SHELLY CAVINESS

One of Washington, DC's most well-known and well-loved bartenders. Shellz was born in the Takoma Park, MD but spent her earlier years in Houston, TX. Her Creole culture inspires her cocktails to tell a story. As a bartender she opened the 2nd largest whiskey bar in Washington, DC located in Chinatown. Within her 6-year residency she worked her way up to head bartender, with her creativity and passion for craft she eventually took over the beverage program as their beverage director, winning buffalo trace best whiskey bar in the south region under her direction. During the 2020 pandemic she and her partner started a YouTube channel The bottoms up show, where she was able to continue to showcase her love for flavors, bar techniques and her next favorite topic "todays culture". After returning to the whiskey bar and helping them rebuild their extensive whiskey collection and creating menus for 3 bar levels, She decided to hone in her skills and takeover as the Wine & Beverage director of Out of office @ Manifest Washington, DC's first black owed speakeasy. With the support of the owners, she was able to build her menu based of black women & men stories, as well as their travels, Out of office @ manifest first year open won 3rd runner up for best cocktail bar for City paper. 

• 3 FINALISTS AT DMV X FOHEALTH COCKTAIL COMPETITION 

• WINNER CATOCTIN CREEK BATTLE OF THE BULDGE COCKTAIL COMPETITION