A Black bartender from Huntsville was recently featured for their contribution to the industry thanks to Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack Culture Shakers program.

Brooke Mooney was one of six bartenders featured in the 2022 program, which is an initiative by Jack Daniel’s designed to highlight Black and Latinx bartenders.

According to the brand’s website, Mooney is originally from Indianapolis but moved to Huntsville in 2018 to attend graduate school.

In 2019, Mooney began bartending at a local bar, which led her to become an expert mixologist.

As the pandemic hit in 2020, Brooke shifted her talents into establishing a mobile bartending and hookah business, which services private parties, birthdays and more.

“I feel like when you’re at work, you should be having fun,” Mooney said in her short film, which was directed by Stevie Rodriguez and hosted by actor Lance Gross. “I want my customers to be comfortable enough to come talk to me.”

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In the film, Mooney shares that when she moved to Huntsville, she didn’t know anybody and that in order to get to know people, she felt like she had to go out. While going out, she met different bartenders and went to different bars to build connections.

Now, she tries to pass on that same energy to her customers.

“You never know what kind of day the person coming to your bar is having,” Mooney said. “So if you can change their day with that one drink, one conversation, even if they just come in and get water, I appreciate that.”

Each featured bartender also got to show off a cocktail that they made using Gentleman Jack whiskey.

Mooney named hers the North – South Passion, due to her move to Huntsville from the north.

In addition to the whiskey, Mooney’s drink also includes lemon juice, edible glitter and mango puree.

To create her drink, find the directions here. To watch her short film, click here.