Renée Cebula
Historian / Badass bitters
Renée Cebula is a historian, educator, and collector of cocktail accouterment. Her companies, Badass Bitters and Raising the Bar, are dedicated to expanding knowledge and inspiring curiosity about the origins and stories behind American cocktail culture. Renée believes that we learn best through hands-on experience.
Over the last decade, she has taught hundreds of interactive cocktail classes that combine history and mixology to delve deeper into the layers of drinking culture. Renée’s research into the origins of the cocktail led her to develop a line of DIY bitters kits. Badass Bitters kits guide you through the infusion process to create the key ingredient that defined the cocktail in the early nineteenth century.
She has presented at the Washington State History Museum, McMenamins History Pub, regional and national history conferences, and industry events. Renée is currently researching the role of whiskey and cocktail culture in westward expansion for an upcoming book.
Bartender’s Circle Summit Session:
Bad Ass Bitters: Myths of Cocktail Culture in the PNW
Date: Tuesday, March 4th, 2025
Time: 3:30PM
Location: Loft 2