Charles Hardwick

Charles Hardwick began his bartending career at Acme Bar & Grill, where he developed his skills not only in mixing drinks but in true hospitality. In later years, Charles continued to hone these skills at venues such as The Odeon, Match Downtown, Mercer Kitchen, the Blue Owl, and Pravda, where he worked under famed cocktail guru, Dale DeGroff. As part of Dale’s program, bartenders received rigorous training in traditional mixology techniques that stressed uniformity and consistency in both taste and presentation. As a result, Charles’s bartending style evolved as he began to focus on the quality of his cocktails as well as the showmanship in making them. In particular, he placed greater emphasis on making well-balanced drinks that were properly chosen for the occasion.

Charles is the founder of ‘Drinkmarkt’, a beverage consulting company. He also manages the cocktail programs for events with Stolichnaya, Hendrick’s Gin, Absolut, and other brands.