Michelle Louise Bird Replaces Bradford Tolleson Behind the Bar at Cast Iron [Updated]

Cast Iron is making a change behind the bar. Bradford Tolleson, who was on board as beverage director when the Old Fourth Ward restaurant opened in November, has vacated the post. Michelle Louise Bird is now running the cocktail program, Sarah Cordes, Cast Iron’s co-owner and chef Evan Cordes’s wife, tells Eater Atlanta.

Bird’s resume includes time at some notable local restaurants. She’s worked under Miles Macquarrie of Kimball House fame and spent six years behind the stick at Leon’s Full Service. Bird has also poured drinks at Kevin Gillespie’s Revival and Hugh Acheson’s Empire State South.

Tolleson tells Eater Atlanta he’s close to having another gig officially lined up, but he has not shared details. The former Restaurant Eugene barman has been on the move lately. Tolleson ran the beverage program at Venkman’s when it opened in September 2015, and he had a brief stint at Craft Izakaya last year.

Update: Tolleson is taking over the beverage program at Brush Sushi Izakaya in Decatur.

Cast Iron replaced Last Word at 701-5 Highland Ave. NE in Old Fourth Ward.

• Cast Iron Is Now Open in the Old Last Word Space [EATL]
• All Cast Iron Coverage [EATL]