Emilio and Miguel Salehi
The Beehive | San Francisco
JUNE 2019
Growing up in Montreal, twins Emilio and Miguel Salehi did not consider bartending a potential career. The half Iranian-half Venezuelan brothers studied business (as well as Mandarin and classical guitar, for balance) at the University of South Carolina, where they both got their start as bartenders at the same Columbia bar. Still under 21 and with no experience, they were hired for “the twin factor” and had to hide in the basement when the cops came calling.
After graduating, the Salehis parted ways to pursue menswear production—Emilio in Asia and Miguel in New York. When Emilio returned stateside, he booked a one-way ticket to San Francisco, and Miguel followed. The pair bartended at Coqueta and also learned plenty while sitting at the bar at Hardwater, where they were welcomed into the bartending community. During the next several years, they collectively cut their teeth at Mourad under Anthony Parks, Pacific Cocktail Haven with Kevin Diedrich, The Treasury, and Whitechapel. The duo counts Parks and Diedrich as influential mentors.
Since spring 2018, the brothers have managed the bar program at blue and gold, “Mad Men-era” Beehive—all sleek bar in front and hip lounge in back, and all party all the time. Miguel won the 2017 North American Woodford Reserve competition and is now the ambassador for Santa Teresa Rum, a family-owned Venezuelan rum company. The Salehis also produce high-caliber cocktail videos on Instagram, where they have built a community and share knowledge with more than 10,000 followers at @equal_parts_cocktail.
