Edmund's Taps Young Gun as Head Bartender

Amidst a flurry of recent updates involving bars, magazines, anticipation and trees, it looks like Edmund's Oast has secured a head bartender. Jayce McConnell made an announcement on the restaurant's Facebook wall on Thursday that he's heading east from Mississippi to take the job and be closer to his family in Savannah, GA. His appearance at Monday's media preview confirmed that the deal is, in fact, sealed.

McConnell comes with a pedigree beyond his years. He was profiled by Eater National as a semi-finalist for 2013's Eater Young Guns, which he ultimately scored in June. The 25-year-old youngest-of-the-Young-Guns moved from food prep to head bartender at chef John Currence's Oxford establishment Snackbar in three short years by teaching himself the art of the cocktail, from scratch. That's an impressive feat for a guy still celebrating his first year of discounted car insurance.

While the beer program will be a central feature of Edmund's Oast—what with the in-house brewery manned by Cameron Read and the co-ownership of and Rich "Beer" Carley and Scott "Beer" Shor—a serious overall bar program, including serious cocktails, has always been part of the plan.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jayce to our team," says Shor. "His expertise, passion and knowledge will be an asset to our restaurant and bar program."

Written and reported by Timmons Pettigrew
· The Crew is Hard at Work at Edmund's Oast [-ECHS-]
· Listicles [-ECHS-]
· 50 Most Anticipated [-ECHS-]
· Edmund's Oast's Trees [Facebook]
· Edmund's Oast [Facebook]
· Meet Eater Young Guns Semifinalist Jayce McConnell [-EN-]
· Eater Young Guns 2013 [-EN-]
· Snackbar [Official]
[Photo of Jayce McConnell: Eater National]