Deke Dunne

Deke Dunne is Beverage and Creative Director at Allegory, Washington, DC’s acclaimed cocktail
bar hidden behind the Progressive Library at the Eaton DC. Deke has helped lead the bar program since the bar’s opening and orchestrates its immersive bar experience. It is the first bar that blends art, literature, social justice, craft cocktails and
hospitality inspired by the epic murals spanning the walls of the bar that tells of the story of Alice in Wonderland but through the eyes of Ruby Bridges, the civil rights pioneer.

While under Deke’s watch, Allegory has blossomed into the most awarded and globally recognized cocktail bar in Washington DC. Allegory has been recognized as one of the 50 Best Bars, as well as winner of Best Menu, 500 Best Bars, Tales of the Cocktail Best Hotel Bar and Best Bars Team, and James Beard Semi-Finalist.

Dunne transitioned to bartending after nearly a decade in the political arena serving his home state of Wyoming.

Deke didn’t know it then, but he got his big break working security for Derek Brown’s Drink Company at their Game of Thrones pop-up bar, which became one of the world’s busiest venues for its two-month run. He was surrounded by a who’s who of the DC bartending community. Watching these top bartenders crank cocktails for thousands of thirsty fans inspired him to embrace bartending as a career path.

In early 2018, Deke joined the Allegory project and helped lead the opening team and the rest is history.