CHRISTINE WISEMAN OF BAR LAB HOSPITALITY
(BROKEN SHAKER) WINS
ALTOS BARTENDERS’ BARTENDER AWARD AS PART OF NORTH
AMERICA’S 50 BEST BARS

Christine Wiseman, Bar Lab Hospitality’s Global Beverage Director, has been named the winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2023. The award is voted for by the head bartenders at the venues on this year’s list of North America’s 50 Best Bars who are asked to name one peer who pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a great bartender. Wiseman, a seasoned leader, oversees cocktail creation for the group’s bars, including the acclaimed Broken Shaker outposts in New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago. 

This is the second in a series of special pre-announced awards in the month leading up to the second edition of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2023, sponsored by Perrier, at a live awards ceremony taking place at Hacienda Los Picachos in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, on May 4.

“Christine is a bartending force of nature whose exuberant cocktails electrify her legions of fans across the U.S. and beyond, said Mark Sansom, Content Director for 50 Best, says. “She is known around the globe for her work at the celebrated Broken Shaker bars, where the high-energy vibe is a beacon of all-embracing hospitality in New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles. Besides taking exemplary care of her guests and nurturing her bar teams from coast to coast, Christine is a dedicated mentor to many aspiring bartenders. We congratulate Christine on winning the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award, the ultimate peer-voted accolade.”

Wiseman started on the culinary side of the hospitality industry as a chef, working her way up the corporate restaurant ladder in her home state of West Virginia. She eventually landed a bartending position at Virtue Feed & Grain in Alexandria, Virginia, where she trained under craft cocktail innovator Todd Thrasher. In 2012, she relocated to Los Angeles to work at Chef Michael Voltaggio’s Ink, where she honed her craft by utilizing fresh California ingredients and mastering pioneering techniques. She went on to work at renowned Los Angeles bars and restaurants, such as La Descarga, and led the innovative beverage program at Break Room 86. Upon joining Broken Shaker L.A., she made her mark in this oasis of tropical-inspired mixology and good-time atmosphere. 

Wiseman then moved to Miami, home of the original Broken Shaker, and joined its parent company, Bar Lab Hospitality, where she became Global Beverage Director. She is responsible for cocktail creation and team trainings for Broken Shaker in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago, as well as Hoja Taqueria, Margot Natural Wine Bar, MaryGold's, Higher Ground, Mesiba, Lilistar, Jolene Sound Room, Bar Bedford and Exchange Restaurant. Wiseman’s fun, colorful and sometimes glittery cocktails typically walk the line with unexpected ingredients and tried-and-true, craveable flavor combinations. 

“This award means so much to me since it is the only one voted for by 50 Best Bars bartenders,” Wiseman said. “I have long admired all the people that have received this award, and I’m honored to be included in this incredible group. But I could not have achieved this by myself. Bar Lab Hospitality has one of the best teams in the game and is an integral part of my success. Winning this award will drive me to continue to be a better mentor and leader. It has also given me the time to self-reflect. I feel that everyone sees me for who I am, someone who leads with their heart, gives my all to the people around me and creates safe spaces for people that need and want it.” 

The second annual edition of North America’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be announced on Thursday, May 4, 2023. The countdown of the list of North America’s 50 Best Bars and the awards ceremony will also be broadcast to a global audience who are not able to attend in person, and bar and cocktail lovers will be invited to join through The World’s 50 Best Bars Facebook page and TV channel on YouTube.

Story By: Jose Martinez

Photography Courtesy Of: Bar Lab Hospitality’s