Mackenzie Hanna

For Mackenzie Hanna, bartending began as an unexpected career path. She entered Edmonton’s cocktail scene in 2022 when Fu’s Repair Shop opened in its original location, quickly discovering that the fast-paced, creative environment suited her. What started as a new experience developed into a passion for cocktail-making and the community surrounding it.

Hanna spent time at Fu’s Repair Shop before moving to Baijiu, followed by a stint at Dolly’s Cocktail Bar. The most rewarding chapter of her career so far has been working as head bartender at Next of Kin since it opened in February 2025. 

At Next of Kin, cocktail development is a collaborative effort. A cocktail typically goes through numerous iterations before everyone agrees it is ready for the menu. For Hanna, that process is where much of the fun lies.

Her inspiration comes from outside the traditional boundaries of bartending. Travel, food, and even candy can spark an idea, which she then explores with the team. Her relatively short time in the industry also gives her a willingness to approach cocktails without being overly constrained by established conventions.

Hanna’s creativity extends beyond the bar. She has competed in the World Class Bartender competition for several years, using the challenge as an opportunity to experiment, learn and connect with other bartenders. Her competition entry eventually inspired the Red Apple cocktail at Next of Kin. Her favourite drink on the menu is the Café Olé — a tequila-based cocktail inspired by an Old Fashioned.

Hanna is also an advocate for Edmonton’s emerging bartenders and participates in the city’s Moonlight Cocktail Club, where bartenders experiment with a different featured product each month. For Hanna, competitions and collaborative events are less about ego than building confidence, expanding technical knowledge and strengthening Edmonton’s cocktail community.

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