"Mixing Great Shochu Cocktails"
by Lisa Copenhaver
Beverage Director, Claremont Club
"Every cocktail you experience should look and taste like the passion it took to craft it"
Lisa is a Southern California native who has been in the customer service industry for 30 years. She started her bartending career 23 years ago working in a dive bar with no experience. The "regular" bartender failed to show up for her shift one day and Lisa had to step in. She had no idea how that moment would change her life. Luckily, during each shift the patrons would teach her how to make their favorite drinks and soon Lisa not only developed long lasting relationships with her patrons, but she started taking control of her own style and began creating signature cocktails before it became so popular today.
Working in Claremont, California most of her life, she became a well-established signature cocktail mixer for Tutti Mangia Italian Grille. During her 18 years at Tutti, Lisa frequently reinvented the cocktail menu and created themed nights such as “Martini Mondays", and "Wine Down Wednesdays" to keep her bar full and exciting for patrons to visit after a long hard day at work. Lisa has always believed in mixing every cocktail with love, and with so many fabulous years of mixology under her belt, she could possibly guess exactly what you'd like to drink. When Lisa was asked what makes a great bartender her response was simple "Always listen with a genuine willingness to please, too much ego will ruin your talent".
Lisa Copenhaver is currently the food and beverage director for The Claremont Club where she is waiting to introduce her uniquely crafted cocktails, along with spirit and wine classes.
