NEW ORLEANS, LA (May 1, 2024) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the 2024 Cocktail Apprentice Program (CAP) Class. Founded in 2008 as a platform for burgeoning bartenders to learn and work alongside industry leaders and experts, CAP has hosted more than 500 apprentices during its 16-year tenure. Working together to prepare and execute cocktails for large-scale, high-volume events at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, CAP apprentices gain invaluable experience while serving as the foundation for TOTC’s beverage programming.
This year, 40 rising bartenders have earned the opportunity to become first-year apprentices, known as CAP Red Coats, and join the revered group at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. CAP Red Coats will work together under an experienced “Grey Coat” mentor to create cocktails and tastings for TOTC seminars, signature programming such as Tales Catalyst and the Spirited Awards ceremony, and other headlining TOTC events. Throughout the conference, apprentices can be identified by the color of their coats: white for managers, black for assistant managers, grey for leaders, and red for first-time apprentices.
“As we continue to grow and evolve the Cocktail Apprentice Program we are again and again shown that our efforts are impacting an ever-widening audience,” said Trevor Kallies, CAP Director. “After 15 years of CAPs executing at Tales of the Cocktail, this year we received a record-breaking number of applications. Our Selection Committee reviewed over 600 applications from over 55 countries. Our returning Grey Coats are a mix of 20 new and veteran CAPs all with different backgrounds. We are welcoming two new Black Coats and one new White Coat. It is extremely important to this program that we continue to prioritize having a wide range of nationalities and backgrounds and ensure that we are always making room for the next generation of CAPs to grow into leadership roles. We are excited to welcome all the new CAPs to the team and look forward to another amazing Tales of the Cocktail this July.”
This year’s incoming CAP Red Coat class represents a broad geographical range, with apprentices joining from 15 countries and 24 states (including Washington, D.C.). Apprentices were selected through a competitive process that considers recipe submissions, professional experience, and the ability to work with a fast-paced, global team. The class was selectively chosen to promote global diversity and ensure a balance between newer and 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 conference, apprentices are able to apply their new skills to their home and work environments, taking the impact of CAP back to their communities. In addition to technical skills, the valuable professional connections and the team camaraderie fostered during the event have been consistently praised by members as the most valuable assets the program offers.
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation would like to thank the 2024 CAP Presenting Partners: Grand Marnier and Pernod Ricard; Supporting Partners: Crown Royal and Tequila Ocho; CAP Coat Partner: Barfly, and the official CAP 2024 Media Partner: Pre Shift.
TOTCF is pleased to announce the 2024 CAP Class:
2024 Red Coat Apprentices:
Ryan Betts
Re
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Sarah Bush
Leroy
Montgomery, AL
Santiago Cobar
Fox Bar
Chicago, IL
Nick Cook
Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
Mark Coulter
Breakthru Beverage
Chicago, IL
Máté Csizmadia
Pink Pony Club
Budapest, Hungary
Erin Dassler
Peacock Lounge
Savannah, GA
Fiona Davison
The Starving Artist
Phoenix, AZ
Sahil Essani
Muro
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Erika Fajilagot
Cat Bite Club
Singapore
Cande Ferros
Eye Cocktail Bar / Atto di Vito Mollica
Florence, Italy
Mike Finn
Sparrow
Chicago, IL
Karla Galeazzi
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Chris Geels
The Wine Cafe
Mankato, MN
Ashley Graham
Alma & GHST Bar
Oklahoma City, OK
Aliya Harrison
The Bourbon House
Albuquerque, NM
Rory Kerwin
J.W. Heist Steakhouse/ Copper Rose Ranch
Bozeman, MT
Lili Lambert
GALAXIE
Louisville, KY
Chris Lui
LPM Restaurant & Bar
Hong Kong
Madeleine MacDonald
SAIT
Calgary, AB, Canada
Beatriz Maida
Bar Pájaro
San Salvador, El Salvador
Cody Mashni
Birdies
Jacksonville, FL
Alfonsina Medina
Rompecabezas
Tafí Viejo, Tucumán, Argentina
Dominique Munoz
Books and Records
San Diego, CA
Jessica O’Brien
Teddy Roe’s Speakeasy
Albuquerque, NM
Joe Oddo
Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Washington, D.C.
