Welcome back to Cheers with Nat – the podcast dedicated to cheering on women in drinks.

It's time for the final episode of my NYC mini-series!

Today's guest is Victoria Garcia, senior bartender at Sip & Guzzle.

You'll hear how Victoria got her start in hospitality, what keeps her here, and what it's really like to work at the recently crowned 'Best Bar in North America'.

She also shares why mentorship matters, what makes a good bartender, the hobby that keeps her grounded outside of work, and more.

What stuck with me from this conversation:

On her shifts at Sip & Guzzle: "We have a good time"

On her love of films: "When I was watching them, I kind of saw the magic of people and what they were capable of doing and their talent. It made me fall in love with people and their passion. And I think that ties a lot into what I do now in hospitality."

On the impact of the 'Best Bar' recognition: "We're really excited and ready for it. We all work in such a cohesive unit that it just works, and it makes sense and we're prepared. I think what it means for the team is just locking in… We want to enjoy the upcoming weeks, months, years of all of it."

On free pouring: "I count, I eyeball it, I feel the weight of the actual glass, and then I smell and I taste, so I really try to use all of my senses and incorporate it into every cocktail."

On her self-talk before a guest shift: "Yeah, I just tell myself to chill the fuck out and it's going to be fine."

On what she learned from her mentor Steve: "…not necessarily learning the science and dynamics of how to work behind a bar – obviously that comes with it – but also the emotional and mental part of it, and I think that that's really important."

On what keeps her in hospitality: "I just love people so much"

Links & things:

What we're drinking:

Coors Light

Where Victoria's worked:

Sip & Guzzle
Employees Only
- Where she met her mentor Steve Schneider

Victoria's film reccs:

Harold & Maude
Roadhouse (1989)

Her favourite cocktails:

Negroni
Vieux Carre
- Check out the Difford's Guide data I mentioned here

Highlights from our last call round:

TV recc: I Think You Should Leave
Producer we need to know: Donna's Pickle Beer
Where Victoria wants to visit: Japan, Paris, and London
- Keep up with her adventures to these places here
Another awesome woman in drinks we should meet: Victoria's colleague, Andrea Grujic

Recording info:

April 2026 in NYC

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