Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Welcomes the 2019 CAP Class

Since 2008, each year the Cocktail Apprentice Program provides 40 accomplished and up-and-coming bartenders the opportunity to learn alongside some of the world’s most respected bartenders and cocktail experts as they work the seminars and large-scale events at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans (July 16th – 21st, 2019). These first-time apprentices will be joined by an experienced group of veteran apprentices, who will use their previous apprentice experience to lead this year’s program. Throughout the festival, apprentices can be identified by the color of their chef coats: white for managers, black for assistant managers, grey for leaders, and red for first-time apprentices.

“Each year, the CAP leadership team spends several weeks reading hundreds of hopeful applications, both for returning caps (Grey Coats) as well as 40 new apprentices each year (Red Coats). It is a challenging process, but in the end we are thrilled to both welcome back the returning apprentices, as well as extending a invitation to the CAP family to our 40 new apprentices for Tales of the Cocktail 2019!” – Cris Dehlavi, Trevor Kallies, John Deragon, A-K Hada, Scott Tipton.

This year’s incoming class, known as Red Coats, hail from 17 U.S. states; Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico; and 5 countries including Canada, Germany, Kenya, Singapore and the U.K. Apprentices were selected through a competitive process that considered recipe submissions, professional experience, and ability to work with a fast-paced, global team. The team was selectively chosen in order to promote global diversity and ensure that a balance exists between newer and more experienced professionals.

By working directly with seminar presenters, program apprentices hone their skills while simultaneously learning about both the history and future of their craft. After the festival, apprentices are able to apply their new skills to their home and work environments, making the experience of being a CAP member a long-term investment. In addition to technical skills, the valuable professional connections and the team camaraderie fostered during the event have been consistently praised by former members as the most valuable assets the program has given them.

“Walking into the back of the house during Tales New Orleans and seeing the group of 69 CAPs, 40 of whom are first-time Red Coats, work together to execute large quantities of incredibly high-caliber cocktails astounds me,” said Neal Bodenheimer, Co-Chair of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “I have immense appreciation and admiration for all that the CAPs do to make our Foundation’s events a success. Their time at Tales is physically exhausting, and it is remarkably fueled by people who continue to give from their hearts and minds to elevate our craft and set a standard internationally for hospitality and service.”

After Tales concludes, CAP members will be eligible to apply for the Cocktail Apprentice Scholarship Program. Founded by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, the Scholarship Program has annually helped former apprentices pursue further learning opportunities for the past nine years. After undergoing a rigorous selection process, former apprentices are selected to receive funding for a wide variety of projects, from those designed to further their career to those designed with intent to educate the cocktail community.

Elijah Barnes
The Roosevelt Room
Austin, Texas, USA

Griffin Benko
Sable Kitchen & Bar
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Fiona Bruce
Monkey Bar
Berlin, Germany

Sian Buchan
Panda & Sons
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Kelvin Chow
Operation Dagger
Singapore

Kitty Corbo
The Study @ ADBC
Los Angeles, California, USA

Missy Cross
Life on Mars
Seattle, Washington

Amanda DeJarnett
Manifesto
Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Taylor Duggan
Due Mari | USBG Secretary- Central Jersey Chapter
New Brunswick, New Jersey USA

Amy Dunki
Red Hen | Barr Hill
Washington, DC, USA

Kevin Dunlop
Barefoot Consultancy Limited
Nairobi, Kenya

Stéphane Duval
Highwayman | Field Guide
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Hanna Edwardsen
Tavernetta
Denver, Colorado, USA

Maren Erickson
Alibi – Bar & Place
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Linda G. Garcia
Tooker Alley | Shinka Ramen & Sake Bar
New York City, New York, USA

Missy Gienger
NoMad Bar Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Sagan Gray
Bar Mezzana
Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Aaron Hatchell
Langdon Hall
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

Mackenzie Heinze
Old Irving Brewing Co.
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Cassaundra Hollaway
Society Lounge
Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Arianna Hone
Quarters Arcade Bar | High West Distillery
Salt Lake City/Park City, Utah, USA

Colin Jensen
The Hoxton Hotel | Picnic PDX
Portland, Oregon, USA

Ronan Keilthy
28 HongKong Street
Singapore

Jessalyn Lange
Middleman
Denver, Colorado, USA

Olivia Lindstrom
Spork
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Megan McCarthy
Peter Mielzynski Agencies
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Nicholas McCaslin
Eleven Madison Park Winter House
Aspen, Colorado, USA

Evan McNeil
Lot Six Bar | Sovereign Canada
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Leah Moss
Tooker Alley | Superfine
Brooklyn, New York, USA

Allie Phifer
Queen’s Park
Birmingham, AL

Ricardo Rodriguez
Blind Owl
Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Britt Simons
Bad Hunter | Pub Royale
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Joey Smith
Panorama on Seven
Buffalo, New York, USA

Timos Spanos
Neptune Rum
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK

Sarah Syman 
The Drifter | Beatnik
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Gabriel Vazquez
La Penúltima
Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Levi Vixie
Nectar Restaurant & Bar
Moscow, Idaho, USA

Jen Welsh
Aero Club Bar
San Diego, California, USA

Alexis Belton
The Aviary
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Rich Beltzer
Bad Hunter
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Justine Bock
The Old Market Assembly
Bristol, United Kingdom

Cam Brown
Clough Club, The Donnelly Group
Vancouver, Canada

Jacopo Castronovo*
The Spirit Milano
Milano, Italy

Jenee Craver
Sable Kitchen & Bar
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Richard Delahoyde*
Dublin, Ireland

Ka’ai Fong 
Andaz Maui
Wailea, Hawaii, USA

Kaleena Goldsworthy
The Bitter Bottle
Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

Trey Hughes*
Portland Hunt + Alpine Club
Portland, Maine, USA

Melissa Kim
The Keep
Detroit, Michigan, USA

Themos Kontodimas*
Senios
Athens, Greece

Parker Luthman 
The Eddy
Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Mary Palac*
Paper Plane
San Jose, CA, USA

Jessi Pollak* 
Spoon and Stable
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Sarah Schmitt*
Rhine Hall Distillery
Chicago, IL USA

Eric Scott*
Thyme Table
Bay Village, Ohio, USA

Joseph Smith*
The NoMad Bar
New York City, New York, USA

Stella Snyder
Houston, TX, USA

Andrea Tateosian
DC Craft Bartenders Guild
Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Jodi Calderon
The Normandie Club / NoMad LA
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Jessica Lambert
Beam Suntory
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Alex Lerman*
Out To Lunch Hospitality
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Samm McCulloch*
Louie
St. Louis, MO

Cris Dehlavi
M at Miranova
Columbus, Ohio, USA

John Deragon
Retired
New York City, New York, USA

A-K Hada*
PDT
New York City, New York, USA

Trevor Kallies
Donnelly Group
Vancouver, Canada

Scott Tipton*
The Savoy at 21c Museum Hotel
Kansas City, Missouri, USA