![\"Gilbert](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bartender02.jpg\")
Gilbert Votion does his magic behind the bar at Jue Let. Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ Gilbert Votion<\/p>\nGilbert Votion does his magic behind the bar at Jue Let. Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ Gilbert Votion<\/p>\n
National Cocktail Day arrives on Tuesday, March 24, which sounds like a good excuse for a tipple. But isn\u2019t any day a good excuse for a tipple?<\/p>\n
In honor of the upcoming food holiday, the Current spoke to several San Antonio bartenders to spotlight the stories behind their spirits \u2014\u00a0and to celebrate the creativity and hard work they bring to the local culinary scene.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ashanti Williams\u00a0<\/p>\n
Years in bartending: 15-plus <\/p>\n
Bars I\u2019ve worked: Rumble, Paper Tiger, Last Word, Brooklynite, Stay Golden, SoHo, Hugman\u2019s Oasis, Tucker\u2019s Kozy Korner, Urban Cocktail, but I\u2019m now at The Modernist<\/p>\n
Favorite drink to make: New York Sour<\/p>\n
Fun memory: I\u2019ve had countless incredible and fun moments had while serving as a bartender, but i remember the power went out on the whole block working at The Modernist once and so we threw a \u201cBlackout Party,\u201d and served guests using candlelight and phone flashlights. Everyone had a blast until the power came back on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something I wish people knew:\u00a0I wish people knew that we often love our guests more than we love ourselves. That we cherish all the good regulars we have met over the years and how they make these brutal hours worth it\u2014 when we know we\u2019ve made an impact on their nights out or daily life altogether.<\/p>\n
Emily Rohm<\/p>\n
Years in bartending: 3-4<\/p>\n
Bars I\u2019ve worked: I\u2019ve bartended and barbacked at most of the Empty Stomach restaurants. Mostly at Hot Joy, but I\u2019m at Barbaro and Merci Jones now. Burleson Beer Yard gets an honorable mention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Favorite drink to make: I love it when people ask for a Negroni, but they sub the gin out with something specific that I haven\u2019t tried. It feels so devious making it, knowing that I\u2019m about to straw test it and use that information for evil \u2014\u00a0my potential after-work drink.<\/p>\n
A fun memory: One of my favorite work memories was the first time Hot Joy hosted House Arrest, at the Southtown location. We were ready to party just as much as anyone else. It was such a good vibe and we even took turns sneaking out from behind the bar to go dance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something I wish people knew: My best customer stories are ones where I meet my favorite people! Even as I write this, I\u2019m doing so because I met someone who drinks Diet Coke on chill days and banana Daiquiris during hectic times. Today, I\u2019m hungover because of someone who let me make them whatever I wanted every Sunday for three years. Soon I get to move out of state with someone who wants a Gold Rush after a bad first date. We learn people\u2019s drink orders before we learn their names, or even how important they\u2019ll be to us later on. I think that\u2019s pretty crazy.<\/p>\n
Gilbert Votion\u00a0<\/p>\n
Years in bartending: 10 behind the bar<\/p>\n
Bars I\u2019ve worked: I have bartended everywhere from Richter in Boerne Texas to Snakehill Social Club to the late and dearly missed Playland Pizza. I\u2019m currently at Jue Let at the Pearl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Favorite drink to make: Probably a Last Word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A fun memory: Performing behind the bar! Did a whole jazz number with a jazzy ensemble underneath my button down shirt. Top hat included.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something I wish people knew: I had a regular who is a legend in our city. He remembered my name after the first time I l bartended for him. He might have coached a really amazing basketball team in our city.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mikey Cortez<\/p>\n
Year in bartending: 8 behind the stick<\/p>\n
Bars I\u2019ve worked: I\u2019m currently at Bubbles and Bourbon but have also worked at B\u00e9same, Ay Que Chula, Paramour, El Camino, Lanes at Oakhills, Dashi and Studio 210<\/p>\n
Favorite drink to make: A Daiquiri has to be my favorite to make because there\u2019s beauty in the simplicity of it.<\/p>\n
A fun memory: I was working on my birthday once, and the turnout was so incredible. The other bartenders being there, supporting me and coming together was the best feeling in the world. It truly feels like family and really solidified that I am where I\u2019m supposed to be.<\/p>\n
Something I wish people knew:\u00a0I wish people could see the art and love that gets poured into every single drop. These drinks aren\u2019t just ingredients that are shaken and stirred, these are mediums for us to talk to people through. This industry is my life, as it is for a lot of others, and I wish people will one day see the beauty in it.<\/p>\n
Ashley Williams, known throughout the bar industry as \u201cBoots\u201d<\/p>\n
Years in bartending: I have more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. I began my career as a server in an adult entertainment venue, where I developed a strong foundation in service, professionalism and guest engagement. Through dedication and mentorship from some truly exceptional people, I worked my way up behind the bar, refining my craft and building the skills that define my career today.<\/p>\n
Bars I\u2019ve worked: I\u2019ve bartended at a wide range of establishments throughout San Antonio, including Sugars San Antonio, Rick\u2019s Cabaret, Antro, The Stockyard Saloon, The Beach, Rod Dog Saloon, 11th Hour Bar and El Camino. These diverse environments \u2014 from nightlife and entertainment venues to neighborhood bars and outdoor concepts \u2014 have shaped my adaptability, speed and guest-focused approach.<\/p>\n
Favorite drink to make: My favorite drink to make is a michelada. While many bartenders dislike making cocktails like bloody marys or micheladas because of the time and attention they require, I enjoy them for that very reason. These longer-build cocktails allow room for creativity, precision and passion \u2014 every ingredient and step contributes to a drink that feels intentional and thoughtfully crafted.<\/p>\n
A fun memory: One of my favorite memories is watching complete strangers become friends over the course of a shift. Being part of those organic connections \u2014 sparked by good drinks and conversation \u2014 is one of the most rewarding aspects of bartending.<\/p>\n
Something I wish people knew: Bartending is far more than pouring drinks. It requires multitasking, emotional intelligence and responsibility. We manage atmosphere, safety and hospitality simultaneously while creating a space where guests feel welcomed and cared for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Gilbert Votion does his magic behind the bar at Jue Let. Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ Gilbert Votion National…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":217742,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[84919,82,22561,84920,5806,84,84921,83,1950],"class_list":["post-217741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-national-cocktail-day","tag-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio-bars","tag-san-antonio-bartenders","tag-san-antonio-food","tag-san-antonio-headlines","tag-san-antonio-mixologists","tag-san-antonio-news","tag-san-antonio-restaurants"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=217741"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217741\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/217742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=217741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=217741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=217741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}