Whiskey Guardian Profile: Brendan Dorr
Brendan Dorr is the Head Bar Chef & Mixologist at the B&O American Brasserie. When creating new cocktails, his focus is to utilize fresh ingredients, making no ingredient taboo to use in a cocktail. Brendan was previously with Ixia Restaurant for 7 years, prior to graduating from Peabody Conservatory with a bachelor’s degree in Classical Vocal Performance. His cocktail menus have been honored as the “Best of Baltimore” by The City Paper of Baltimore, as well as “Best Upscale Bar” multiple years. He has been featured in Imbibe, Market Watch Magazine, Baltimore Magazine, Style Magazine, Maryland Beverage Guide, The Washington Post & The Baltimore Sun as well as Baltimore local television and radio. In 2007 / 2008 Mr. Dorr completed the first step of his sommelier degree. In September of 2008 Brendan won the Baltimore / DC regional Finals of the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup & travelled to Queenstown, New Zealand where he competed in the Finals of the Cocktail World Cup. During that contest he was named “People’s Choice Bartender of the Year.”
Mr. Dorr is a founding member and President of the newly founded Baltimore Bartender’s Guild as well as an honorary member of the US Bartenders Guild. In April of 2009 Brendan travelled to Vail, Colorado to be part of the Grand Marnier Cocktail Summit & was a judge for the local Roedowner Cup Cocktail Contest as well as the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup DC Regional Finals in 2010. Brendan won the 2010 National Barenjager Cocktail competition finals hosted in NYC at Macao Trading Co. More recently Mr. Dorr won the 2011 Vino de Jerez competition sponsored by the AKA Wine Geeks and B.A.R. held in Brooklyn, NY at the Clover Club. Brendan is honored to be tending bar at the B&O American Brasserie & promises to keep creating adventurous seasonal cocktails.
