Rensel Cabrera
The Sylvester | Miami, FL
May 2025
Before he was behind the bar, Miami native Rensel Cabrera's passion for hospitality began in his childhood home, a frequent rendezvous for friends and family from an early age. Cabrera’s first industry job was as a barback at a Doral bowling alley, where he quickly became enamored with the service of others—a love affair that drove his career beyond making drinks.
After a few visits to the now-closed Wynwood restaurant Beaker & Gray, Cabrera knew where he needed to be. He interviewed with co-owner Ben Potts five months before he was finally brought on board as a barback when a rare spot opened up. There, Cabrera worked his way up to apprentice bartender—making classic cocktails and stocking the bar—before being promoted to bartender, and eventually head bartender. While under the mentorship of Bar Manager Joseph Jebelean, Cabrera learned to manage a team, collect inventory, and strategize pricing. During the pandemic, he was tapped to lead the bar program at The Sylvester.
As bar manager of the iconic cocktail lounge, Cabrera has continued to develop as a young leader in the industry. At The Sylvester, he has implemented systems to keep the high-volume bar operating smoothly while curating a menu of complex yet approachable cocktails, like the Qué Lo Que, an espresso martini variation using Brugal 1888 rum, coffee liqueur, cold brew, saline, orgeat, and coconut Greek yogurt. Through his work, Cabrera strives to bolster the Miami cocktail scene and instill more pride in its bartending community.
