Where Are They Now: Eater Best Bartenders Class of 2012

We are on the fourth year of Eater Cocktail Week and with each year, we celebrated Denver's best mixologists in the Best Bartenders feature. During Eater Cocktail Week 2012, we captured eleven of the men and women who have, in many ways, set the trends, raised the bar, and elevated our bar scene. A lot can happen in the career of a bartender in a full three years but these eleven have, for the most part, stayed put and pushed the boundaries of their positions further.

JOE HINES

Then: Williams & Graham      Now: Terminal Bar

ALLISON ANDERSON

Then: Frasca Food and Wine Now: Same

BRYAN DAYTON

Then: Oak at Fourteenth         Now: Oak at Fourteenth and Acorn

**Dayton is also in the process of opening Brider. His bar programs at Acorn was one of ten finalists in the Best American Restaurant Bar for the Spirited Awards, an Oscar-like celebration of the bar world.

SEAN KENYON

Then: Williams & Graham         Now: Williams & Graham and the Occidental

*Kenyon is also working on American Bonded, a bar that will open in RiNo next year. Last summer, he was named American Bartender of the year at the Spirited Awards, sort of an Oscar of the booze world. Williams & Graham was named the best bar in America in the Spirited Awards this summer.

MIKE HENDERSON

Then: Linger, RootDown     Now: Linger, RootDown, Ophelia's, RootDown DIA

*Henderson serves as beverage director for the Edible Beats group,

RANDY LAYMAN

Then: Bar Director at Ace  Now: Beverage Director for the Secret Sauce F& B group, which includes Vesta Dipping Grill, Ace, Steuben's, and the upcoming Steuben's Arvada

RYAN LAYMAN

Then: Steuben's Bar Manager       Now: Same, although he has been on sabbatical the last few weeks after a motorcycle accident

KEN KODYS

Then: Bar Director for the Wynkoop and Breckenridge Group Now: Luxury spirits specialist in Boulder, Arvada, and Fort Collins for Republic National Distributing Company

KEVIN BURKE

Then: Bar manager at Colt & Gray Now: Beverage director for Colt & Gray and Ste. Ellie

BRIAN SMITH

Then:  Bartender at Colt & Gray Now: Beverage Director for Colonie and Gran Electrica