Lynnette Marrero

Lynnette Marrero is a mixologist, educator, and advocate for gender equity in the hospitality industry. Marrero began her hospitality career with the opening team of New York's Flatiron Lounge, where she transitioned from cocktail waitress to bartender. She later served as senior bartender at Freemans, consulted and co-designed the bar program for Elettaria in Manhattan's West Village, and, after shadowing a Zacapa Rum master blender in Guatemala and working as a rum ambassador for Diageo, founded her own company, Drinksat6, to develop cocktail bartenders and enhance bar experiences at restaurants. Marrero also became beverage director at New York's Rye House, which received Time Out's Eat Out Award for Best New Cocktail Bar.

Marrero has led bar programs for restaurants including Freemans, Llama Inn, and Llama San, where she served as bar director for more than six years. Her work at Llama San earned recognition as a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Best Restaurant Bar Program and a Spirited Awards Regional Honoree designation. Her expertise in spirits, particularly rum and pisco, and her culinary-driven approach have made her a respected voice in the cocktail industry. Marrero has served as a guest judge at Paul Pacult's Ultimate Spirits Challenge and presented seminars at international bartending conventions such as Tales of the Cocktail and Berlin Bar Convent. She launched the MasterClass Mixology platform and received the "Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award" from The World's 50 Best Bars, a peer-voted honor recognizing bartenders who advance the profession.

Marrero co-created "Speed Rack," the first all-woman speed bartending competition, which brings together women mixologists from leading bars worldwide and raises funds for breast cancer education, prevention, and research. The competition has raised more than $1.85 million for breast cancer initiatives and has influenced the presence of women in the bartending industry. Marrero co-authored "A Quick Drink: The Speed Rack Guide to Winning Cocktails for Any Mood" with Ivy Mix and Megan Krigbaum, which received nominations for the James Beard Media Awards and Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.

Marrero launched Delola, a line of ready-to-enjoy craft spritzes, in partnership with Jennifer Lopez. As partner and liquid creative director for non-alcoholic spirits company Aplós and head of education for Bar Convent Brooklyn, Marrero has focused on making craft cocktail expertise accessible to a broad audience. She is also a partner at Milly's Neighborhood Bar in New York City. Marrero's accolades include recognition by the James Beard Foundation as one of America's Leading Female Mixologists, being named to Food & Wine and Fortune Magazine's "Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink," and Wine Enthusiast's "Mixologist of the Year." She received Tales of the Cocktail's "Tales Visionary Award," reflecting her impact on the global drinks community.