Other
Ray Foley
Bartender / bar director
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
He built his name in the liquor trade by naming and creating new drinks, work that moved ideas from the bar into bottles and onto back bars. In that line of work, the value sits in repeatability and reach: a drink named once can travel far beyond the room where it was first mixed.
Coming Up
Service gave Ray Foley a practical start, first in the United States Marine Corps and then as a bartender in the restaurant business. From there he moved into management, becoming Assistant General Manager at The Manor in West Orange, New Jersey, a post he held until 1983. The pattern is clear in the work itself: discipline, floor-level service, and daily responsibility for pace, guests, and execution. Since 1983, he has been the founder and editor of BARTENDER Magazine, a position that put Ray Foley inside the trade’s running record and public conversation. He also founded Bartender Hall of Fame and The Bartenders' Foundation. Taken together, those roles place him not just in bartending, but in the work of preserving its standards, naming its figures, and keeping its lineage visible.
Where They Are Now
Naming and creating new drinks for the liquor industry is the lane Ray Foley is associated with now. It is a form of trade authorship: turning an idea into a usable drink name, then sending that work into bars, menus, and retail shelves where it can enter regular use.
Signature
Ray's signature dishes include The Fuzzy Navel.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Ray
What is Ray Foley's current role?
As of 2026, Ray Foley is Founder and Editor of BARTENDER Magazine.
Where did Ray Foley work before?
Ray Foley's earlier career included United States Marine Corps, Restaurant business, and The Manor.
What is Ray Foley known for?
Naming and creating new drinks for the liquor industry.
