Jonathan Pogash is currently a cocktail consultant and bartender for restaurants and spirit companies. He grew up in suburban New Jersey, son of a Native French teacher and a Wine and Spirit Importer. Bilingual in French and English, Jonathan was constantly surrounded by liquor - not in a bad way. In the spring of 2001, upon graduating from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY with a double major in Theatre and English, Jonathan moved to the big city - New York. Almost immediately upon arrival in NYC, Jonathan's father suggested they take a cocktail course together entitled, Cocktails in the Country, held in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. Under the leadership of Master Mixologist Gary Regan, this is where Jonathan learned the basis for his career in the bar business.
Jonathan had much experience with restaurants - nearly ten years worth - but never as a bartender. Now with enough courage to go out there and look for a bartending job, Jonathan happened upon the Russian Tea Room, a NYC landmark, with Steve Olson-created cocktails. The nice folks at RTR took him in with open arms - as a barback. It only took Jonathan three months of barbacking to be promoted to full time bartender. Upon the Russian Tea Room's closing in late 2002, Jonathan roamed the streets looking for a gig. He was pleased to find Town, in the Chambers Hotel on W. 56th St., and even more pleased to be taken in by none other than Albert Trummer, Bar Chef extraordinaire. Mr. Trummer introduced Jonathan to the concept of modern mixology and fresh fruit purees. Albert soon moved on, and Jonathan followed, helping Mr. Trummer and his likewise extraordinary brother, Stefan, open their summertime bar/lounge concept on the up-and-coming North Fork of Long Island, Trummer Home. In the off season, Jonathan bartended at Flute, a Champagne lounge in the Gramercy neighborhood of NYC. In 2003, Jonathan began his bar consulting career, aiding the Trummers in promoting Navan, a vanilla-infused cognac from the house of Grand Marnier. Jonathan traveled to Miami and all across NYC, bartending and creating cocktails at hotels, private homes, bars, and restaurants in the name of Navan. Jonathan had a short stint at chef David Bouley's (of Bouley and Danube) new venture, Upstairs @ Bouley, where he joined Stefan Trummer behind the bar. This is when Jonathan also helped open Solo, on Madison Ave., where he was a bartender and cocktail consultant.
In early 2005, Jonathan moved to Solo's sister restaurant, The Prime Grill, on E. 49th St., where he also bartended and consulted. At this same moment, Jonathan began his cocktail consulting business, Jonathan Pogash Consulting, creating a client base with such brands as Navan, Belvedere, Hennessy, Grand Marnier, 10 Cane Rum, Kahlua, Bacardi, and others. Currently, Jonathan is Director of Cocktail Development for Hospitality Holdings, owner/operators of The World Bar, The Campbell Apartment, The Carnegie, Bookmarks Lounge, and the newly opened Madison & Vine. Jonathan also creates signature wedding drinks,teaches classes on mixology at the Astor Center and is available as a Cocktail Caterer.
Jonathan has been mentioned in such publications as Sante Magazine, The New York Times, Entrée Magazine, Trump Magazine, Bartender Magazine, The Wine Enthusiast, Plate Magazine, Northshore Magazine, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens and others.
