Bartender Style is a collaboration between Bit by a Fox and photographer Rose Callahan. This series, exclusively on the Bit by a Fox blog, explores and documents the personal style of some of the best bartenders in the country. This month, we’re profiling rock star cocktail whiz, Pamela Wiznitzer at her home base, Manhattan’s Upper East Side hotspot Seamstress, where she serves as Creative Director, bartender and all around boss fox.
Pamela Wiznitzer for President - USBG. This page was created by Pamela Wiznitzer SUPPORTERS and is not directly affiliated with or endorsed by the candidate. Pamela Wiznitzer has a true passion and zest for the industry that is seen and tasted in every drink she serves and also transcends the bar. Since 2006, Pamela has been working throughout NYC, and most recently as the Creative Director and bartender at Seamstress on the Upper Eastside of Manhattan.
Pam is your Bartender-Next-Door. She’s your cool-girl confidante – a firecracker of positivity, doling out hugs and advice between perfectly crafted cocktails. She can hang with the boys, work the girl’s girl angle, and imbues equal parts warmth and confidence behind the bar. Pam Wiznitzer is your Bartender BFF.
Those who know Pam, have worked with her in some way, and/or have been lucky enough to have been served a cocktail crafted by her, know why she is so well-regarded in the industry. And why she is often a go-to mixologist and face for events and liquor brands looking to sparkle up the proceedings.
She’s highly skilled, passionate, creative, incredibly charismatic, and one of the hardest working bartenders in the biz. In short, she’s a superstar. Not to mention, she’s also pretty easy on the eyes.
And, considering the amount of awards and accolades that she’s amassed, and the breadth of titles for various cocktail competitions she’s collected these last few years, her trajectory in the bar business has been off the charts! Pam serves as President of the New York chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild and she’s only really been in the game for about 7 years.
Hospitality is key with all top bartenders, but Pam’s philosophy is next level. And it’s proven successful for her. She has a way of befriending everyone around her. It’s no wonder that she is known for having a devoted clientele. In her early days of bartending, after unexpectedly getting laid off from a startup, she found herself behind the stick during the day shift at a sports bar in Murray Hill. And, making the most of it, she packed them in. Pam’s following only grew as she honed her craft as an original hire at Dead Rabbit, (Tales of the Cocktail’s World’s Best Bar 2015), where she also earned a New York Bartender of the Year title from Village Voice in 2014 as well as landing a top 10 finalist spot for Tales’ Best American Bartender that same year. At the end of 2014, Pam made the move to help open and create the cocktail program for Seamstress, a new restaurant and bar on Manhattan’s Upper East Side that has quickly gained momentum, in large part based on Pam’s connection.
The Seamstress moniker extends to the interior theme, with vintage sewing machines and scissor designs displayed throughout.
The theme is also reinforced in the menu. As Creative Director, Pam has curated 50 classics and created 20 signature cocktails that all fall within four different sewing categories: Patchwork, Overlay, Embroidery, and Lining.
While Pam wanted the bar staff to wear whatever they felt comfortable and attractive in during their shift, the customized bartender apron that they all wear, ties the Seamstress theme together. They are “unified by one thread while still being individuals.”
The apron serves a basic functionality for the bar staff – the utilitarian style with multiple pockets allows for everyone to keep their tools close and their phones handy.
It also serves as a stylish outfit topper with sexy leather details that reflect some of the curated items sold in the shop occupying the front of the restaurant.
Pam is a fan of body conscious silhouettes and pops of color behind the bar.
She believes confidence is key. Owning your fashion. She’s not afraid of bright colors and patterns or taking risks. Patricia Field, famed costume designer behind Sex and the City, has served as one of Pam’s style inspirations.
Patrick Brauss, a former bar back (in one of Pam’s bars) turned personal stylist at Top Shop, came on board with Pam once she turned 30 and she decided she may need some assistance with all of the outfits she had to prepare for various events and judging panels and gigs where she needed to put her best face forward.
Patrick is able to push Pam’s fashion boundaries while knowing exactly what she likes: high wasted skirts and crop tops, mixing vintage and new, incorporating classic and chic with a touch of daring whimsy and sexy edge. But most importantly, she says, he always ensures she is presented in a professional way.
We asked Pam what the most popular cocktail at Seamstress was and without missing a beat, she prepared the Mortimer & Mauve, a rye whiskey based cocktail with chai tea infused vermouth and Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur. Simple, delicious and it can traverse various seasons. There’s a reason why this is such a popular cocktail. Our Bartender BFF should know!
Mortimer & Mauve
1.25 oz Whistle Pig Rye Whiskey
1.25 oz Chai infused Martini & Rossi Rosso
.5 oz Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur
Method: Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and stir over ice until well chilled. Strain into glass over large ice cube.
Glass: Rocks glass
Garnish: Use orange twist to extract oils. Discard peel.
Jonathan Pogash
President/Owner
Jonathan Pogash, “The Cocktail Guru™,” is one of the most premiere cocktail consultants and bartenders for restaurants and spirit companies. His signature cocktails can be seen and enjoyed in many of North America’s most upscale cocktail lounges and restaurants. With nearly 20 years experience in the hospitality industry, Jonathan shares his insights with the most influential publications from around the world, and contributes his unique talents to morning television shows and national radio. Jonathan has appeared on such programs as NBC’s “Weekend Today in New York” and “Fox & Friends”.
