Mixologist Jim Meehan of PDT - Biography

With a justifiable reputation as a thinker, perfectionist, savvy businessman, and a mean pen to boot, Jim Meehan’s made his mark on the cocktail renaissance. But he didn’t start out with a proverbial silver stirring spoon in his mouth. Long Island Iced Teas and Alabama Slammers were the name of the game when Meehan began his bartending career in 1995 as a student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

In 2001, he moved to the finer cocktail climes of New York City, where he honed his skills in fine dining and developed his palate at Five Points and Pace. Three years later, he showcased his budding talents behind the bar at both Gramercy Tavern and Audrey Saunder’s Pegu Club, and in 2007, he was named a StarChefs.com New York Rising Star Mixologist.

Now at the helm of trailblazing cocktail den PDT, Meehan maintains a strong presence at the bar while continuing to expand professionally. PDT has received numerous awards and accolades, including a 2009 Spirited Award for “World’s Best Cocktail Bar” at Tales of the Cocktail and a 2012 “Outstanding Bar Program Award” from the James Beard Foundation. In 2011, the bar published its James Beard Award nominated The PDT Cocktail Book, solidifying Meehan’s influence in cocktail culture, within New York City and beyond. A true cocktail renaissance man, Meehan contributes to Food & Wine's annual cocktail book, GQ.com, Liquor.com, Mr. Boston’s Bartender Guide, Sommelier Journal, and The New York Times.