About Don Lee

A software engineer by trade and a documentary photographer by schooling, Don Lee is spirits and cocktail educator. Lee's introduction to craft cocktails came from what he calls an epiphany over a properly made drink. It was the kind of cocktail that made him think: "Why was this so good while every other cocktail I've ever had so bad?" And so began Lee's pursuit of excellence in food and drinks. He got his start from customer to bartender at the world-renowned Death and Company, then went on to become the opening beverage director of PDT (Please Don't Tell).

His next stop was at David Chang's Momofuku group where he started their hard spirits and cocktail program including the frozen soju cocktails at Momofuku Noodle Bar. He then took a detour away from bars and restaurants as the founding Director of Product Development for Cocktail Kingdom to design what would go on to become the benchmark for professional barware. In the summer of 2018 Lee partnered with Dave Arnold to open the James Beard nominated cocktail bar Existing Conditions. In 2020 Lee won Best American Bar Mentor at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. He continues to hone his craft as one of the founding judges of the Ultimate Beverage Challenge and is a teaching fellow for the Beverage Alcohol Resource.