ART BEYOND THE GLASS V
LA’S TOP BARTENDERS COME TOGETHER FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Now celebrating its five year anniversary, Art Beyond the Glass (ABTG), or what I like to refer to as the Super Bowl of Los Angeles cocktail events, is gearing up for this firth and biggest cocktail soiree yet, and just announced that it is going national. Taking place on Sunday, June 26 at Resident in Downtown Los Angeles, Art Beyond the Glass V is celebrating its five-year anniversary by expanding to a five-hour event, featuring an impressive lineup of top bartenders from across the L.A. area, mixing cocktails and showcasing their art, music, photography and much more, all while raising funds for Global Inheritance.

To coincide with its five-year anniversary, Art Beyond the Glass is expanding for the first time to cities across the country starting with Oklahoma City, Chicago and Las Vegas. While showcasing bartender artistry and raising funds for a local cultural nonprofit will remain constant, the national ABTG events will also spotlight the unique spirit of these bar communities and their great cities.

I’ll never forget by first ABTG. I was hungover and didn’t feel like drinking all afternoon but after a highly creative Bloody Mary made with Sailor Jerry Rum, a bloody mix of beer and barbeque sauce, with a stick of bacon for garnish I started feeling better. My second drink was a mix of mezcal with mole and from there I felt energized like Popeye after he eats spinach. From there, it was on!

And every year since, I can always rely on ABTG to deliver a good time. The cocktails are always inventive and impressive, as friends from the bar community gather to celebrate their craft and show off their other skills away from the bar. A good time is had and money is raised for a good cause.

L.A. Bartenders returning to this year’s ABTG V include: Aaron Melendrez (Salazar), Alex Barbatsis (BarToni's), Alyson Iwamoto (The Varnish), Beau Du Bois (The Corner Door), Cari Hah (Big Bar), Chris Amirault (Fiscal Agent), Christopher Day (General Lee's), Dan Sabo (Ace Hotel), Dave Fernie (Honeycut), Dustin Newsome (Salazar), Christine Wiseman (Break Room 86), Eugene Lee (Big Bar), Francois Vera (Pour Vous), Genie Gore (Melrose Umbrella Co.), Greg Bryson (The Wallace), Jeremy Lake (Lost Property), Joe Valdovinos (Salazar), Karen Grill (Wolf), Kalani Ben (Sassafras Saloon), Katie Emmerson (The Walker Inn), Ryan Wainwright (Terrine), Una Green (Belcampo Meat Co.), William Cutting (Resident), Yael Vengroff (The Spare Room) and the Godfather of the L.A. cocktail scene, Vincenzo Marianella (Copa d'Oro).

First time ABTG participating bartenders include: Aaron Polsky (Harvard & Stone), Adam Fournier (Chestnut Club + Areal), Bethany Ham (Corner Door), BC Hoffman (The Edison), Brad Fry (Michael's Restaurant Group), Dee Ann Quinones (Westbound), Florence Hartigan (Big Bar), Jodi Calderon (Normandie Club), Jonathan Joy (Belcampo Meat Co.), Josh Suchan (FOH), Julie Bersani (Big Bar), Michael Lay (Broken Spanish), and many more to be announced.

Art Beyond the Glass was co-founded in 2012 by Courvoisier National Brand Ambassador Zahra Bates, and Daniel Djang, founder and editor of the cocktail and spirits blog Thirsty in LA.

“We are so grateful to the extraordinary family of L.A. bartenders and our wonderful sponsors that have donated their time, talent and product on behalf of these vital nonprofits,” says Djang. “From saving an arts facility from closing to restoring a historic mural and contributing to the construction of a public radio station and community gathering place, Art Beyond the Glass will continue to make a positive and lasting impact on L.A.'s cultural legacy.”

Last year's event was the largest Art Beyond the Glass to date, raising just over $20,000 for KCRW. This year's designated charity is Global Inheritance, an L.A. based 501(c)(3)nonprofit that develops experiences that educate individuals about global issues and inspire them to take positive actions that create solutions.

The all-inclusive Art Beyond the Glass V ticket includes cocktails, art, entertainment, and bar bites, which are courtesy of acclaimed chefs such as Jonathan Whitener, the former chef de cuisine at Animal who is opening the highly anticipated Here's Looking at You in Koreatown this summer. The bar program for Here's Looking at You is being created by ABTG board members Allan Katz and Danielle Crouch. Guests will also be able to purchase bartender art, buy raffle tickets and bid on silent auction items such as artwork, photography, rare spirits and more.

Art Beyond the Glass Vwill take place on Sunday, June 26 at Resident, located at 428 S. Hewitt Street, from 2pm to 7pm. Tickets for the event are $60 per person and will be available exclusively at Eventbrite until 6pm on Saturday, June 25. Art Beyond the Glass V is a 21-year and over event and ID is required. ABTG strongly recommends using a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft.

Story by Jose Martinez

Photography Courtesy: Art Beyond the Glass