Yolanda Báez was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She moved to the U.S. ten years ago to finish her degree in cinematography at the Center for Cinematography of Art and Television in Miami, Florida. Just after moving to Miami Beach, she was given a career opportunity that would change everything. In 2015, Yoli began working at a bar that is of the top fifty best bars in the world - known for its cocktail program and good vibes. With twelve years in the hospitality industry and enthusiasm to be on the team, she began working as a server and within her first year, became one of the lead bartenders, making cocktails and sharing her love of the human experience with her guests. Yoli kept building her knowledge of spirits and techniques during her time there, and her hard work reached new heights last year. As a finalist for the Miami Regionals for Bombay Sapphire’s Most Imaginative Bartender in 2017, she also was a top ten semifinalist in the Miami Regionals for Bacardi Legacy, won the Louis Salgar Casa Noble Paloma Competition, won the Hendricks Gin/ BarLab Bartender Death Match and won the Bartender’s Face Off, a two person team competition based out of Puerto Rico. Another exciting accomplishment, she was voted The People’s Choice by Spirited Miami, and given a Pineapple Award as the “Rising Star Bartender.” In April 2018, Yoli packed her bags and moved to New York to work for the bar and people she loves to call family. The same bar opened a New York City location and it is her new home. You can find Yoli behind the bar, continuing her craft.