Star Hodgson, Cocktail Concoctionist ~ has been exacting classic, creating contemporary and sprucing up traditional cocktail recipes for over 16 years. Her love for the culinary arts and entertaining friends culminated into a form of liquid concocting. This passion drove her to her current position as Mezcal El Silencio Louisiana Brand Ambassador.
A founding member and former President of the New Orleans Chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG), Star now serves the bartending community as National Membership Committee Chair of the USBG. She is a longtime member and volunteer of the Museum of the American Cocktail (MOTAC) as well as an active member of the Slow Foods NOLA movement. She graduated Bar Smarts Advanced in 2009 and has attended and participated in Tales of the Cocktail and Toddy annually since 2006. Star was awarded Best Bartender amongst New Orleans City Business’ Culinary Connoisseurs in 2010, which recognizes top professionals and establishments in the region’s culinary industry.
Her cocktails have been featured in books such as Lolis Elie’s Treme, the 75th Anniversary of the Moscow Mule, and at grand events such as Superbowl XLVII as well as at Essence Festival seven years running. Star is honored to represent New Orleans at the 2016 International Salone del Gusto e Terra Madre in Torino, Italy this fall.
When she is not in her bar lab crafting potions, Star is probably chasing her vivacious sons while attempting to hold a conversation with her husband. She enjoys her Mezcal neat, stirred Manhattans, chewy cabernets, reading mystery fiction, singing karaoke, road trips and sleeping (not necessarily in that order).