Jeanette Gauthier, Spirits Instructor

Jeanette Gauthier, or Jet to her friends, is a born and raised local New Orleanian from a family that owned the CBD restaurant, Allegro Bistro. With over 2 decades of experience, Jet began managing restaurants and bartending after obtaining her biochemistry degree and has found a way to use ‘chemistry’ in making cocktails. Bar consulting for restaurants, making menus, inventing recipes, and working with spirits has led her to competing. Competing then led her to television, where she could be found crafting cocktails for News with a Twist, WDSU as the official LSU Bartender. Jet was the Tales of the Cocktail Tasting Room Coordinator for over 12 years, while also managing Allegro Bistro. Jet got the opportunity to really spread her wings in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She transformed an historic train station into a fine dining restaurant, where it was named Restaurant of the Year. Jet helped open and was the General Manager of Miss River and the Chandelier bar at the Four Seasons. Jet enjoys traveling with her family and friends, while studying what’s trending for bars and restaurants. She has a thirst for knowledge of this industry that just can’t be quenched!

Jet’s first love is her husband, Joshua Gauthier. Her second love is the city of New Orleans. Nothing pleases her more then to send visitors to local haunts and classic Grand Dames of the restaurant industry with her first hand extensive knowledge of this city and surrounding areas. This industry is not Jet’s career, it’s her life!

Aimee Keife, Spirits Instructor

Aimee's journey in the service industry began at the age of five, when she was already serving smiles and beverages at her family’s restaurant in South Louisiana. It was there that her passion for the industry was ignited, setting the foundation for a career that would span decades. After earning her degree in Chemistry from LSU, Aimee made her way to Atlanta, where she joined a prestigious national restaurant group renowned for its exceptional service standards and focus on staff education.

With over 20 years of bartending experience, Aimee has made her mark as both a skilled mixologist and a dedicated mentor. She thrives on teaching the next generation of bartenders, sharing her knowledge of the craft while fostering genuine connections with people from all walks of life. For Aimee, no two days in the industry are the same — each shift brings new faces, fresh stories, and exciting challenges.

In 2012, Aimee and her husband took their passion for hospitality to the next level, opening a wine and spirits store in the heart of New Orleans. The business quickly gained recognition, earning accolades from publications like Food and Wine, Bon Appétit, Whiskey Advocate, and Wine Enthusiast, cementing its place as one of the top liquor stores in the country.

Whether behind the bar or running a successful business, Aimee remains driven by her love for the service industry and the lasting connections she continues to build along the way.