Paige Nast and Jodi Patten, both Beverage Directors of multi-unit restaurants, a
Are shaking things up in the male driven industry.
The bar and spirits industry is seen as a male dominated industry. But what many people don’t know is that women hold about 60% of bar and spirit positions in America. More women are getting recognized for the mixology expertise and shaking up the industry.
Paige Nast, Beverage Director of TapCo Group and Bar Rita
Paige manages and creates the menu of all five Tap 42 locations [Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura Mall, Midtown Miami, and Coral Gables] along with newly opened Bar Rita that is attached to the Tap 42 Fort Lauderdale location. She’s been in the industry since she was 18, building her mixology skills in a prestigious Bourbon Bar in Miami. While looking for a job closer to home she came across Tap 42 who opened their first location in Fort Lauderdale back in 2011 and was in dire need of a beverage director. Even though she just turned 21, Paige created a mock menu and they hired her on the spot. Seven years later she has been through five location openings and hasn’t looked back.
Paige gathers inspiration from everywhere, all the time, and in the most random places. It’s as simple as discovering a new ingredient and testing it with different applications or experimenting with crazy infusions. She explained how most of her ideas come to her randomly as she thinks of interesting flavor combinations or a really cool cocktail name and builds from there. Just recently she created three CBD Infused Cocktails including the Margaweeda, Gin & Chronic, and #HASHtag. Social media also plays a big part in her ideas. She shares her inspirations and connects with other bartenders from across the world.
Even though the industry is promdomitley male, Paige believes that we are in a really cool time where females are able to make their mark on the industry.
“To me, females really have an eye for detail and there really is something to needing “a woman’s touch.” There’s a finesse that comes with being a female in a male-dominated industry and I think that really translates to the drinks.”  she explains.
At the end of the day, her favorite thing about the industry is the patrons themselves. She has met some of the coolest people from all walks of life. It’s never a dull moment with unbelievable stories that she could recite for years, and memories that will last a lifetime. She wouldn’t trade it for any other industry.
Jodi Patten, Beverage Director of Brimstone Restaurant Group
Jodi has been in the restaurant industry as long as she can remember. Moving to South Florida in 2012, has opened her eyes to the diversity and palettes of different people who she encountered. Jodi has moved her way up within Brimstone Restaurant Group an Ohio-based company, starting as a server at Brimstone Woodfire Grill in The Shops at Pembroke Pines, FL and now Beverage Director of the Restaurant Group and their three locations Brimstone Woodfire Grill [Pembroke Pines & Doral] and Beach House Pompano all located in South Florida.
Her inspiration derives mostly from traveling and experiencing different cuisines around the world. She is always looking for different variations to include ingredients and keep up with the latest trends. Every year Jodi coordinates a Bartender Competition restaurant wide where employees can create their own cocktail with a selected liquor (last year it was Herradura Tequila) and promotes it to the clientele and the winner receives an all expenses paid vacation and their cocktail on the menu for one year.
Even though the bar and spirits industry is extremely male dominated, Jodi explains how Brimstone Restaurant Group has always been supportive of her role.
Jodi explains, “Working for Brimstone Restaurant Group has only pushed me to believe that if you work hard and remain dedicated anything is possible regardless of gender”
The industry is social by nature and Jodi thrives on the meaningful connections she has been able to make through the years. While her role as beverage director is demanding, she still finds time to make it behind the bar and make customer experiences worth wild.
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For more information, or to request an interview with either Paige Nast or Jodi Patten, please contact Olivia Bishop of Mad at 315.528.5037 or olivia@yeswearemad.com

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