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 multiple publications and in 2020 Tiffanie was featured on Food Networks The Kitchen and received the Tales of the Cocktails Dame of the Year award. In 2021 Tiffanie appeared on the cover photo of Imbibe Magazines for the Top 75 for Imbibe, became a judge for the L.A. Spirits Awards and Ascot Awards Judge with Fred Minnick, spoke in Berlin for Bar Convent and shared birthday cocktails with Hoda and Jenna on Today Show. The Louisiana-Texas native is the trustworthy mentor of some of the best bartenders and mixologists in the world and remains a goal of education, service and fun with every pour.

 One of Imbibe magazine’s “25 Most Influential Cocktail Personalities of the Past Century,” Jeff “Beachbum” Berry is the author of seven books and an iPhone app about vintage tropical drinks. Jeff’s restaurant in New Orleans, Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29, has won worldwide critical acclaim.

Originally from New York City, Laura grew up in the restaurant business; her father was an owner-operator in Greenwich Village for 42 years before retiring in 2006. Her own career began in restaurants and has included positions in corporate sales and training, executive leadership, and entrepreneurism.

Paul Clarke is the executive editor of Imbibe magazine and the author of “The Cocktail Chronicles: Navigating the Cocktail Renaissance with Jigger, Shaker and Glass” (Spring House Press, 2015). An award-winning journalist who has specialized in spirits, cocktails, and the culture of drink for more than 15 years, he has written for the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Serious Eats, and many other publications and websites, and was a contributor to and a member of the editorial board for the “Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails” (Oxford University Press, 2021). He lives in Seattle.

Alex Day is a partner the COO of Gin & Luck, the hospitality company behind the globally-renowned Death & Co brand of cocktail bars. Spanning a fifteen year career starting as a bartender, Alex has built and operated numerous notable bars and restaurants around the world, both as an owner and consultant. Passionate about education and restaurant industry advocacy, Alex is a member of the Tales of the Cocktail Education Committee, an active member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition’s leadership team, and is a frequent expert speaker at industry and consumer events. Alex is also the author of three award-winning books: Death & Co, Cocktail Codex, and Death & Co Welcome Home. Alex is based in Portland, ME.

James Beard Award Winner, Dale DeGroff tended bar, most notably at New York’s famous Rainbow Room, where he pioneered a return to fresh ingredients and recreated the great classic cocktails. DeGroff has been credited with reinventing the bartending profession. DeGroff is the Author of The Essential Cocktail, The Craft of the Cocktail (Penguin Random House), and the revised edition The New Craft of the Cocktail. Dale’s influence in the bar world has spanned three decades. He is a partner in the award-winning bar training program, Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR) and founding president of the Museum of the American Cocktail.

Elana Effrat’s success in all three tiers of the wine and spirits industry led her to become One Eight Distilling’s Director of Marketing in Washington, DC. A seasoned spirits judge who participates in national and international competitions, she joined Les Dames d’Escoffier in 2018, the leading international organization dedicated to women leaders in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries.

As the 12th Proprietor of ELIXIR, San Francisco’s second oldest continually operating saloon, H. is recognized for his role in the pioneering efforts to revitalize cocktail culture in the past two decades. This led the serial entrepreneur to numerous new ventures. H.’s industry consultancy, Cocktail Ambassadors, provides leading beverage-focused clients with product development and evaluation advisory, trade education program development and execution, and public speaking services. His cocktail event production company, ELIXIR To Go, produces client entertainment and team building events for corporate and private customers around the country. A cocktail mixer company, Fresh Victor, produces and supplies fresh, cold-pressed juice-based cocktail mixers to bars and consumers across the United States. Lastly, a new Certified B-corporation, the independent bottler Kokoro Spirits procures and markets unique distillates from around the world.

Rhiannon is a bartender, spirits educator, and history nerd. She was selected for the inaugural Cocktail Apprentice Program at Tales of the Cocktail in 2008, then won a scholarship to attend the BAR 5-Day program in New York (Beverage Alcohol Resource, LLC) where she passed as BAR-Ready. She is also an Executive Bourbon Steward with Stave & Thief, a Certified Specialist of Spirits with SWE, and she passed the Level 3 in Spirits from WSET with distinction. Rhiannon completed a senior thesis at the University of New Orleans on historic beverage trends of 20th century New Orleans, and volunteers as a French Quarter tour guide. She is passionate about New Orleans, cocktails, and New Orleans cocktail history.

Touré Folkes is the Founder and Executive Director of Turning Tables, a non profit that advocates for equity in the hospitality industry by providing mentorship, educational tools, and platforms for exposure in a system of support for the Black and Brown communities of New Orleans. Born in NYC and shaped by many places along the east coast and south, Touré now calls New Orleans his home. He holds close to his core principles of equity and belonging in all of his endeavors in the hospitality industry.

