Lawrence bartender stirred by state honor

The best bartender in Kansas can be found pouring drinks at Seventh and Massachusetts streets.

That’s according to two Kansas liquor-industry groups, who last week awarded the title of “Kansas Best Bartender” to Patrick Mushrush, of the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Mass.

“It’s almost kind of embarrassing,” said the 36-year-old Mushrush, who has worked at The Jayhawker bar inside the hotel since it reopened last year following renovation. “I sure get a lot of ribbing. The other day I had trouble finding a parking spot, and my buddy said, ‘You can just waltz in two minutes late now that you’re the best bartender in Kansas?'”

First, Mushrush was named the top bartender in Lawrence at a competition in September. Then, at the statewide finals on Jan. 31 at Johnny’s Tavern, 401 N. Second St., he beat out three other bartenders who had won local competitions in Manhattan, Johnson County and Wichita.

The bartenders had to take a written test, mix two randomly chosen drinks without a recipe and make an original creation for the judges to taste. They were scored on factors including the quality of their drinks and how well they interacted with the judges.

They also had to tell at least one joke. At the city competition, Mushrush told one that involved women’s underwear. At the state competition, he told one about a termite.

Patrick Mushrush has accepted the title of Kansas' best bartender after winning a recent skills competition. Mushrush works at the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Mass.

The contests were sponsored by the Kansas Licensed Beverage Assn., a trade group, and Kansas Beverage News, a trade magazine. Mushrush won a trip to Las Vegas in March to attend a trade show.

Mushrush’s supervisor, Nancy Longhurst, said his best quality was his friendliness.

“He is so easygoing, very, very conversational and just puts the customers at ease,” she said. “With repeat customers, he knows what their drinks are. They’ll walk in, he’ll just fix them a drink.”

Mushrush has lived in Lawrence off and on since 1995 and previously worked at bars including the Sandbar, Don’s Steak House and G. Williker’s. He said the secrets to being a good bartender were to have fun and to be attentive to customers’ needs.

“It beats sitting in a cubicle, and my friends can always come to see me at work,” he said.