About Us
BAR CHEF PRODUCTIONS, LLC
Based in Las Vegas, NV was originally founded in 2014 by renowned mixologist and spirits expert, Max Solano, as a small beverage consultancy and special events beverage company. Today, Bar Chef has not only grown into an international company, but has vastly grown and evolved its services offerings to a full spectrum of beverage consulting and venue development, but also specializes in custom beverage and spirit corporate events.
In 2021, Bar Chef also expanded its services as a Nevada Brokerage company for spirit brands looking to penetrate and grow in one of the most difficult and dynamic markets in the United States, Las Vegas, Nevada with other markets opening up.
MAX A. SOLANO
Mixologist, Whisky & Spirits Educator, Vintage Spirits & Wine Collector
Max A. Solano is the founder and principal of Bar Chef Productions, LLC, a beverage consulting
firm and multi-state spirits and beverage brokerage based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to Covid,
Max was a mixologist for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada, Head of Whisky
Education and also served as a brand partnership acquisition analyst. Solano began his career in
the food and beverage industry at a very young age in Massachusetts. Since then, the industry
veteran and Las Vegas native has become one of the West Coast’s most exciting, respected and
creative mixologists and spirits educators. Before joining Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits in
2015, Solano was the Head Mixologist for Chef Emeril Lagasse restaurants and Beverage
Manager for almost 10 years.
Solano’s approach to creating cocktails is quite versatile, with a strong focus on a large array of
fresh and homemade ingredients, as well as using many unique ingredients and spirits from all
over the world. Regarding his vast library of original creations, his passion for a well-crafted
libation extends to all spirits, but he puts a particular focus on the whiskies of the world. Under
his reign, Delmonico Steakhouse was also named Top 10 craft cocktail bars in the U.S. by Gayot
for three consecutive years (2012-2014).
Regarding whisky, Max created the Book of Whisky for Delmonico Steakhouse over a decade
ago—one of the largest restaurant whisky selections in the country at that time, offering almost
800 varieties from nine countries. Max’s expertise on whisky extends to all major producing
countries; their styles, production, brands and laws. Solano is also an avid whisky collector, with
an unwavering passion for antiquities from both Japan and the United States and is currently
pursuing his Master of Whisky pin.
Solano and has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Forbes Magazine, USA
Today, Whisky Advocate, Shanken News Daily, New York Times, Saveur magazine, GQ magazine, The Tasting Panel, LA Weekly, Imbibe magazine, Las Vegas Review Journal Cheers, Vegas Seven
magazine, Today in Las Vegas, Style magazine, Las Vegas Food & Beverage, Fox News, ABC’s
“The Morning Blend,” “The Valley View” and many more.
Along with having won several national cocktail competitions, and having received many
accolades and awards over his years behind the bar, in 2011, he was named Bartender of the
Year by the Nevada Restaurant Association and also Best Restaurant Bartender by Vegas Seven
Magazine. In 2014, once again, he was named Bartender of the Year by Desert Companion
Magazine. And, in 2016 he was awarded Best of Show and overall champion at the WSWA’s
Iron Mixologist competition.
Lastly, Solano, also known for years for his superbly acute sensory evaluation abilities,
served as a veteran spirits judge at the coverted San Francisco World SPirits Competition for
10 years. He currently co-chairs the IWC (International Whisky Company) and is also a spirits
judge at both the TAG Gloabl Spirit Awards and the American Spirits Council of Spirits Tasters
(Ascot Awards).