![?php echo $image['alt']; ?>](https://talesofthecocktail.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TOTC2023_RushJagoe_1_Tales-Catalyst-Luncheon_DSC_3779-e1692133983994.jpg)
About the Tales Catalyst Luncheon
The Tales Catalyst Luncheon, formerly called the Dame Hall of Fame, is a celebration of people who have made unique and lasting contributions to the global hospitality industry. Since 2012, the Tales Catalysts have welcomed members to this group of individuals that highlight marginalized groups within the industry and shine a spotlight on leaders actively making changes in their communities.
Founded in 2012, Dame Hall of Fame offered an opportunity for women in the industry to come together and honor achievements not commonly recognized by other bar awards, and while this intention has not changed, it has been broadened to divest from the gender binary so as to include all genders. By introducing the Tales Catalyst Luncheon, the group has not only positioned itself as a collective of diverse changemakers, but also as a catalyst for the industry to continue growing and developing.
2023 Tales Catalyst Honorees:
2023 Tales Catalyst International Honoree:
Anistatia Miller
Industry legend Anistatia Miller, MA, MSc (Ox), director of Mixellany Limited, is an award-winning drinks historian who has been writing about the drinks industry since 1995 with her husband Jared Brown when they launched the website Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini®. Their books include Champagne Cocktails, Deans of Drink, The Soul of Brasil, Spirit of the Cane, The Mixellany Guide to Vermouth and Other Aperitifs, the two-volume award-winning Spirituous Journey: A History of Drink, and most recently The Distiller of London. Miller is finishing her PhD in History on the economic and social history of early modern English brewing. She also teaches early modern European history at the University of Bristol.
Miller was the historical consultant, in 2009 and 2011, for the content and design of London’s Beefeater Visitor Centre. In 2012, she was the archivist for the historical records of Plymouth Gin held at the Black Friars Distillery in Plymouth, Devon.
Together with her husband she co-founded the Museum of the American Cocktail with Dale and Jill DeGroff, Robert Hess, Chris and Laura McMillan in 2004; organised the Save the New Orleans Cocktail Hour after Hurricane Katrina, raising $250,000 in two hours to benefit hospitality workers in New Orleans; archived and refurbished Exposition Universelles des Vins et Spiritueux in southern France between 2007 and 2010; curated a free digital library of vintage cocktail books at www.euvslibrary.com; organised the speakers programme at the London Bar Shows from 2007 through 201and organised the Havana Club Cocktail Grand Prix in Cuba from 2012 through 2019.
2023 Catalyst U.S. Honoree:
Tara Fougner
Tara Fougner is the co-founder and CEO of Thirsty with over 20 years of experience in various capacities in the bar and beverage industry. She is a social media journalist, storyteller, advocate, speaker and content creator, currently based in Miami, Florida (splitting time with her native NYC). She is a proud Puerto Rican working to use all of her Thirsty platforms to empower, encourage and amplify historically excluded voices in the industry. Fougner has certifications in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Ethical Community Leadership and has been studying self-empowerment in social media and Latine Diaspora community in the U.S. She has been named one of the Top 100 in the Bar World by Drinks International for three years running and was honored on the inaugural Future 40 List (formerly 40 Under 40). In addition, her talents have been recognized and tapped into by various brands throughout the industry as well as Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, James Beard Foundation and World’s 50 Best.
2024 Catalyst Luncheon Dates & Nomination Deadlines will be Announced in Early 2024
Each year, the Foundation will honor two “Tales Catalysts” — one based in the U.S. and one International – at the annual Catalyst Luncheon at Tales of the Cocktail®.
Stay up-to-date with everything the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation does year-round by following us on social media.
Tales Catalyst Nomination Process
Categories open for public nomination are NOT based on the volume of nominations submitted. It only takes ONE nomination to be considered to be a Tales Catalyst Luncheon Honoree and Featured Speaker. Self-nominations are accepted. Please read through the FAQs before starting a nomination form.
Nomination Criteria
Tales Catalyst U.S. Honoree considerations:
- A person whose professional and personal accomplishments have shaped the beverage landscape and provide visible models of achievement for tomorrow’s leaders.
- Serves as a leader and mentor
- Resides in the United States
Tales Catalyst International Honoree considerations:
- A person whose professional and personal accomplishments have shaped the beverage landscape and provide visible models of achievement for tomorrow’s leaders.
- Serves as a leader and mentor
- Resides outside of the United States
Judging Process
Once the Catalyst Luncheon nomination process is closed, submissions will be shared with the active Tales Catalyst Committee Members.
For Round One of voting, members will review the U.S. and International nominations of each individual and will be asked to rank nominees from 1-5 with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. Nominees will be evaluated against the Tales Catalyst criteria, not against each other. Each nominee’s scores will be added up, and the individuals with the highest total points will move on to Round Two of voting.
For Round Two of voting, members will be provided with the nomination statements, resumes, and bios of the Top Nominees for U.S. and International. Members will evaluate the candidates in each category against one another. Each member will be asked to make 3 weighted choices for each category.
- Choice 1 will be weighted with 3 points
- Choice 2 will be weighted with 2 points
- Choice 3 will be weighted with 1 point
Tales Catalyst Honorees & Dame Hall of Fame Members By Year
*Qualifications listed may reflect the individual’s current title or their title at time of induction.*
2023 Tales Catalyst Honorees
2022 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
2021 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
2020 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
2019 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
2018 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
2017 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
2016 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
2015 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
2014 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
2013 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
2012 Dame Hall of Fame Inductees
Tales Catalyst Committee Members
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Tales Catalyst Committee Members, including Co-Chairs and Committee Members, consists of active Tales Catalysts who have had groundbreaking accomplishments and have shaped the beverage landscape, providing visible models of achievement for tomorrow’s leaders. A celebration of hospitality trail-blazers, the active Tales Catalysts work to select individuals who have made a unique and lasting impact on the accessibility and intersectionality of the cocktail community by introducing annually two new “Tales Catalysts” — the U.S. Honoree and International Honoree.
In partnership with:
