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Chris McMillian
Bartender / bar director
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
Since then, the work at Revel in New Orleans has matched Chris McMillian’s reputation for exactitude, theater, and restraint. The Mint Julep he is known for there is presented with barside recitation and performance art, a familiar classic handled with pared-back ingredients and careful timing. In McMillian’s hands, simplicity is not plainness; it is discipline, precision, and confidence in quality.
Coming Up
In New Orleans bars, the progression of Chris McMillian’s career reads as a study in steady control. He served as chief bartender at Kingfish in New Orleans, then as chief bartender at Library Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans in New Orleans, and later as chief bartender at Bar UnCommon in New Orleans. Each post added to a voice that was increasingly sure-footed: measured, articulate, and shaped by the city’s own pace. That perspective also moved beyond service. As a public speaker at Smithsonian, McMillian carried cocktail knowledge into a wider cultural frame, treating the subject as something with history and context rather than just recipe and service. As a co-founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail, he also helped formalize that outlook, linking the bar to preservation and curation as much as to drink-making. Today, Chris is co-founder of Museum of the American Cocktail and lead bartender of Revel since 2016. Those roles show two sides of the same discipline: one tied to the record of the American Cocktail, the other to the daily work of making one with precision.
Where They Are Now
McMillian is a co-founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail, and he continues as lead bartender at Revel in New Orleans. The setting suits a style built on structure and performance: a bar where a drink can be assembled with rigor and then delivered with a little ceremony. At Revel, his signature Mint Julep has been presented with barside recitation and performance art, turning a standard into a controlled moment of hospitality. That approach fits the drink itself. A Mint Julep, in McMillian’s handling, does not rely on excess; it relies on proportion and clarity. The result is a service style that stays deliberate from first glance to final sip, with simplicity and quality doing the work. In a city known for expression, McMillian’s approach is notable because it stays composed.
Signature
Chris's signature dishes include Mint Julep.
In Their Words “The beauty of this drink is its simplicity.”
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Chris
What is Chris McMillian's current role?
As of 2026, Chris McMillian is Lead Bartender.
Where did Chris McMillian work before?
Chris McMillian's earlier career included Kingfish, Library Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, and Bar UnCommon.
What recognition has Chris McMillian received?
One of the top 25 most influential cocktail personalities of the last century.