After selling his award-winning bar, Liberty, located in Seattle to the staff, Andrew started Industry Spirits, a bartender-owned wells brand. Between that and his liquor distribution company Scout, Andrew’s digging every day in Sunny Seattle.

Hannah has bartended for over 24 years, the past 18 being in the French Quarter. In 2017 he won the James Beard Award for best bar program at French 75 Bar. In 2018 he helped open Manolito and in 2019 he helped open Jewel of the South—both in the French Quarter.

Matt co-founded Westland Distillery in Seattle, exclusively producing American Single Malt Whiskey, in 2010. As the Master Distiller, Matt created Westland’s signature approach to single malt whiskey production, focusing on raw ingredient flavor and Pacific Northwest influence. Matt now serves as the Managing Director of the Westland business.

As a rum distiller and distillery owner of 14 years, Karen has cultivated her palate for spirits across three decades as a premium spirits lover. She has helped to lead the conversation and celebration of American rum, women in distilling and sustainability throughout her career. She has been involved with every aspect of the alcohol beverage business from building out her recent distillery expansion to sales to graphic design.

Christian Huber joined the team at Huber’s Starlight Distillery in January of 2018 after completing his studies in Viticulture & Enology at Niagara College in Ontario, Canada. Christian is a member of the 7th generation of the Huber Family that is now 179 years old. His focus is on the production, distribution, and sales of Huber’s wine and spirits. Huber’s Starlight Distillery now has distribution in 18 states with international distribution set for this year.
Christian has been instrumental in taking the Starlight Distillery brand and single barrel program to the next level by implementing his passion for oak analysis, cask finishes, and knowledge for terroir-driven spirits. Christian enjoys collecting fine wine and spirits and has a love for traveling.

Monique Huston began her spirits career over two decades ago at the Dundee Dell in Omaha, Nebraska where she helped build and educate across one of the largest whisky and spirits collections in the world. An avid spokesperson and educator, Huston has served as a spirits judge and panelist at events and competitions around the world, and been featured in the Whisky Advocate, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal.

In addition to membership in many industry groups, she has been inducted into the exclusive international society, the Keepers of the Quaich, focused on outstanding commitment to the Scotch Whisky industry. She has recently been to the advisory board of the Council of Whisky Masters, Drinks America/VinExpo, and WSWA’s Craft Spirits Access advisory panel. Passion for whisky has led to deep exploration of the incredible, terroir-driven spirits of Mexico – her second great love. Monique proudly serves as Vice President – Spirits Portfolio for Winebow Fine Wine + Spirits, a national importer and distributor.

Lynnette Marrero is a bartender, mixologist and philanthropist based in New York City, and is one of the pioneers of the craft cocktail revival. She’s worked in and with several of the city’s most notable establishments — including the Flatiron Lounge and Llama Inn — and has been named one of America’s Leading Female Mixologists by the James Beard Foundation. She teaches the popular online MasterClass.com on cocktail making and was co-founder of Speed Rack, the world’s first all-female speed bartending competition, which since its inception has raised over $1 million for charities supporting breast cancer research.

franky has worked at some of the top establishments in NYC. She is an in demand educator, drink creator, speaker, MC, and spirits and cocktail competition judge. She’s excited to be a part of the first ever New Orleans Spirits Competition.

Jim Meehan’s hospitality career spans twenty-five years from Madison, Wisconsin to New York City to Portland, Oregon where he serves as beverage director for Snow Peak, a Japanese outdoor lifestyle company with a restaurant called Takibi. A former editor of Food & Wine Cocktails and Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide; Jim’s own books, The PDT Cocktail Book and Meehan’s Bartender Manual, have become industry favorites nationwide. More at www.mixographyinc.com

Founding The Perfect Spot in 2007, Virginia Miller is the W. North America Academy Chair for World’s 50 Best Restaurants, regular columnist at The Bold Italic (Medium), Distiller Magazine, Gin Magazine, etc. and has held roles of Zagat SF/NorCal editor, SF Guardian restaurant critic and Table8 National Editor/VP of Content. Published in over 60 international publications, she covers global dining, travel, spirits, cocktails and bars in columns and articles at Rum Magazine, The Local Tongue, Liquor.com, Time Out, Where Traveler, Food Republic, Thrillist, to name a few. She consults in spirits, cocktails, drink and dining, including co-creating Avion’s Reserva Cristalino tequila in Mexico for Pernod Ricard over two years. She judges in dining and drink competitions and international awards panels, including The World’s 50 Best, SF World Spirits, ADI Craft Distilling, Tales of the Cocktail, Good Food Awards, IWSC in London, etc.), having visited over 12,000 restaurants and even more bars globally.

