Drew Levinson
BELLAGIO | Las Vegas

Biography
Drew Levinson joined the beverage industry immediately following his graduation from Skidmore College in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. Before entering the business world, he began working as a bartender at the Hard Rock Café in Aspen, Colorado.

Over the course of the next several years, Drew helped manage and open various dining establishments and nightclubs throughout Aspen including Gusto Ristorante, The Lava Room and Jimmy’s Restaurant and Bar. It was at Jimmy’s that Drew’s love for bartending and the beverage industry grew. Drew enjoyed the thrill of opening the restaurant/bar each night and being part of something that “was never boring” and consistently presented new and different challenges. He knew this was the career path for him.

In 2001, Drew was given an experience that would change his life. He began to travel and work with Steve Olson from New York, recognized in the beverage world as the ‘Wine Geek.’ Olson is best known in the industry for his cutting edge beverage training and restaurant consulting, having designed innovative beverage programs for several nationally acclaimed restaurants. Over the next few years, Olson showed Drew a world where one could take his passion and build it into a career.

In 2003, Drew moved to Atlantic City where he helped open Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa as a key member of their beverage team. After a year in New Jersey, Drew headed west to Las Vegas to the AAA Five Diamond Bellagio.

In his role as Beverage Manager, Drew oversees the cocktail program for 22 bars and teaches his philosophy of bartending and drink preparation to approximately 150 bartenders, 50 bar apprentices and 50 bar porters. Drew is responsible for creating new cocktails, training all of the bartenders and menu development for new outlets.

Drew puts his commitment and energy into each drink he creates. He lives each day with the notion that only those with a true passion for the beverage world will ultimately prosper.