Hundreds of bartenders across the U.S. and Canada applied to the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Most Imaginative Bartender Competition presented by BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin — and now 12 talented bartenders are moving forward to the finals, one step closer to winning the title of the “2024 Most Imaginative Bartender” and a $20,000 creative grant.
Over the last few months, a committee narrowed the field based on how each bartender brought their creative passion to life in a custom gin-focused cocktail using Bombay Sapphire or Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru. The bartenders pulled out all of the stops, creating cordials, infusions, and bitters to invent never-seen-before creations. The following 12 bartenders are advancing to the finals — and early next year, one will win the title of 2024 Most Imaginative Bartender.
The 2024 Most Imaginative Bartender Finalists
Nicholas Alpi
Death and Co., Washington D.C.
Creative Outlet: Poetry
Cocktail: Broken Pearl
Dylan Brentwood
Bar Kismet, Halifax
Creative Outlet: Fencing
Cocktail: Neuviene, The Actors Party
Chris Marek
The Citizens Trust, Columbus
Creative Outlet: Magic
Cocktail: Suspension of Disbelief
Liz Kalles
Jungle Room, Vancouver
Creative Outlet: Acting
Cocktail: Places, Please!
Elise Hanson
Bar Raval, Toronto
Creative Outlet: Gardening
Cocktail: Equilibrium
Jessie Yoskin
Monkeypod Kitchen, Hawaii
Creative Outlet: Horses
Cocktail: Combined Training
Ricardo Rodriguez
Lita, New Jersey
Creative Outlet: Cooking
Cocktail: Tzatziki
Erin Birmingham
ILIS, New York
Creative Outlet: Fashion
Cocktail: Red Layers
Linda Douglas
Donnas, Los Angeles
Creative Outlet: Nature
Cocktail: To The Trees
Bianca Cerise
DC Vegan, Washington D.C.
Creative Outlet: Fashion
Cocktail: Couture Dessert in the Dessert
Bridget Ramsey
Principe, New York
Creative Outlet: Music
Cocktail: Verdant Rhapsody
Daddy Longlegs
Acme & Co., Salt Lake City
Creative Outlet: Authenticity
Cocktail: Planetary Alignment