Women Behind Bars

They'll give it to us straight up with a twist. Afterward they may even give us a martini, too. They are our favorite bartenders, the ones who have our hooch ready to go before we ask, the ones who pretend to listen intently to our confessions. We watch them set drinks on fire, toss bottles into the air, light people's smokes and look sensational. When we set out to find America's sexiest bartender, we knew it would be a daunting task. Hundreds of mixologists from around the country sent in pictures. We narrowed the list to the 10 tall glasses of gin you see here. Server Heather Smith believes her neighborhood tavern in Pennsylvania is already a winner. "Everyone is welcome," she says. "No one judges anyone. It's just a good time." Shioban Magee hopes the hoopla surrounding our sexy bartender contest will draw more thirsty customers to her New York bar. "If this boosts sales because people come in to see me, I'll be thrilled," she says. "I'll sign issues for them." Jenny Soto knows how to keep guys coming back for more at her establishment in California. "It's a fashion show behind the bar," Jenny says. "When I'm working I like to wear figure-flattering clothes. I love flirting, especially with shy guys. I love showering them with attention." Cheers to that, and to all the thirst-quenching professionals we've met along the way.

Log on to Playboy.com and vote for America's sexiest bartender.