Lauren Mote is a sought-after consultant and expert in the global spirits industry. She’s a Founding Partner of the award-winning internationally acclaimed cocktail bitters line, Bittered Sling and Nightcap Media Agency. She’s also the co-founder of Women Celebrate – a social media initiative to highlight women/femmes in the drinks industry and their achievements. She’s traveled to over 60 countries, trained over 15,000 bartenders, presented at dozens of tradeshows, and has been a bartender for over 2 decades. Lauren splits her time between Canada and the Netherlands.

Author, global speaker, whiskey taster and experience maker, Peggy Noe Stevens has devoted over thirty years to hospitality, entertaining and developing spirit brand destinations. She became the world’s first female Master Bourbon Taster and can trace her lineage back to some of the great bourbon-making families in Kentucky. In 2019 she was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame and in 2020 became a member of the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame. Peggy was also one of the originators for the conception and strategic development of the iconic Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which has become a global sensation for the spirits industry.

Lauren Patz has been distilling since 2013 and joined the Redwood Empire Whiskey and Benham’s Gin production team as Head Distiller in 2021. She developed a love of the food and beverage business early on growing up in the Napa Valley the daughter of winemakers. In addition to the satisfaction of running day to day distillery operations smoothly and creating quality spirits, she enjoys acting as a informational resource to the spirit enthusiast community through education. Her distilling mantra is passion, palate, and patience.

29 years with Binny’s, 21 of those as a buyer. Early adopter of barrel selection (20 years), craft spirits (15 years), spirits judging (12 years), all driven by a passion for spirits. Whisky Magazine 2021 Icons of Whisky World Top Retail Buyer.

An industry veteran with 48 years in the spirits business. Henry started back in 1974 for his father’s company at which time they were importers of such brands as Jaegermeister. Over the years Henry has been involved in four companies, the current being Preiss Imports which is a specialty spirits importer well known in the industry for pushing the envelope for new product entries.

Matthew Rowley is the author Lost Recipes of Prohibition (2015) and Moonshine! (2007) and contributes to, and edits, other books. He has been a judge for The James Beard Awards, The American Craft Spirits Association, The American Distilling Institute, and Tales of the Cocktail. The former museum curator lives in California

It would be humble to say that Keli Rivers has been very lucky in her gin immersed career- from curating the largest gin and genever collection in the Americas for San Francisco mecca, Whitechapel to being named by Gin Magazine’s Iconic Awards; Gin Ambassador of the Year (2021) for the pioneering craft brand; Sipsmith- but honestly she has worked her butt off to get to where she is. With 29 years under her belt in the hospitality industry all over the world, including Germany, Japan, Hong Kong. She spends her time spreading the gospel of juniper driven beverages with a perfectly crafted negroni in hand. One might call Keli’s fascination with the botanically guided an unhealthy fixation, however in the words of the infamous icon- John Waters,”Without obsession, life is nothing”.

Kellie Thorn is a Beverage Consultant and Spirits Educator with over twenty years of hospitality experience. She has received considerable recognition for her talent and skills for outstanding beverage program development as well as an educator and presenter. She is a certified BNIC Cognac Educator, Awamori Jinbner, and Certified WSET Level Three Spirits Educator. Her current bar and restaurant projects include Hotel Effie in Miramar Beach, Murphy’s in Atlanta, Little Donkey in Birmingham, Rodney Scott’s in Atlanta, and the upcoming projects Westside Motor in Atlanta and Tasty Town in Birmingham.

Michael Vachon is Co-Founder of Maverick Drinks, who are leading the craft spirits movement in the UK. Maverick Drinks’ disruptive approach to representing spirits brands has challenged the way brands and bars work together and in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018, the IWSC awarded Maverick Drinks Spirits Distributor of the Year. Michael has been featured in international press (NY Times, Time Magazine, Imbibe UK, The Drinks Business, among others) and is recognized as one of the strongest advocates of the international craft spirits movement.

If you know Geoffrey; you’d know that he’s a good friend and a staunch believer in equality, visibility, and diversity in the hospitality industry. He’s also a talented and creative bartender. Geoffrey has spent more than a couple of decades working at some of the best bars across the country, such as Ocotillo in Phoenix, and Multnomah Whiskey Library in Portland. He currently works for in bars for Cure Co. in New Orleans. Geoffrey keeps a tight knit group of supportive friends and community. His favourite colour is black and because he DJ’s, he has an extensive record collection.

Richard Wolf is Owner of Wolf Consulting LLC. For the last thirteen years Wolf has helped craft distillers as an advisor, spirits judge and international bulk whiskey broker. He is the former VP/General Manager for Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazerac Inc.), an advisory Board Member of Am. Distilling Institute, served as Chairman of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, is a member of The Order of the Writ – Spirit of Kentucky Bourbon, and is a former U.S. Marine. His 30 years of experience in the beverage industry has been broad and varied to include transforming and growing successful businesses, M&A, product development, supply chain optimization and systems implementation.