When James Lent handed Katrina Atta the keys to his speakeasy concept a year ago, she embraced the idea with passion and helped turn Burns Drugstore into Leesburg’s favorite haunt.

“I wanted to offer a real bespoke experience,” the Miami native explains. “I love that the whole neighborhood just evokes history.”

Nestled in the back of Marmaduke’s Lodge, Burns Drugstore Speakeasy leans into its 1920s aesthetic with gilded accents, plush seating and a menu that straddles the line between classic and clandestine.

Once Katrina starts conjuring up her craft cocktails, the dispersed crowd inevitably gravitates toward her mixing station at the front corner of the bar. Here at the “nerve center,” the air becomes laced with the scent of smoked bourbon, citrus, burnt cinnamon or any of the dozens of tinctures and syrups she has made. Each pour, swirl of smoke and perfectly placed garnish is a performance and a nod to the past wrapped in something entirely new.

A true DIY mixologist, she crafted her own cocktail smoker from an old lamp and scours antique shops for vintage glassware, ensuring that each cocktail is as photogenic as it is potent. She also happily creates non-alcoholic cocktails for those who don’t imbibe.

With 16 years behind the bar, the former runway model channels her creative instincts and a few lingering spirits from Leesburg’s rowdier past.

“I wanted the mixology to match the memories here,” she says. “Historic downtown Leesburg has plenty of both.”

Katrina and Burns Drugstore have been fully embraced by both locals and visitors, and mixology classes have become part of the experience. Their recent Art of Bourbon class sold out, proving that Katrina can raise spirits with the best of them.

Want in? Follow the Burns Drugstore socials and grab the weekly password. Katrina is behind the bar on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hurricane Katrina @ Burns Drugstore

Photos: Nicole Hamel