Cocktail Queen

Death or Glory is a celebrated institution among Delray locals.

The beloved bar takes its craft seriously while offering a unique vibe self-described as “where tropical escapism meets punk rock hedonism.” Bar Manager/Lead Bartender Kristen Shaneyfelt is a critical component to its success. We caught up with her in between pours for a quick chat.

Q&A

Why bartending?

I often realize how lucky I am to go to work and get to create new things, meet fascinating people, escape monotony and have an absolute blast. On the worst of days, it certainly keeps me on my toes and on the best of days I feel like I didn’t even go to work.

Favorite quote?

“The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake.”  —Kurt Vonnegut

You can design your cocktail napkin – what would it be or what would it say?

“Be Kind.” It is a saying that holds a lot of meaning to the staff at Death or Glory — they were the last words of Dan Popejoy, brother to the original bar manager. You never know what another person is going through and being kind is the least we can give to our fellow humans. After the past couple years of isolating and removing ourselves from routine and normalcy I think those words ring truer than ever. 

Drink everyone needs to know, and why?

 The Daiquiri, and not the frozen kind. If you have rum, limes and sugar you are good to go. 

Bar trend you’d wish would fizzle out?

Smoked cocktails. I like fire as much as the next person, but it does not infuse into the drink. 

Best piece of advice you ever got?

When you think that you know it all you have stopped learning and have become unteachable. Jason Lowman, one of the first people to take me under their wing and train me as a craft bartender told me this. 

Rule you wish people would break?

Stop drinking celebrity brands. I promise you they are not the best out there and you are essentially paying for labels and additives. Especially tequila, find the small generational families and drink some history instead. 

Favorite/best bar music?

Alabama Shakes. Alabama Shakes is my go-to right now because they are upbeat, catchy and soulful. I’ve been putting them on with similar artists and can’t help but notice people tapping their toes right along.

Best bar snack?

Canchita, Peruvian toasted corn nut snacks. It is the absolute best bar snack especially next to a pisco sour. 

Who, living or not, would you want to make a drink for? Why?

Marsha P. Johnson. I think I would have more fun listening to them while I was making it, but I think they absolutely deserve one last drink and to see how they helped leave the world better than when they came into it. They left this world too soon, did so much for the LGBTQIA community and I think they surely deserve one last drink. 

Big Boy Man Glass 

(Created by Kristen Shaneyfelt)

Ingredients:

2.25 oz Shiitake Mushroom infused whiskey

.75 oz Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth

1 spritz lemon oil

4 dashes angostura bitters

Instructions:

Add whiskey, vermouth and bitters to a mixing glass. Stir and strain into a chilled coupe. Spritz lemon oil and garnish with lemon swatch.