You could say that Ivy is an accidental bartender. Although, with a name like Mix, it could be fate. Award-winning mixologist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author, the Vermont native has come a long way from her idyllic childhood on horseback. The once-aspiring Olympian studied fine art and philosophy at Bennington College. The daughter of two artists, master glassblower Robin Mix and textile designer and Anichini founder Susan Dollenmaier, Ivy assumed her post-Olympics career path would be in the arts and academia.

Or not. In addition to the philosophy of aesthetics, Bennington is where Ivy developed the travel bug and fell in love with Central America. Bennington’s winter field work term offered an excellent opportunity to explore the world. Ivy found herself in Guatemala working in a bar and hanging out with backpackers and expats. She says, “I discovered that I loved traveling and bartending—and it was a job I could take anywhere.” She began experimenting with mezcal and discovered her creativity as a mixologist. For the uninitiated, mezcal is a Mexican spirit distilled from the agave plant and known for its earthy and smoky taste.

Finding a Fun, Social Atmosphere

After graduating from Bennington College in 2008, Ivy sold her horse, traveled a bit, and then moved to New York City. Planning to continue her studies and eventually teach, she found an unpaid internship at a high-end art gallery. With the Great Recession in full force, decent paying part-time jobs in the arts were impossible to find. To pay the bills, she waited tables and tended bar. Ivy remembers, “I hated the gallery. I discovered a world where art was a commodity for buying and selling instead of something to love and admire. It sucked the life and romance out of art and the creative process.” At the same time, she really enjoyed the lively atmosphere, fun, and sociability of working in bars, especially bartending.

An Idea Is Born

For centuries, bartending was a male domain. Men poured the drinks and women waited on tables. However, Ivy preferred pouring. She particularly liked creating interesting new cocktails. So began her quest to break into this male bastion and help like-minded women do the same. “Being told no made me angry,” she says. “I got this idea to start a cocktail competition for women.”

Ivy and mixologist Lynnette Marrero founded Speed Rack, an all-femme, high-speed competition to showcase up-and-coming women in the cocktail industry. In addition to shining a light on great talent, the competition raises money for breast cancer research. Since the program launched in 2011, Speed Rack has raised nearly $2,000,000 for charities supporting breast cancer research.

“The competition has been great for women bartenders and great for me,” Ivy says. Bar owners and managers can no longer claim there are no talented women bartenders. As the competition grew, so did Ivy’s profile in the industry. Soon after the first Speed Rack, she began working for bartending legend Julie Reiner at her bars Lani Kai and Clover Club.

Showcasing Her Talents

Ivy leans heavily toward Latin flavors and with Julie’s help and investment, she opened Leyenda in Brooklyn in 2015. The bar specialized in mezcal and Latin food. Ivy explains, “You can study the history of civilizations by what people eat and drink. Exploration, colonization, the slave trade, and more have shaped cultures throughout the world. We celebrated all of that at Leyenda.” In keeping with its name, Leyenda, or legend in Spanish, quickly became one. Along with an enthusiastic following, it was a semifinalist for a prestigious James Beard Award in 2018, 2019, and 2025. The bar program award category recognizes consistent excellence in service, atmosphere, and hospitality.

The coronavirus pandemic brought immediate and severe shockwaves to the hospitality industry. Interest in sharing fun and frivolous cocktails with friends evaporated overnight. While able to hang on for a while, like many establishments, Leyenda never fully recovered and closed its doors last year.

Meanwhile, in response to the abrupt downturn, Ivy and partners Piper Kristensen and Conor McKee opened Fiasco, a wine and spirits shop in 2021. With a primary focus on high-quality, small, independent vintners and distillers, the Brooklyn store continues to thrive.

Missing the sociability of a bar, the team expanded around the corner with Whoopsie Daisy. An intimate wine and cocktail lounge with a big backyard for warm-weather sipping, Whoopsie Daisy features many of the wine and spirits available at Fiasco. In 2026, Ivy was nominated for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service at Whoopsie Daisy.

Never a slacker, Ivy has most recently partnered with chef Alan Delgado at Titán. Specializing in Mexican food, the neighborhood cantina just opened in June. The restaurant focuses on northern Mexican cuisine and festive Latin cocktails.

Enjoy Ivy’s Concoctions at Home

If you are unable to get to Brooklyn anytime soon, Ivy has written two books. Published in 2020, the first, Spirits of Latin America, is a love letter to Latin American culture. It includes more than 100 recipes from Leyenda and beyond.

The second, written with Speed Rack cofounder Lynnette Marrero and wine and spirits journalist Megan Krigbaum, A Quick Drink: The Speed Rack Guide to Winning Cocktails for Any Mood was published in 2024 and nominated for a James Beard Award. Ivy, Lynnette, and more than 80 Speed Rack participants provide advice and recipes for winning cocktails. Shaken or stirred, you’ll find the perfect cocktail for any and every occasion.

Fiasco Wine & Spirits Shop

1148 Union Street

Brooklyn, NY

fiascobk.com

Whoopsie Daisy

225 Rogers Avenue

Brooklyn, NY

whoopsiedaisybk.com

Titán

5 Front Street

Brooklyn, NY

titan-nyc.com