The clinking of glass-a sound as refined as Southern gentry, defiant as 1920’s prohibition and as welcome as a family toast. It’s the clamor of cocktails that brings people to the local watering hole, second only to the personality behind the bar.
That’s because bartending isn’t as simple as, well, simple syrup, and careful mixologists have a knack for fashioning distilled liquids and a penchant for engaging conversation. This is why Chatter raised a glass with some of the Scenic City’s most impressive bartenders who hear, see and sip it all. What they have to share is a veritable cocktail of experiences. Add one part celebration with two parts advice and just a dash of VIP to concoct an unforgettable evening-shaken or stirred.
St . John’s Meeting Place
Name: Ashley Morgan ‘ Title: Main Bartender
Ashley Morgan, main bartender at St. John’s Meeting PlaceEvery day is different for Ashley Morgan, a nocturnal spirit who welcomes the fast pace accredited to the bartending lifestyle. A way of life that welcomes spontaneous celebrity drop-ins like the time “Twilight” heartthrob Robert Pattinson came by to unwind with his film crew, closing down her chic bar. “Some people couldn’t talk to him because they were so intimidated, but not me,” Morgan shares with delight. “He was incredibly nice, and I’ll never forget his order of Amstel Light and Macallan.”
Perhaps the only challenge for this levelheaded bar-gal is to keep up with everything, stemming from an ambitious desire to stay ahead of the trends. Since the menu is based on a seasonal rotation of fruits and vegetables, the bar is constantly reinventing the martini with new ingredients (like the chefmade tomato-infused vodka), which is a perfect match for Morgan who loves the ever-progressing nature of the spirits industry and, therefore, her life.