Meet at Tales

Tony Abou-Ganim is widely regarded as one of the pioneering and leading bar professionals in the world. He has made dozens of national TV appearances on shows including TODAY, Iron Chef America, Good Morning America, CNBC, Fox News and more. Abou-Ganim is the author of The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails (Agate, 2010) which offers readers an in-depth look into spirits and ingredients available to today’s mixologist, both professional and amateur alike. This entertaining and informative journey will take readers from the early stages of the cocktail to what Abou-Ganim has come to deem “Modern Mixology.” Abou-Ganim also has a DVD to his credit, Modern Mixology: Making Great Cocktails at Home, and hosted the Fine Living program Raising the Bar: America’s Best Bar Chefs. Abou-Ganim has also won three Iron Chef America competitions; pairing cocktails with Iron Chef Mario Batali; with Iron Chef Jose Garces and most recently with challenger Chef Sean McClain. His signature branded line of Modern Mixologist bar tools and his second book, Vodka Distilled (Agate, 2013), are available now at www.modernmixologist.com. Abou-Ganim grew up in the bar business, learning the craft from his cousin Helen David at the Brass Rail Bar in Port Huron, Michigan. His initial introduction to the business was steeped in the tradition of classic cocktails and professional barmanship, teaching him the necessary steps to become a leader in the beverage industry. After graduating from college, Abou-Ganim further developed an appreciation for a hand-crafted cocktail using only the freshest ingredients while working at Jack Slick’s Balboa Café and then during the opening of “Harry Denton’s,” a legendary hangout in Fog City.
In 1993 he moved to New York City and took a position as the opening bartender at Po, Mario Batali’s first restaurant. Tony later returned to San Francisco to open Harry Denton’s Starlight Room atop the Sir Francis Drake Hotel and it was here that he developed his first specialty cocktail menu featuring several of his original cocktail recipes including the Sunsplash, Starlight and his most famous of them all, the Cable Car. In 1998, Abou-Ganim was selected by Steve Wynn to develop the cocktail program at Bellagio Las Vegas. He not only implemented his philosophy of bartending and drink preparation, stressing both quality ingredients and proper technique, but also created several original cocktails for the resorts 22 bars. In 2002, he won the Bacardi Martini World Grand Prix – one of only two Americans to ever win this title. In 2014, Abou-Ganim teamed up with Caesars Palace to develop the cocktail program at The Lobby Bar. There he collaborated on the menu development as well as assisted with training bar staff, stressing both quality ingredients and proper technique.
In 2015, he began working with Levy Restaurants to design signature craft cocktails in the lounges and beverage destinations throughout both Oracle Arena in Oakland, and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vega, home of the Vegas Golden Knights, the Las Vegas Ballpark home of the Aviator AAA Baseball Team and most recently Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Abou-Ganim was asked by Beard Award-winning Chef Shawn McClain to spearhead the dual-faceted cocktail program at McClain’s newest social dining concept at Mandalay Bay, Libertine Social, which opened in 2016. He and McClain, along with Richard & Sarah Camarota ventured together most recently in October 2019 opening Highlands Steakhouse, Hearth 71, and the High Bar on the third level of the 400 Renaissance Center in Detroit Mi. As one of the National Ambassadors of the U.S. Bartenders Guild, www.usbg.org, and Associate Member of the Museum of the American Cocktail, www.museumoftheamericancocktail.org, Abou-Ganim continues to educate about the history and lore of cocktails. He also operates his own beverage consulting firm specializing in bar staff training, product education and cocktail development. Keep current with news, appearances and special events at www.modernmixologist.com on Facebook and on Twitter @MdrnMixologist.

For every person finding one’s passion is different. Armin’s journey started with tailoring a profession quite far from gastronomy yet he showed already great economic skills and founded hisown fashion brand successfully. He discovered his love for hospitality through a speak easy bar project in an office in Zurich together with his best friend and he hasn’t stopped since. In 2015 Armin opened “The Kinly Bar” jointly with Rene Soffner. Shortly after followed by the opening of his very own Bar “Hunky Dory” which soon got international recognition. Five years later the pandemic hit and with it came new opportunities. Connections to Zurich led to the opening of Lupo Bar and Restaurant in early 2022, which has already been nominated for best newcomer bar at Swiss Bar Awards.

