Mike Abbott was born and raised in the shadows of Buffalo Trace Distillery in downtown Frankfort, KY. Leaving the small town to go to college, he soon found flexible hours and good earnings in upper echelon style restaurants. This world, far from his small-town upbringing, introduced exotic foods, high-end bourbons, wines, and delicious elixirs. Years of working in several different styles of restaurants, nightclubs, college bars and dives led him to the desire to learn the arts of craft mixology.
The cocktail techniques he honed at home as a hobbyist, were introduced in the many different workplaces including his creating a holiday cocktail menu for Heirloom Restaurant in Midway, KY. An interest from a cohort provided an opportunity that landed him the position as Bar Manager for Goodfellas Pizzeria & Wiseguy Lounge in the historic James E. Pepper Distillery District. After 4 years, he and his team have written over a half dozen highly praised menus, curated a highly touted bourbon list and stamped his place in one of the most successful entertainment establishments in the state.
With the expansion of Goodfellas Pizzeria & Wiseguy Lounge, he has set his sights for reaching a high ceiling within the company, in hopes to learn more and perfect his craft in both cocktails and hospitality. This will play nicely in his dream to retire one day: working in a laid-back dive cocktail lounge of his own. One that will fuse his small town up-bringing with all the wonders and flavors of his insanely adventurous life.
