Julie Reiner

Experience

Julie Reiner caught the hospitality bug growing up in Hawaii — picking mangoes from the backyard, making margaritas, and passing hors d’oeuvres at parties her mother hosted for a never-ending stream of visitors at their home in Oahu. Hospitality and fresh ingredients have been central to Reiner’s trail-blazing career as a mixologist. Early on, she became known for her inventive use of tropical flavors and spices in her cocktails which deviated from the norm at the time, as well as her precision, no-nonsense approach, and business savvy — as evidenced by the success of her ventures Flatiron Lounge (launched in 2003), The Pegu Club, and the multiple award-winning Clover Club.

Among the many honors she has garnered, Reiner was named Mixologist of the Year in 2014 by Wine Enthusiast and received Tales of the Cocktail Foundation's Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. Not only has she served in industry leadership roles, such as a partner in the Beverage Alcohol Resource spirits and cocktail education program, Reiner has also judged high-profile spirits competitions, including Netflix's "Drinks Masters," and runs Mixtress Consulting which provides consulting services and staff training for bars.

In 2020, she launched Social Hour, a line of canned cocktails, in collaboration with long-time business partner Tom Macy.