Meet your 2026 World Class US Top 100 Bartenders. Representing talent from coast to coast, these bartenders impressed our judges with standout skill, creativity, and cocktail mastery. They’re officially one step closer to the title of 2026 World Class US Bartender of the Year and the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2026 World Class Global Finals.
Chandler Vanous – FORT WAYNE, IN
Jonah Thornton – FAYETTEVILLE, AR
Ayaka Kumazawa – BROOKLYN, NY
Soma Fukuta – PLANO, TX
Dalton Bedard – SANFORD, FL
Erin Goldman – NASHVILLE, TN
Ethan Sugar – NEW YORK, NY
Kash Hughley – CHICAGO, IL
Weston Simons – SANTA FE, NM
Alexis Ortega – PHILADELPHIA, PA
Stella Miller – CHICAGO, IL
Emily Harkins – NEW YORK, NY
Liam Lavandowska – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Colin Williams – NEW ORLEANS, LA
Ben Pastreich – ARLINGTON, VA
Sanwar Khokhar – IRVING, TX
Massimo Orru – WINTER GARDEN, FL
Ashley Devlin – BRUNSWICK, GA
Jennifer Yim – LAS VEGAS, NV
Jeff Banks – DECATUR, GA
Richie Millwater – NEW YORK, NY
Peter Hannah – KISSIMMEE, FL
Grant Rothermel – NEW ORLEANS, LA
Kilo Filipushko – BROOKLYN, NY
Corey Schallek – SCARBOROUGH, ME
Lauren Robinson – PLANO, TX
Ajay Tomer – IRVING, TX
Marie Yoshimizu – BELLEVUE, WA
Aakash Gala – WASHINGTON, D.C.
Brenda Riepenhoff – BROOKLYN, NY
Dustin Ross – COLUMBUS, OH
Jarod Schiebout – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
SC Baker – LOUISVILLE, KY
Kyler Nolan – BROOKLYN, NY
Bridget Ramsey – EAST BRUNSWICK
Laura Eldred – LOS ANGELES, CA
Renate Spurlock – ORLANDO, FL
Evan Walters – CHICAGO, IL
Jason Briseno – LOS ANGELES, CA
Luke Hamilton – SEATTLE, WA
Robert Trimmer – DURHAM, NC
Letisha Diaz – ORLANDO, FL
Stuart Weaver – DENVER, CO
Shubham Deshmukh – IRVING, TX
Heather Biesemeier – LOS ANGELES, CA
Becky Rose – AURORA, CO
Chase Dunn – MINT HILL, NC
Conor Hall – AUSTIN, TX
Gonzalo Ramos – NEW YORK, NY
Kyle Gilioli – CINCINNATI, OH
Andrew Kim – LOS ANGELES, CA
Eliza Woodman – SAN DIEGO, CA
Lauren Navarro – OAKLAND PARK, FL
Nicola Tolosa – CHICAGO, IL
Jacob Velarde – CHARLESTON, SC
Joe Oddo – WASHINGTON, D.C.
Connor Perry – ANN ARBOR, MI
Jacob Smith – MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
Jordan Chiavacci – KAPOLEI, HI
Nicholas Tisci – HOUSTON, TX
Elliott Reibert – CHICAGO, IL
Kai Lucas – BROOKLYN, NY
Tara Wong – SAINT CLAIR SHORES, MI
Xander Almeida – PORTLAND, OR
Ingrid Folkers – RALEIGH, NC
Keenan Anaya – SAN DIEGO, CA
Annie Leahy – MADISON, WI
Jules Mohamed – RALEIGH, NC
Sierra Knight – CINCINNATI, OH
Shyann Clark – REDFORD, MI
Miche Reynolds – RALEIGH, NC
Ellery Dowler – CHARLESTON, SC
Kenneth Hwong – LAS VEGAS, NV
Rodrigo Serrano – GALLOWAY, OH
Taylor Jamison-Parrish – CHICAGO, IL
Connor Sullivan – BROOMFIELD, CO
Nick Adams – GRAND RAPIDS, MI
Tyler Maclellan – CHICAGO, IL
Michelle Freed – LOS ANGELES, CA
Cameron MacDonald – SNOHOMISH, WA
Austin Harrington – SAN DIEGO, CA
Nic du Mortier – TRAVERSE CITY, MI
Christian Jackson – SANTA FE, NM
Chris Allen – LOUISVILLE, KY
Daniel Burmeister – INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Sebastian Martinez – CHICAGO, IL
Michael Guzman – CHARLOTTE, NC
Ian Anderson – MESA, AZ
Sarah Foley – SEATTLE, WA
Devin Kennedy` – TEMPLE HILLS
Nick Capanna – RUTLAND, VT
Randy Caniglia – BOSTON, MA
BB Barna – CHARLESTON, SC
Dominique Jackson – SAN DIEGO, CA
Ann-Marie Yang – CARY, NC
Makenzie Helem – SEATTLE, WA
Paul Webb – DENVER, CO
Matthew “Crispy” Crisp – MESA, AZ
Elijah Ivory – AUSTIN, TX
Juan Villarreal – SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Stay tuned – the Top 15 will be announced soon. As part of the new partnership with Tales of the Cocktail Foundation – and reinforcing the joint mission to elevate and mentor bartending talent – each of the Top 15 finalists will also attend Tales Of The Cocktail® 2026. This exclusive opportunity includes a weeklong VIP pass unlocking immersive tastings, expert-led education, and curated networking with some of the most influential voices and talent shaping cocktail culture today.
Key dates for the 2026 competition are as follows:
- Mid March 2026: Top 15 National Finalists Announced
- Spring 2026: National Finals to crown the 2026 US Bartender of the Year
- Summer 2026: The 2026 World Class Cocktail Festival and Global Finals
Program updates are available at www.worldclassus.com. You can also stay up to date by following @WorldClassUS on Instagram or @WorldClassUnitedStates on Facebook.
