The Women Who Changed the Bar World: Ivy Mix & Lynnette Marrero of Speed Rack

On this episode of Industry Night, Nycci Nellis sits down with two of the most influential leaders in the global cocktail community, Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero, the powerhouse duo behind Speed Rack, the groundbreaking all-female bartending competition that has helped reshape the bar industry.

What started as a bold idea to create visibility for women behind the bar has grown into a global movement. Now in its 14th season, Speed Rack has hosted more than 120 competitions around the world, launched countless bartending careers, and raised over $1.85 million for breast cancer research and prevention.

Nycci has known Ivy and Lynnette since the early days of Speed Rack, even judging one of the first competitions when it came to Washington, DC. In this lively conversation, they look back at how the cocktail world has evolved over the past decade, the barriers women once faced in the industry, and how mentorship, community, and advocacy have helped transform the landscape.

The conversation also dives into their individual journeys and the many ways they continue to shape the future of hospitality. Ivy Mix is an award-winning bartender, author of Spirits of Latin America, and co-owner of Brooklyn’s Whoopsie Daisy Lynnette Marrero, a Tales of the Cocktail Visionary Award winner, is an educator, entrepreneur, and partner in Milly’s Neighborhood Bar, and has spent her career building innovative bar programs and mentoring the next generation of industry leaders.

Together they discuss the evolution of Speed Rack, the importance of creating opportunities in hospitality, and what the future of the cocktail world looks like.

Plus, Nycci puts them through a few rapid-fire questions at the end — because no Industry Night would be complete without a little fun behind the bar.

Pour yourself a drink and join the conversation.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction
00:13 - "Speed Rack's Impactful Journey"
04:31 - "Accidental Bartender Turns to Hospitality"
08:59 - "Falling Into Bartending Abroad"
10:52 - Oaxaca Origins of Illegal Mezcal
15:43 - Craft Cocktail Revolution Origins
19:54 - "Discovering Women in Bartending"
20:40 - "Feminism Through Cocktails Movement"
26:38 - Bartender Application & Competition Process
28:30 - Judging Drinks: Guest Experience Skills
33:29 - "Speed Rack's Community Evolution"
37:08 - Post-Pandemic Culinary Renaissance
41:17 - "Shifts, Waves, and Bar Culture"
42:22 - Humble Persistence in Hospitality
48:35 - "Hospitality Trailblazers: Ivy & Lynette"
49:20 - "Join Me for Industry Night"
50:07 - Outro

Key Takeaways

Icons Behind the Bar
Falling In Love with Hospitality
Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Field
The Power and Reach of Speed Rack
More Than a Competition
A Changing Industry
Leadership Through Kindness
Celebrating Individuality

Quotes

"Building community and opening doors isn’t just about shaking up cocktails—it’s about shaking up the industry and making space for everyone to shine."- Nycci Nellis

"Persist, do the work, and bring others with you—real change comes from creating spaces where everyone can lead, learn, and grow together."- Lynnette Marrero

"Leave the door open for the people behind you. When you lift others up, you don’t just change careers—you change the whole industry."- Ivy Mix

Guests Social Media Links:

Ivy Mix:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ivymix/
Website:https://www.ivymix.com/

Lynnette Marrero:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drinksat6/
Website: https://www.lynnettemarrero.com/

Featuring Nycci Nellis
https://www.instagram.com/nyccinellis/
https://www.thelistareyouonit.com/

Produced by Heartcast Media:http://www.heartcastmedia.com