Tiffanie Barriere is the bartender’s bartender, an influencer and educator who has been awarded with some of the beverage industry’s highest honors. The Bar Smart graduate is a Tastemakers of the South award-winner who spent seven years as the beverage director of One Flew South the “Best Airport Bar in the World.” As an independent bartender she is known for creative and innovative cocktail menus for pop-dinners and bar consultancy clients; hosting mixology classes around the nation, and connecting culinary and farm culture with spirits. As a leader, she is a member of the Tales of the Cocktail Grants Committee, the James Beard Beverage Advisory Board, and a member of the Atlanta chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier. Barriere and her cocktails have been featured in such publications as Imbibe magazine (print and online) Forbes, Essence, The Bitter Southerner, Cherry Bomb, Washington Post, Eater, Vine Pair, Food Republic, and Garden & Gun. In 2020 Tiffanie was featured on Food Networks The Kitchen and also received the Tales of the Cocktails Dame of the Year award along with the cover photo of Imbibe Magazines for the Top 75 for Imbibe. The Louisiana-Texas native is the trustworthy mentor of some of the best bartenders and mixologists in the world. Tiffanie’s main goal is education, service and fun with every pour.

Ian Burrell is the world’s first and only Global Ambassador for the category of rum. He has conducted seminars, rum tastings, consulted and made cocktails in all seven continents. He is also the founder of the longest running Rum festival in the world, The UK RumFest.

Erick Castro is Co-Owner of Raised by Wolves and Polite Provisions, two acclaimed destinations for cocktails and spirits by Arsalun Tafazoli’s Consortium Holdings that are placing San Diego squarely on the global drinks stage. He has worked in the hospitality industry from age 14 and his bartending experience spans both coasts, including San Francisco’s Rickhouse and Bourbon & Branch and New York City’s Boilermaker. His beverage programs have earned the highest accolades, including Esquire’s “The Best Bars in America,” Food & Wine’s “World’s Best Bars” and innumerable Spirited Award nominations at Tales of the Cocktail for “Best American Bartender” and “Best Brand Ambassador” including  winning  a 2020 Spirited Award for”Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series”.

Beginning her career in NYC, A-K has worked as the Head Bartender of PDT, the General Manager of Existing Conditions, and consulted on various projects with Dante and other venues around the city. A-K was a two time National Finalist for the USBG World Class competition and a judge for the national finals of Bacardí Legacy. She also helped lead the CAP program at Tales of the Cocktail for 5 years. She has recently started her new role as North American Brand Ambassador for Bacardí.

franky entered the New York City cocktail world by working at such notable bars as Clover Club, Monkey Bar, The Tippler, Holiday Cocktail Lounge, Dead Rabbit, and Le Boudoir Brooklyn where she created a widely acclaimed beverage program.
Her proficiency behind the bar was recognized by Tales of the Cocktail when she was voted onto their Top 10 list for American Bartender of the Year in 2017, 2018, and when she was inducted into the Dame Hall of Fame in 2017. As the former Vice-President of the USBGNY, she made an impact with her emphasis on education and mentorship. She continues to volunteer and give back in many ways including being a co-chair of the TOTC Education Committee.
A respected Educator, franky is certified by the Cognac and Pineau des Charentes categories, and has also received various certifications across the liquid spectrum. The Court of Master
Sommeliers Level 1, WSET Level 2 Wine, D.O. Cava and Armagnac Academy being among them. She is excited to be invited to teach at the prestigious BAR 5-Day course for the first time this year.

She is a judge for numerous competitions including the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, New Orleans Spirits Competition, and for cocktail competitions from Absinthe to Whiskey. She has also competed extensively including World Class US Finals, Diplomático World Tournament Continental Semi-Finals, and has earned her share of titles along the way. She was recently honoured with a Legacy Award by the Black Bourbon Society.
An experienced presenter, she has shared her ideas and moderated panels around the world at Bar Convent Berlin/Brooklyn, Cocktails Spirits Paris, Cornell University’s Hospitality School, Diageo’s Learning Skills for Life, Prague Bar Show, Invasion Cocktail Montreal, PDX Cocktail Week, and numerous times at Tales of the Cocktail. She’s also an in demand MC, and was chosen to host the first ever World’s 50 Best Bars North America ceremony. She has also hosted the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge, Bar Convent Berlin, and TOTC Spirited Awards.

