Where Flavor Meets Heart

Mixologist

Erica Bodiker was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. From a hospitality family, she knew early in life she wanted to follow in her mom’s footsteps by becoming a flight attendant, a role that would let her combine her passion for travel, exploration, and caring for others–three things at the core of her love language.

Despite knowing she wanted to work in the world of travel, Erica’s parents emphasized the importance of experiencing college life so, after high school, she packed her bags and headed to Troy, Alabama. While pursuing her education full time, she also had the opportunity to work first at a local country club and later at a local dive bar. It was then she knew she’d found something special. Depending on the day and the job, she was able to span the full spectrum of the food and beverage experience. Working at the country club sharpened her fine dining skills, while the dive bar honed her ability to handle the speed and pressure of the industry, both requiring kindness and care when handling patrons.

After obtaining a degree in Hospitality and Management, Erica pursued her passion and headed for the train in the skies to work with American Airlines. She worked as a flight attendant through her 20’s and into the early days of the pandemic. Eventually, all good things come to an end though, and the excitement of the travel industry started to wear on her hospitable heart. Charlotte was calling her home, and she longed to get back to her roots of exploration and serving others. 

Back home, Erica rediscovered her love for gardening and research, and her curiosity about bartending moved from the shadows to centerstage. Decades in the industry paired with her love of herbs, and her disdain for waste, led Erica to begin creating what are the delectable cocktails you can now find her serving nightly at PostScript. 

“I love herbs and cocktails that lean more savory. I also hate waste, so I am always trying to cross utilize everything we have to create new and interesting drinks to pair with our offerings,” she said of her process. Both Erica and Chef Dean enjoy working together from across the pass with different local ingredients; food complimenting drinks and vice versa. 

Self-taught and uninhibited by formal training, Erica learned mixology without the restrictions of mentorship, giving her the unique ability to create without boundaries. “I like to use items you might not traditionally find behind the bar. It keeps things fresh, and it keeps both me and our patrons on our toes,” she shared. 

When asked about her favorite part of the industry she's dedicated her life to, she reflects heavily on the human connection. 

“Getting to build relationships with the people sitting across the bar from me has to be what I love the most. People start as a guest, but they quickly become a friend. It’s funny how food and drinks can bring us together. I love trying new things and giving each person a special, unique experience to make them feel at home. I could never see myself sitting behind a desk. Being behind the bar is a lot like being on an airplane, except now I get to take people on an unforgettable journey without them ever having to leave their seats. This is it for me, this is what I am meant to do,” Erica emphasized. 

When she is not behind the bar at 2121, Erica can be found enjoying a home cooked meal by her husband Abijah, cuddling with her furbabies, playing in the dirt, or traveling to the far corners of the world.