Just as an Executive Chef may work their way up through the ranks “behind the line,” Jonathan has worked his way up from being a barback at The Russian Tea Room in NYC, to Owner and President of “The Cocktail Guru™,” a well-respected, full service beverage consulting firm. Jonathan was trained by cocktail luminaries Steve Olson, Gary Regan, Julie Reiner, and Albert Trummer. Throughout the years, a style emerged – that of a career bartender interested in studying technique, cocktail history, fresh ingredients, and seasonality. His inspiration lies in unique ingredients and quality ensuring that every beverage program he creates remains consistent and thrives throughout the years.
Pamela Wiznitzer Usbg
In addition, Jonathan and his Cocktail Guru team offer bartender services for special events, mixology classes and demonstrations, and signature drink development for weddings and occasions. The Cocktail Guru’s sister site, Wedding Cocktail Design, was created specifically for that couple-to-be seeking a unique specialty cocktail for their wedding.
Jeffrey Pogash
F.O.O. (Father of Owner)
For the past eighteen years, Jeffrey Pogash has worked in the Communications Department at Moet Hennessy USA, the importer of luxury wines and spirits. He retired as Director of Communications on Sept. 1, 2011. During his tenure, Jeffrey’s responsibilities included garnering press for the entire Moet Hennessy portfolio of champagnes, wines, and spirits.
Prior to joining Moet Hennessy, Jeffrey spent seventeen years as the U.S. representative for the CIVA, the organization that works on behalf of all growers, shippers, and cooperatives in the region of Alsace, France. Before joining the CIVA, Jeffrey studied wine and wine tasting with Steven Spurrier and Jon Winroth at L’Academie du Vin in Paris, where he lived for three years. Upon his return to the United States, Jeffrey studied for his Master’s Degree in Philosophy at Rutgers University and was a freelance writer and copy editor for Vintage Magazine. In 1975, he wrote his first book, How To Read A Wine Label, A Dictionary of French and California Wines. Jeffrey’s most recent book, Bloody Mary , will be published in October 2011 by Thornwillow Press.
We are pleased to announce that Jeffrey has joined The Cocktail Guru™ team to lend his expertise in media relations, marketing, and brand management. He will be working directly with Jonathan and on independent projects.
Pamela “Wiz” Wiznitzer
Special Events and Consulting Guru
Pamela Wiznitzer has a true passion and zest for the industry that is seen and tasted in every drink she serves and also transcends the bar. Since 2006, Pamela has been working throughout NYC and currently can be found s
haking things up at the award winning (World’s Best New Bar and Best Drink Menu) The Dead Rabbit down in the Financial District. She has earned honors from her industry peers such being selected as one of the 20 Diageo World Class 2012 Contestants, winning Bacardi Limited’s “Champions Drink Responsibly” Mocktail competition judged by #1 ranked tennis star Victoria Azarenka and most recently took second place in the national 2013 Auchentoshan Switch competition, 1st place in the 2014 National Restaurant Association’s “Star of the Bar” competition and 1st place in the 2013 Louis Royer “Show Me the Proof” competition.
She is an active member and serves as the President of the New York City chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild. Pamela is committed to and believes in the continuation of her pursuit of knowledge and is currently working towards a master’s degree in Food Studies, with a concentration on spirits and alcohol, at NYU’s Steinhardt School. Additionally, she presents her research at seminars and conferences including topics such as Women and Whiskey and Safety, Laws and Legalities of being behind the bar. Pamela is a recent graduate of the rigorous Beverage Alcohol Resources 5 day program earning top honors by passing the course “Bar Ready.”
Pamela writes for various publications about the spirit and alcohol industry and works with sites such as Julibox.com as one of their cocktail experts. She has been featured in multiple publications including the recent cover of The Tasting Panel, Bar Business Magazine, The Village Voice, Zagat, CitySip.com, Glamour, The Forward, The Examiner, MetroNY, ABCNews.com, and Underground Eats as well as reccurring media appearances on the the Food Network, Vh1, NBC, LXTV, Fox & Friends and BetterTV.
Pam has been a proud member of The Cocktail Guru team since 2012. #Guru4Life
Kirsten “Kitty” Amann
Marketing & Business Development Guru
Pamela Wiznitzer
Better known to friends and clients as Kitty, Kirsten Amann is a Boston-based consultant specializing in cocktails, wine & spirits and health & wellness…and in the unique space where these opposite worlds meet.
As a wine & spirits consultant Amann has over 15 years of experience in the beverage industry as a brand ambassador, publicist, bartender, writer, and cocktail book author. She was most recently the Boston-based Brand Ambassador for Fernet-Branca and has worked with brands like Plymouth, Beefeater, Bols Genever, The Bitter Truth, and more. She works with clients to champion their brands, develop dynamic events, create delicious cocktails, and find a little healthy balance while doing it. She writes a monthly cocktail column for the MA Beverage Business under the byline “Pink Lady” and her cocktail writing has appeared in Daily Candy, the Weekly Dig, and Chilled Magazine among others. Her first cocktail book, The Screaming Orgasm, was published in 2012.
Pamela Wiznitzer Mixologist
As a health & wellness professional Kitty is an ACE certified personal trainer, yoga instructor, and reiki practitioner who works with clients of all ages and fitness levels. She has presented on the topics of health and wellness at cocktail festivals since 2010 including Tales of the Cocktail, The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, Portland Cocktail Week, and The Boston Cocktail Summit.