By the time Ryan Minnick found out he had won Battle of the Bartenders, he was asleep.
His daughter made sure that didn’t last long.
“She woke me up out of sleep and congratulated me ecstatically,” Minnick said. “I felt instant gratification and gratefulness.”
After a month-long competition that generated nearly 39,000 votes from readers across the Cape Region, Minnick earned 8,233 votes to emerge from a field of 16 local bartenders representing restaurants and bars throughout coastal Delaware. The victory earned him the title of Cape Region’s Favorite Bartender — and some seriously blingy bling to prove it.
The contest, powered by Standard Distributing and launched alongside Cape Gazette’s Dine Out publication, celebrated the people behind the bar who keep the region’s hospitality scene running. Over four rounds of voting, readers enthusiastically rallied behind their favorites, casting votes and encouraging friends, family and customers to do the same.
For someone who has spent nearly two decades building relationships across Sussex County’s hospitality scene, the recognition felt especially meaningful.
“I wanted to give it everything I had,” he said. “Bethany Blues nominated me for the competition and I needed to prove why they made the right decision.”
The journey to becoming one of the area’s most recognizable bartenders started long before craft cocktails and championship belts.
Originally from Dover, Minnick moved to the beach area around 2000. He attended Lewes Middle School, graduated from Cape Henlopen High School and later attended Delaware Tech before deciding to build his life and raise a family in Sussex County.
He’s been behind a bar since the day he turned 21 on Aug. 18, 2009.
His first stop was the Rusty Rudder, where he bounced between serving shifts, working as a doorman and helping out at the Crush Bar. It was there that he learned how to handle volume and thrive in the fast-paced energy of a busy beach bar.
From there, he joined Arena’s Famous Deli, working across multiple locations and becoming immersed in the world of craft beer and neighborhood gathering spots.
“The vibe was always that local watering hole,” he said.
A move to 99 Sea Level in Bethany Beach helped elevate his cocktail expertise. Working in a restaurant where every seat offered an ocean view, Minnick began collaborating on drink menus and developing original cocktails that eventually landed on the menu.
Those experiences helped shape the bartender many locals know today.
Since 2018, Minnick has called Bethany Blues in Lewes home, where he manages the bar and helps guide the restaurant’s cocktail program. In addition to his work at Bethany Blues, he has spent the past eight years helping develop cocktails at Stingray Sushi Bar + Asian Grill, where his contributions helped earn recognition on Delaware Today’s Best Craft Cocktails list in 2023.
For Minnick, bartending has never been just about mixing drinks.
“It’s about creating an experience, building relationships and making people feel welcome every time they walk through the door,” he said.
That approach may explain why so many people rallied around him during the competition.
The support stretched far beyond his regular customers. Family members, coworkers, fellow bartenders, local businesses and patrons across the Cape Region joined the effort. Businesses including Tough Luck Tattoo, The Spice & Tea Exchange in Rehoboth Beach and Shore Island PR shared social media posts, handed out flyers and encouraged customers to vote.
“The support was unmatched,” Minnick said. “It was eye-opening to see how I impacted the community and have them rally around me.”
Giving back has always been important to him. Whether supporting local nonprofits or organizing cocktail competitions that allow fellow bartenders to showcase their creativity, Minnick believes hospitality works best when people support one another.
“I’m all about supporting local,” he said. “It’s amazing that I received that support back.”
Behind the bar, he sees himself as more than a bartender. He’s a host, a listener, a problem solver and sometimes even a therapist.
“The goal is not to have your patrons need anything because you’re already there to accommodate them,” he said. “It’s not just about balancing cocktails. It’s about balancing different personalities.”
That perspective comes from years of watching people celebrate milestones, unwind after difficult days and gather with friends over drinks.
“You never know what kind of day someone is having when they belly up to the bar,” he said.
Minnick believes the Cape Region’s hospitality scene is special because of its collaborative spirit.
“In five surrounding towns, you can’t go a mile without finding restaurants with different concepts, innovative cocktails, great food or beach-town vibes,” he said. “The support from one restaurant or bar to another is contagious.”
Not every memorable moment has involved a cocktail shaker.
One story that still makes him laugh dates back to his Rusty Rudder days. While sitting on a bench overlooking the bay, an old friend of his brother spotted him and came running over to say hello. The enthusiastic greeting ended with what Minnick describes as a Rodney Dangerfield-style “Triple Lindy” off the deck and into a stack of barstools below.
“At first I laughed,” Minnick said. “Then, when I saw he was okay, I went to help.”
Thankfully, he notes, no barstools were harmed.
After 17 years in the business, Minnick says one lesson stands above the rest.
“Don’t bring your home life to work and don’t take your work life home with you,” he said. “Check your baggage at the door.”
Winning Battle of the Bartenders represents more than a personal achievement. For Minnick, it’s a reflection of the relationships he’s built over years of serving the community.
“There are so many talented bartenders in this region,” he said. “To be recognized by the community and the people I serve is incredibly humbling.”
As for everyone who voted?
“I sincerely thank everyone who showed up to vote for all the bartenders in the competition,” he said. “There is no bartender without the people in front of them. The bar is a stage, and we’re always locked in trying to create the best customer service possible. Please continue to support your favorite local bartenders.”
Then he offered the only sign-off that felt appropriate.
“Cheers, friends.”
Crafted with Sagamore Spirit rye, allspice dram, yellow Chartreuse and bitters, Ryan Minnick’s The Nobleman helped carry him to the national stage.
Ryan Minnick’s Local Faves:
BEACH OR BAY?
Beach all day.
FAVORITE DRINK WHEN YOU’RE OFF THE CLOCK?
Water and some hot brown hooch — which is exactly what you can find at Bethany Blues.
FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING?
The drive-on beach with friends and family. Snagging a slice from Mr. P’s Pizza, slurping down oysters at Lewes Oyster House or enjoying a date night at La Fable.
FAVORITE LATE NIGHT SPOT?
Shout out to The Starboard, Coastal Taproom and Big Chill Surf Cantina for late-night libations.
FAVORITE LOCAL MUSICIAN OR BAND TO CATCH LIVE?
Support all your local musicians. Anywhere with live entertainment is a great time.