Sought after for her cocktails, she has created recipes for various brands and appeared in numerous books, most recently Dale DeGroff’s The New Craft of the Cocktail and Jacques Pépin’s Virtual Recipe Book. She’s been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan, Daily Beast, Epicurious, Food & Wine, Forbes, NY Times, Spirits Business, Vanity Fair, VinePair, Wine Enthusiast, WSJ, to name a few.franky has studied French in France, Spanish in Spain, and feels very fortunate to be able to travel the world experiencing locales through the lens of their unique cuisines and drinking cultures.

Shannon Mustipher is a spirts educator, consultant and Author of TIKI: Modern Tropical Cocktails, which recieved the 2020 IACP Award for Best New Book in Beer, Wine and Spirits. Shannon consults with numerous clients in the spirits industry, advising on education for trade, recipe creation for consumer facing activations, and product research and development. In addition to her work as a consultant, Shannon regularly gives seminars on the topics of rum and American cocktails. Shannon’s writing, opinions and recipes have been featured on Liquor.com, Punch.com, VinePair.com, Saveur.com, and numerous publications. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, where she enjoys cooking, gardening, and collecting “too many books”.

Kelsey has over 17 years experience in the hospitality business ranging from educator, entrepreneur, sommelier and bartender. She is the director of the Trash Collective, and continues to operate it and it’s many projects, Black Lagoon Halloween pop-up and soon to be Supernova in Toronto, Canada. She educates bartenders globally both personally and in partnership with Pernod Ricard as their global sustainability ambassador. Prior to launching her personal projects, she was a lead bartender at Dandelyan bar in London, seeing it win awards for Best Bar Team, Best Menu, and Worlds Best Bar, to name a few. Personally, she was awarded Spirited Awards Best International Bartender in 2020 and was 2016’s Altos Tahona Society Champ.

California-born Jesse Vida has spent over fourteen years bartending at award-winning venues in San Francisco and New York City. Using ATLAS’s incredible collection of spirits and his experience in menu development and cocktail creation, guests can expect passionate creations with a nod to classic cocktail drinking. Besides his skills behind the bar, Jesse’s warm approach to hospitality has made him an instant hit with guests. He brings the same degree of passion when it comes to simply making a spirit or cocktail recommendation to a fully engaged service. As Head Bartender at ATLAS and a natural leader, Jesse guides the team with passion and has seen them grow professionally and personally – celebrating their accomplishments and milestones together. In 2019, he led a series of successes for ATLAS, spearheading ATLAS’S very own gin, the St George ATLAS Orange Gin and creating the Art-Deco, inspired Interbellum cocktail menu which won best Cocktail Menu at the 2020 Spirited Awards. In 2020, when ATLAS reached number four in the World’s Best Bars, Jesse crafted ATLAS’s latest drinking menu known as La Grande Nation, which takes guests through an immersive experience of 1925 Paris. In the upcoming years, he sees the world of cocktails honing in on flavour and balance over fanciful flourishes. Jesse believes that bartending is a path of constant growth, and together with ATLAS’s passionate team, he endeavours to push the limits of creativity.

Charlotte Voisey is an award-winning mixologist with cocktail recipes published and placed on menus across the world including New York’s famed PDT, the iconic Dorchester Hotel in London and Whitechapel in San Francisco. Charlotte’s passion for all things spirits and cocktails keeps her an active presenter at all major industry events including Tales of the Cocktail, Aspen Food & Wine, Las Vegas Nightclub & Bar Show, Charleston Wine & Food Festival and Barra Mexico and a regular contributor on television including appearances on The Today Show and the Food Network. Charlotte Voisey is the Global Head of Ambassadors for William Grant & Sons as well as a spirits educator and in 2019 became an Associate Partner of the B.A.R. 5 Day Program.

David Wondrich is the Editor in Chief of the award-winning Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails and the author of the (also award-winning) Imbibe. He is a spirits and cocktails writer of more than two decades experience.