Back in 2014, before EW decided sexiest bartender was sexist and simply changed it to best bartender, readers voted for Ben Lundberg.
Lundberg has since been convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for encouraging child sex abuse.
We are leaving this story up because newspapers are an archive and a record of history. However, before reading, please read about Lundberg’s reprehensible charges.
Ben Lundberg, 33, was born and raised in Eugene and has been tending bar at the Starlight Lounge for more than four years. In his spare time, he’s a photographer, which adds to the list of admirable qualities that voters mentioned, including his “boyish charm” and “phenomenal personality.” One voter opined that Lundberg is “downright a good person.” What could be sexier?
What makes you the sexiest bartender?
I’m outgoing, friendly, flirty, easy to get along with, nonjudgmental. Pretty much from age 20 to 30, I partied, bartended and served in this area, so I’m pretty well known.
A lot of people commented on your smile. Would you say that’s one of your best features?
I would say yeah, my smile and my eyes. I get a lot of comments on my eyes because of the fact they’re different depending on how you look at them. Also my laugh — I get comments on my laugh a lot. I’m pretty recognizable in a crowd.
What’s your favorite part of tending bar?
Just the social aspect of it. It’s fun to hang out and meet people, and provide people with a good time. And drinking, of course.
What’s your least favorite part?
People who are self-entitled and demanding, thinking it’s some kind of college party where they can just be jackasses. That’s probably the worst.
What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened while you were bartending?
I don’t know, I’ve been around for such a long time. I do have a funny story of this kid one time; it was one of the most random, dumb things that was brought to my attention. So, I cut this kid off; he was pretty drunk and disappeared for 45 minutes, but then I saw him walking through the bar again, holding a drink. I thought it might have been the last drink I served him before cutting him off, so I asked him where he got it, and he said, “Oh, I took this from the bar down the street. Does that mean I get a free drink because I brought you a new glass?” I said, “No, it means you need to leave because you stole a glass from another bar!” It blew my mind.
What’s your signature drink?
One of my favorite drinks to make is a Sidecar. I like that it’s a good, kind of old-school drink. You can put some good brandy or cognac with it. It’s not too sweet, not too sour and it’s got a good flavor. And both guys and girls can order it.
Photo courtesy Dustin Boyer Smith Photography