Wisconsin will welcome its inaugural Bartender Week from August 18 to August 24, 2025, a week-long celebration of the craft, creativity, and community of bartending. Leading this exciting new initiative are Monique and Jc Cunningham, co-owners of PufferFish, a tropical rooftop bar located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.

 

“We are thrilled to bring Bartender Week to Wisconsin and shine a spotlight on the incredible talent within our local bar community,” said Jc Cunningham. “What Hanna and Michael have built with this project is a phenomenal platform for highlighting vibrant, smaller markets like Milwaukee and Madison.”

 

PufferFish, celebrating its fifth anniversary this August, has become a standout destination in Milwaukee’s cocktail scene. Jc brings over 20 years of bartending and bar management experience, having honed his craft in San Francisco before making Milwaukee home. Monique complements the team with a decade of experience in hospitality-adjacent roles, specializing in social media marketing and event coordination for some of the city’s most prominent organizations, including the Milwaukee Public Market and the Pabst Theater Group.

 

Wisconsin Bartender Week promises to be a dynamic addition to the state’s hospitality landscape, creating new opportunities for connection, education, and celebration across the industry.