BARTENDER Magazine’s 27 for 27: Mike Guzman

With nearly two decades of hospitality experience, Mike Guzman has helped open and lead beverage programs in Las Vegas, San Diego, Denver and Phoenix. His career includes work at high-volume Strip venues, celebrity cocktail lounges, and mezcal bars. Today, Mike serves as Bar Manager and Creative Director at an upscale cocktail bar in Charlotte, where he brings together classic technique, storytelling and inventive cocktail concepts. His background spans bartending, beverage development and team leadership, and his work has earned recognition in national and international cocktail competitions. Mike has also pursued formal education through BarSmarts, WSET and the Society of Wine Educators. Beyond creating memorable drinks, he is passionate about training teams, sustainability and building thoughtful hospitality experiences. That combination of creativity, technical precision and mentorship continues to inform the programs he develops and his contribution to Charlotte’s evolving cocktail scene. Whether opening a new venue or refining an established program, Mike draws on lessons learned across several major bar markets. He sees creativity and disciplined execution as complementary parts of a great cocktail experience.