JULIE REINER

Julie Reiner is the co-owner of world-renowned cocktail bars, Clover Club and Leyenda in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn and the author of The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks for Every Occasion. Julie has been elevating the cocktail scene in NYC for 25 years starting with her first bar Flatiron Lounge (2003) followed by The Pegu Club (2005), which she opened with Audrey Saunders. 

Reiner drew much of her inspiration from her upbringing in Hawaii by utilizing the freshest fruits and premier quality spices & spirits available in her original cocktails. Julie’s award winning beverage program at Clover Club is highly focused on classics, and furthers her signature style of superior quality and green market ingredients. In 2015, Julie opened Leyenda, a pan Latin bar and restaurant with Ivy Mix, a long-time bartender at Clover Club.  Leyenda celebrates the spirits and imbibing traditions from across the Spanish-speaking world and beyond. The drinks are complemented by authentic fare by Chef Sue Torres, a noted Latin culinary authority.

After many years in the industry, Julie was asked to join the team at Beverage Alcohol Resource as a partner to lend her expertise in mixology as well as bar operations and ownership. BAR is the most highly respected spirits and cocktail education program in the spirits industry headed up by some of the most respected food and beverage professionals.  Julie is also a spirits judge for highly esteemed spirits competitions including TAG Global Spirits Awards, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and New York World Spirits Competition.

In 2020, Julie and her long time Clover Club partner, Tom Macy launched their own line of ready to drink canned cocktails called Social Hour Cocktails. Julie and Tom held their canned cocktails to the same high standards as the cocktails on their menus, to allow drinkers to enjoy expertly crafted libation anytime where! Social Hour Cocktails are available in New York and New Jersey, as well as online where they can be shipped to 38 states!

Julie’s recipes have been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, Food & Wine, Imbibe, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire, Playboy, Gourmet Magazine, Food Arts, Bon Appetit, GQ, Fortune, Wine Enthusiast, O Magazine, Crains, Time Out NY and Time Out London, The London Times & Wine & Spirits. Julie has also been featured on The Today Show, The Food Network, the Cooking Channel, Martha Stewart Radio, CNBC, LXTV, and the Fine Living network. In 2011, Julie was honored with a James Beard nomination for spirits professional of the year.