Star Hodgson, Cocktail Concoctionist ~ has been exacting classic, creating contemporary and sprucing up traditional cocktail recipes for over 16 years. Star serves her community as President of New Orleans Chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) and is a longtime member and volunteer of the Museum of the American Cocktail (MOTAC). 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. She has contributed to several online and print publications including penning columns on SheKnows.com, in Where Y’at Magazine as well as New Orleans Living Magazine. Star has been a guest speaker at cocktail seminars for the Louisiana Restaurant Association, Houston Spirits Conference, the French Quarter Business Association and MOTAC. She has served as a judge for multiple cocktail competitions and has been a blind judge for the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition annually for the past three years. Her cocktails have been featured in books such as Lolis Elie’s Treme and at grand events such as Superbowl XLVII as well as at Essence Festival five years running.

In her professional career, Star helped push the fresh cocktail movement of New Orleans into play loa at The International House where she was the GM from 2007-2011. In the same period, she served as Beverage Director for Lifestyle Revolution Group, which included loa, Sylvain, Capdeville, Ste. Marie, LePhare and Republic. In 2012, she went on to run her own department for the family owned distribution giant Glazer's working with some of the industries finest in spirits, casinos, restaurants and bars, before just recently returning to Star Cocktails, a company she founded in 2010, dedicated to bringing customized craft cocktails to private events.

Star moved to New Orleans from her hometown of San Francisco in 2004. A love for the culinary arts and entertaining friends culminated into a form of liquid concocting. Homemade infusions and variations on classics pique her gastronomic curiosity and her inspiration is typically found at home in her urban garden or at the farmers markets in the form of fresh seasonal produce. “Living in New Orleans, we have a unique growing season and are able to harvest herbs, fruits and vegetables locally throughout the entire year,” says Star. “It keeps creating new cocktails inventive and fun when you work in your backyard!”

When she is not in her bar lab crafting potions, Star is probably chasing her vivacious sons, Cypress and Drake, while attempting to hold a conversation with her lifelong best friend/husband of thirteen years, David. She enjoys stirred Manhattans, chewy cabernets, reading mystery fiction, singing karaoke, road trips and sleeping (not necessarily in that order).