in particular, but I am proud anytime I see a face light up after taking the first sip of one of mine. That is all the feedback I need.”

Is there one person (dead or alive) you’d like to make a cocktail for? “A Vesper Martini for Sean Connery, as James Bond. I’d like his feedback on the stirred version.”

What’s your favorite shot-and-a-beer combination? “A Modelo with a Tobala Mezcal.”

What is the one tool that you always make sure to pack when you’re traveling for business? “Definitely a good paring knife. That is the one tool you will never be given or able to find in a pinch.”

Ryan Welliver is the bar director of New York’s The Tavern

Interview has been condensed and edited.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!

Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • ‘Everyone should back him’: Ten Hag supports Rashford over ‘abuse’

    Manchester United manager expressed sympathy for his out-of-form forward after Marcus Rashford responded to a social media post

  • Ryan Reynolds pays tribute to Deadpool & Wolverine production designer Ray Chan

    Chan’s death was announced by Marvel Studios on Friday.

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo ruled out, Khris Middleton to start for Bucks against Pacers in Game 3

    INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks will be without star Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 3 of their playoff series against Indiana on Friday night, but will have All-Star Khris Middleton in the starting lineup. Middelton was activated after going through pregame workouts, showing coaches and team doctors he could move effectively. Middleton is averaging 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5 assists through the first two games and finished Tuesday night's Game 2 loss after spraining his right ankle. Wh

  • British man accused of being Wagner spy for Russia ‘led plot to burn down London building’

    A British man accused of being a Wagner Group spy for Russia allegedly recruited two men to burn down a building in London linked to Ukraine.

  • Trump’s attorneys try to pick holes in David Pecker’s ‘catch and kill’ testimony

    Former tabloid publisher confirms he helped bury Karen McDougal’s story to help Trump’s election chances

  • Here’s the Trick to Making Perfect White Rice

    Learn how to cook perfectly tender white rice like a pro.

  • Former Rep. Peter Meijer ends his longshot bid for the GOP nomination in Michigan's Senate race

    LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Former Rep. Peter Meijer withdrew his name from the U.S. Senate race in Michigan on Friday, ending a longshot bid to become the Republican nominee and return to Congress after being ousted by voters for supporting an effort to impeach then-President Donald Trump. Meijer announced his candidacy in November and contended for the Republican nomination against former U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers and Justin Amash, in addition to wealthy businessman Sandy Pensler. Meijer met an April 2

  • Abbvie stock falls amid growing biosimilar competition

    Pharmaceutical giant AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) shares came under pressure as the market closed on Friday, following the disappointing first quarter sales performance of the company's arthritis drug, Humira. The company forecast that Humira's sales could slow further in the face of heightened competition. Yahoo Finance's health reporter Anjalee Khemlani breaks down the details, providing insight into the rise of biosimilars in the market. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance. This post was written by Angel Smith

  • All-important volunteering still slow after COVID

    This week is National Volunteer Week, thanking all those who put aside their personal time to help others in their communities. There are many organizations within Uxbridge that depend on their volunteers to function and serve their patrons.Volunteering reportedly took a hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many organizations in a lurch, and unfortunately, it was many of those organizations that were the most in demand, like food banks, community outreach and service programs. In Uxbri

  • They say don't leave valuables in parked cars in San Francisco. Rep. Adam Schiff didn't listen

    San Francisco has earned an unwelcome national reputation for car burglaries that U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff was reminded of the hard way: The Democratic congressman had his luggage swiped from his car while it was parked in a downtown garage. With his formal clothing gone, Schiff ended up at a fundraising dinner Thursday for his U.S. Senate campaign dressed like he was headed to a Los Angeles Dodgers game — in shirt sleeves and an insulated vest. “Yes, they took my bags,” the congressman lamented to the San Francisco Chronicle, adding that he didn't want to dwell on his firsthand experience as a crime victim.

  • Blue Jays pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann out with nerve inflammation in elbow

    TORONTO — Blue Jays pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann will miss about seven to 10 more days with a sore elbow. Toronto manager John Schneider says that the 21-year-old left-hander has ulnar nerve inflammation. The diagnosis comes after Tiedemann met with team doctors earlier this week. It's the best possible outcome after the triple-A Buffalo Bisons put him on the seven-day injured list on April 19. Tiedemann (0-1) had a 5.63 earned-run average through three starts, striking out 10 over eight in

  • Retiring CFL star Harris talks new documentary, overcoming mental health struggles

    WINNIPEG — Andrew Harris is leaving football as one the greatest running backs in CFL history. But he says that he once went from the exhilaration of winning the 2019 Grey Cup with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the lowest he could go. “When you’re having suicidal thoughts, that’s about as rock bottom as you can get,” Harris told a group of local reporters on Friday. “That’s where I was at. I mean, COVID was tough on a lot of people, but I was really in that dark spot during COVID, and it was real

  • David Moyes reveals date to decide his West Ham future with verdict on potential successors

    Hammers and manager won’t decide their next step anytime soon

  • Mauricio Pochettino admits uncertainty over Chelsea bosses' verdict on his future

    Argentine manager offers an in-depth look into how he sees his future at Chelsea

  • Erik ten Hag expresses ‘a lot of sympathy’ for misfiring Marcus Rashford

    The 26-year-old produced a career-high 30 goals last season.

  • Arsenal ‘demise’ not motivating Ange Postecoglou as Spurs chase own achievements

    A victory for Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would help them move a step closer to a first title since 2004.

  • Leicester promoted back to English Premier League

    LONDON (AP) — Leicester secured automatic promotion back into the English Premier League on Friday after Leeds lost to Queens Park Rangers. Leicester's return was sealed when second-placed Leeds — four points behind Leicester — was thumped at QPR 4-0. The Foxes achieved promotion at the first time of asking after being relegated from the Premier League last season following a third-to-last finish. Leicester leads the second-tier Championship with two games left. Leeds was only one point above th

  • South Dakota governor, a potential Trump running mate, writes in new book about killing her dog

    South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem — a potential running mate for presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump — is getting attention again. This time, it's for a new book where she writes about killing an unruly dog, and a smelly goat, too. The Guardian obtained a copy of Noem's soon-to-be released book, “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward.” In it, she tells the story of the ill-fated Cricket, a 14-month-old wirehaired pointer she was

  • I enjoy it – Mauricio Pochettino happy with life at Chelsea despite poor results

    The Argentinian saw his side thumped 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

  • Tottenham will get nowhere 'peering over the back fence' at Arsenal, insists Ange Postecoglou

    Spurs boss says winning Sunday’s north London derby is not about disrupting Gunners’ title bid