Founded in 2015 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Butter & Scotch is a badass cocktail bar and bakery specializing in fun, creative riffs on classic American desserts and cocktails, with a strong emphasis on feminism, activism, and community engagement (with a hefty dose of humor).

When did that Eureka moment happen when you realized your mission is to be a bartender?
For me, bartending had always been a way to make extra money, and I never really thought of it as more than that until I started working at Cookshop, a farm to table restaurant in Chelsea, in 2010. I had an amazing bar manager there who taught me everything about classic cocktails, and drove a really seasonal approach to their bar program. I had recently started my small pie company at the time and saw a lot of parallels between developing recipes for baking and for bartending.What are the TOP 5 skills every bartender should have?
1. Muscle-memory knowledge of the classics: This is foundational and helps to bolster creativity and invention.2. Multi-tasking: Wiping down the bar while noticing the guest who's ready for another round while smiling at the person who's just walked in the door while grabbing tickets out of the printer. I think of this as a global awareness of what's happening in the room.
3. Empathy: Being able to read your guests' needs and desires, some people want to be left alone, others want a therapist!
4. A sensitive palate: Being able to taste a cocktail and know immediately what's missing or needed. Crucial during R&D.
5. Respect: For yourself, your space, your colleagues, and your guests. Even when someone's being an asshole, there's a way to 86 them with dignity.