Four members of the Foundation’s Cocktail Apprentice Program (CAP) awarded scholarships for BAR 5-Day Spirits & Mixology Certification Program
NEW ORLEANS, LA, October 18, 2023 – Each year, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) offers members of its Cocktail Apprentice Program (CAP) the opportunity to apply for an exclusive scholarship to participate in the Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR) 5-Day Program, February 5-9, 2024, at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park in New York.
After a thorough review of applicants by the current fourth year CAP White Coats and third year CAP Black Coats, the Foundation is honored to announce and congratulate the recipients of the 2024 BAR 5-Day Program scholarships:
- Glenn Eldridge, Gin Portfolio Ambassador of Pernod Ricard Gulf Region, Dubai, U.A.E. and 2023 CAP Grey Coat & 2022 CAP Red Coat
- Kai Lucas, Head Instructor of European Bartender School, Brooklyn, NY and 2023 CAP Red Coat
- Leishla Maldonado, Beverage Director of Loma, Providence, RI and 2018 CAP Red Coat
- Jacob Mentel, Brand Advocate for Coruscent, San Diego, CA and 2023 CAP Grey Coat & 2022 CAP Red Coat
Each recipient will be awarded a scholarship valued at approximately $4,000 for tuition and a travel stipend to attend the upcoming event. This year, Maison Ferrand and Cointreau have partnered with Tales of the Cocktail Foundation to help support this year’s recipients in attending the program.
2024 BAR 5-Day Program Scholarship Recipients
Glenn Eldridge
Gin Portfolio Ambassador of Pernod Ricard Gulf region, Dubai, U.A.E
2023 CAP Grey Coat & 2022 CAP Red Coat
“I feel incredibly grateful and honored to have been selected by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation for the BAR 5-Day scholarship. It’s extremely exciting to have this opportunity to learn and be educated by some of our industry’s best alongside like-minded beverage professionals at the Culinary Institute of America. I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and putting myself to the test.”
Kai Lucas
Head Instructor of European Bartender School, Brooklyn, NY
2023 Red Coat
“I am so happy to have become a member of this amazing CAP family and to be able to have all the new opportunities to grow and improve. Being the recipient of this scholarship has left me speechless and I am beyond excited to learn at the Bar 5-Day from some of the best to ever do it. I can’t wait to take my knowledge and skills to the next level and be able to share that with all of my students and guests!”
Leishla Maldonado
Beverage Director of Loma, Providence, RI
2018 Red Coat
“I am deeply honored and excited to accept the BAR 5-Day scholarship. This opportunity means the world to me, as it supports my passion for hospitality, my dedication to elevating Latin American culture, and my commitment to fostering inclusivity within the hospitality industry. It’s not just a scholarship, it’s a platform to bridge cultures, inspire others, and transform the way we experience spirits and cocktails. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation for believing in my vision and giving me the chance to bring it to life.”
Jacob Mentel
Brand Advocate for Coruscent, San Diego, CA
2023 Grey Coat & 2022 Red Coat
“This is an amazing and otherworldly experience to be a part of. I hope to set an example for all the Neuro-divergents out there that ever second guess themselves and the incredible things they are capable of accomplishing.”
“Our mission at Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is to educate, advance and support the global drinks industry, and the BAR 5-Day Program is an excellent educational opportunity for bartenders advancing their careers through the Cocktail Apprentice Program,” said Eileen Wayner, Chief Executive Officer. “We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 2024 scholarship recipients as well as our gratitude for Maison Ferrand, Cointreau and the BAR 5-Day Program for their continued support of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Cocktail Apprentice Program!”
The CAP scholarship program is an ongoing effort to uplift and cultivate the international bartending community that Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has supported over the past years. Since starting the scholarship program, 52 former Cocktail Apprentices have participated in the BAR 5-Day Program. Founded by six of the biggest names in the bartending industry, Dale DeGroff, Doug Frost, Steve Olson, F. Paul Pacult, Andy Seymour, and David Wondrich, the BAR 5-Day Program has gained recognition as one of the top bartender training programs in the country.
The Cocktail Apprentice Program is an exclusive mentorship program for up-and-coming bartenders to learn alongside some of the biggest names in the business during the five days of Tales of the Cocktail. Since 2008, more than 500 apprentices have gained extensive experience working and managing large-scale, high-volume events while providing an invaluable service to Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and the industry as a whole. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation continues to support the growing fraternity of past apprentices by offering exclusive opportunities for scholarships and financial aid to further support their growth within the industry.
For more information about the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Cocktail Apprentice Program, visit www.talesofthecocktail.org/initiatives/cocktail-apprentice-program.
For more information about Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, visit www.talesofthecocktail.org.
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ABOUT TALES OF THE COCKTAIL FOUNDATION:
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to advance the global hospitality industry and create a lasting impact in our host communities. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is the global leader in spirits education and a platform to tackle issues facing the industry. The pillars of the Foundation are to Educate, Advance and Support the hospitality industry through programs that benefit individuals and organizations in the community and to make a lasting impact in the communities that host our events.
ABOUT TALES OF THE COCKTAIL:
Founded in 2002, Tales of the Cocktail has grown from a small gathering of cocktail lovers into the world’s premier cocktail festival. Each year the international spirits industry is welcomed to New Orleans for a week of seminars, tastings, networking events and much more. With 300+ annual events developed specifically for bartenders, distillers and other spirits professionals, Tales of the Cocktail is the industry’s annual meeting place for the exchange of new ideas, products, and techniques
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