Lyn Perez
Fox & Turtle / No School Tomorrow
Chicago, IL
Isadora Petinari
9 Below
Dublin, Ireland
Jonathan Lago Rodriguez
ROMBO Asador Playero
Dorado, Puerto Rico
Pedro Rodriguez
Camp Everglades
Miami, FL
Hector Sam-Roman
TAO Downtown Nightclub
New York, NY
Emma Schroter
The Keefer Bar
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Kate Shofler
Hey! Hey! Club at J. Rieger & Co
Kansas City, MO
Alexandria Skori
10 Cubed NYC
New York, NY
Liz Smith
Papi Portland
Portland, ME
Tom Svensson
Boston Shaker Bar
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Joshua Thompson
Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson
New York, NY
Kim Vo
Dutch Courage
Baltimore, MD
Ken Young
Joyface
New York, NY
Neo Zane
The Little Pig Speakeasy
Dublin, Ireland
2024 Grey Coat Apprentices:
Jen Akin
Spiribam
Seattle, WA
Alina Lucia Cichozki
Flying Dutchmen Cocktails
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
Joseph Coleman
Doublespeak Craft Cocktails
Aquebogue, NY
Kelly Dcruz
The Secret Mermaid / The World Is Flat
Singapore
Kai Duarte
Makawao Public House
Makawao, HI
Ashley Flynn
The Drake Hotel
Toronto, ON, Canada
Tim Frandsen
The Little Gay Pub / José Andrés Group
Washington, D.C.
Jackson Gracy
Aerie Restaurant & Lounge
Traverse City, MI
Aaron Hatchell
S&V Uptown
Waterloo, ON, Canada
Gabriela Holzer
Thyme Table
Cleveland, OH
Matt Huntley
High West Distillery
Park City, UT
Corrie Levis
HE | LE | NA
Tel Aviv, Israel
Kai Lucas
European Bartender School / Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson
New York City, NY
Tyler MacLellan
Three Dots and a Dash
Chicago, IL
Vito Morales
Bestia
Los Angeles, CA
Jessica Neblina
Employees Only
Los Angeles, CA
Lauren Pileggi
The Night Owl
Sudbury, ON, Canada
Joel Spencer
Artesian
London, UK
Nicole Stankovic
Szechwan Chinese Kitchen
Park City, UT
Brandon Thrash
Middle Child Clubhouse
Philadelphia, PA
2024 Black Coat Apprentices:
Samantha Casuga
Temple Bar
New York, NY
Glenn Eldridge
Pernod Ricard Gulf
Dubai, U.A.E.
Rylen Komeiji
Todo Bien
Las Vegas, NV
Sarah Syman
Ramova Theatre
Chicago, IL
2024 White Coat Apprentices:
Alexis Belton
Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson
New York, NY
Richie Delahoyde*
Illva Saronno
Dublin, Ireland
Kaleena Goldsworthy-Warnock
Proof Incubator and Maven Table
Chattanooga, TN
Trevor Kallies
JOEY Restaurant Group
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Juyoung Kang
Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
*denotes Jr. White Coat
CAP Advisor:
Cris Dehlavi
Diageo Hospitality Partnership
Columbus, OH
Cocktail Apprentice Scholarship Program:
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation continues to support the growing network of past apprentices by offering exclusive opportunities for scholarships and financial aid to support their growth within the industry further. Following TOTC 2024, CAP members will be eligible to apply for the Cocktail Apprentice Scholarship Program. The annual Scholarship Program has helped former apprentices pursue continued learning opportunities over the past decade. After undergoing a rigorous selection process, former apprentices are selected to receive funding for a wide variety of projects that benefit their careers and their communities.
For more information about the Cocktail Apprentice Program, please visit the TOTCF website.
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About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation:
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization that educates, advances, and supports the global hospitality industry and creates 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 communities that host our events.
About Pre Shift:
Pre Shift is a trade newsletter for the hospitality industry, by the hospitality industry. The platform is a joint venture between acclaimed food and drink brands Eater and Punch, and is part of the Vox Media portfolio. Pre Shift sources first-person accounts from the front lines of the food and beverage world, exploring topics of relevance to today’s most ambitious and forward-thinking bartenders, account owner and operators, sommeliers and trade professionals. The newsletter has featured sends from Kwame Onwuachi of Tatiana, Bobby Heugel of Anvil Bar & Refuge, Avish Naran of Pijja Palace, Alex Day of Death & Co., Patricia Howard and Ed Szymanski of Lord’s, and Paul Aguilar of Himkok, among many others. Learn more and sign up for Pre Shift here.
Media Inquiries:
Foxglove Communications
Gia Vecchio | [email protected]
917.280.5043
Hunter Smith | [email protected]
803.397.8878
