Ep. 47: Mixing with @notjustabartender - The Mojito
Welcome to the episode 47 of The Art of Drinking with Join Jules and Your Favorite Uncle with special guests Chris Leavitt, also known as @notjustabartender
What are we drinking?
We interviewed Chris Leavitt, better known as @notjustabartender on Instagram and TikTok. Chris is an ACTUAL bartender in Vegas as well as a cocktail influencer. Interestingly, Chris started out critiquing other influencers, namely Jules! Chris walks us through how he got started, where he works now, and how to make a pretty epic Mojito.
Tip: Cocktail books to buy
Mojito Recipe
How do I make it?
In collins glass add
1 medium lime cut into little quarters 8 pieces
1 tablespoon sugar
Muddle (press and twist)
10 - 12 mint leaves and make sure you clap ‘em to release the oils and aroma
1.5 oz of a blended white rum (Probitas or if you can’t find it, use Plantation 3 star)
.5 oz Appleton estate (you don’t have to go crazy in price)
Add ice to ¾ of glass
Use bar spoon, drive it to the bottom of the glass, and swizzle the drink by rolling the handle back and forth between your hands
Top with club soda and more ice
Take spoon up and mix ingredients with club soda
Garnish with 3 Mint sprigs - smack ‘em around a bit and hit the glass so the glass smells pretty
Learn more about Chris Leavitt
Not just a bartender
Say hello to Chris also known online as Notjustabartender
Chris has been bartending for a living now for 13+ years
Currently lives in Las Vegas, but originally from a small town known as Milford, Pennsylvania--along the NY/NJ/PA border.
Not an Eagles or Steelers fan. Has a marginal amount of childhood loyalty to the Yankees, but that's about it.
Bartended throughout college until he landed a job selling Pharmaceuticals once he graduated. The company took him on a trip to Vegas for a product launch, which became the catalyst of him quitting his job and moving to Vegas to pursue bartending indefinitely.
In the last few years, he’s opened 4 different venues with his cocktails on the menu: Scotch 80 Prime, Unknown Bar, Barry's Downtown Prime, and Anima By EDO.
Currently doing content full time, however, he just picked up a part-time gig with Vetri Cucina at the Palms, which is an extension of a James Beard winning restaurant from Philly--you can take the man out of PA, but you can never take the PA out of the man.