By Haley Harward
Cara McInerney, Beverage Manager & Lead Bartender
Brassica, Atlanta
From the time she was a little girl, Cara McInerney was captivated by the restaurant industry. Every special occasion meant a new opportunity to explore the magical world of restaurants, where the setting was just as important as the food on the table. Even though she worked in marketing after college, the allure of the restaurant industry drew her back in. This time she found her passion in the beverage space, where she could combine her love of flavors, cooking and hospitality.
McInerney began building an impressive portfolio of beverage management and bartending experience at esteemed establishments such as Holy Taco, Rocket Farm Restaurants and Brick Store Pub before landing the head bartender role at Brassica, located in the upscale Waldorf Astoria in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.
Her depth of knowledge in all things bar and boundless creativity shone in her approach to the beverage program at Brassica. That and McInerney’s natural leadership abilities quickly caught the attention of her superiors, leading to a well-deserved promotion to beverage manager. She plays many roles, fielding calls, monitoring food standards, checking and organizing inventory, and tackling creative projects like crafting Brassica’s City Within the Forest cocktail to pay homage to Atlanta’s nickname.
Despite having many responsibilities, McInerney always leads by example, placing importance on treating others with empathy and respect and keeping a completely open-door policy.
“I love hive mind mentalities,” says McInerney. “I feel like my leadership style is expressed in that, where every opinion matters, every voice matters, and conversation is just free flowing.”
McInerney is also inquisitive. She has a researcher’s mind and isn’t afraid to use it, going so far as to dive into a seven-year immersion with agave-based spirits. Her curiosity also keeps her up-to-date on the latest trends, and she’s adept at uncovering what people enjoy and why. It doesn’t hurt that she’s a self-proclaimed geek, always on the lookout for new ideas, whether it’s reading articles, following Instagram accounts or visiting new places.
“Every conversation that I have with somebody,” she says, “is potential for a new avenue to explore.”
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