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.
Aakash Gala – WASHINGTON, D.C.
Ajay Tomer – IRVING, TX
Alexis Ortega – PHILADELPHIA, PA
Andrew Kim – LOS ANGELES, CA
Ann-Marie Yang – CARY, NC
Annie Leahy – MADISON, WI
Ashley Devlin – BRUNSWICK, GA
Austin Harrington – SAN DIEGO, CA
Ayaka Kumazawa – BROOKLYN, NY
BB Barna – CHARLESTON, SC
Becky Rose – AURORA, CO
Ben Pastreich – ARLINGTON, VA
Brenda Riepenhoff – BROOKLYN, NY
Bridget Ramsey – EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ
Cameron MacDonald – SNOHOMISH, WA
Chandler Vanous – FORT WAYNE, IN
Chase Dunn – MINT HILL, NC
Chris Allen – LOUISVILLE, KY
Christian Jackson – SANTA FE, NM
Colin Williams – NEW ORLEANS, LA
Connor Perry – ANN ARBOR, MI
Connor Sullivan – BROOMFIELD, CO
Conor Hall – AUSTIN, TX
Corey Schallek – SCARBOROUGH, ME
Dalton Bedard – SANFORD, FL
Daniel Burmeister – INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Devin Kennedy – WASHINGTON, D.C.
Dominique Jackson – SAN DIEGO, CA
Dustin Ross – COLUMBUS, OH
Elijah Ivory – AUSTIN, TX
Eliza Woodman – SAN DIEGO, CA
Ellery Dowler – CHARLESTON, SC
Elliott Reibert – CHICAGO, IL
Emily Harkins – NEW YORK, NY
Erin Goldman – NASHVILLE, TN
Ethan Sugar – NEW YORK, NY
Evan Walters – CHICAGO, IL
Gonzalo Ramos – NEW YORK, NY
Grant Rothermel – NEW ORLEANS, LA
Heather Biesemeier – LOS ANGELES, CA
Ian Anderson – MESA, AZ
Ingrid Folkers – RALEIGH, NC
Jacob Smith – MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
Jacob Velarde – CHARLESTON, SC
Jarod Schiebout – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Jason Briseno – LOS ANGELES, CA
Jeff Banks – DECATUR, GA
Jennifer Yim – LAS VEGAS, NV
Joe Oddo – WASHINGTON, D.C.
Jonah Thornton – FAYETTEVILLE, AR
Jordan Chiavacci – KAPOLEI, HI
Juan Villarreal – SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Jules Mohamed – RALEIGH, NC
Kai Lucas – BROOKLYN, NY
Kash Hughley – CHICAGO, IL
Keenan Anaya – SAN DIEGO, CA
Kenneth Hwong – LAS VEGAS, NV
Kilo Filipushko – BROOKLYN, NY
Kyle Gilioli – CINCINNATI, OH
Kyler Nolan – BROOKLYN, NY
Laura Eldred – LOS ANGELES, CA
Lauren Navarro – OAKLAND PARK, FL
Lauren Robinson – PLANO, TX
Letisha Diaz – ORLANDO, FL
Liam Lavandowska – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Luke Hamilton – SEATTLE, WA
Makenzie Helem – SEATTLE, WA
Marie Yoshimizu – BELLEVUE, WA
Massimo Orru – WINTER GARDEN, FL
Matthew “Crispy” Crisp – MESA, AZ
Michael Guzman – CHARLOTTE, NC
Miche Reynolds – RALEIGH, NC
Michelle Freed – LOS ANGELES, CA
Nic du Mortier – TRAVERSE CITY, MI
Nicholas Tisci – HOUSTON, TX
Nick Adams – GRAND RAPIDS, MI
Nick Capanna – RUTLAND, VT
Nicola Tolosa – CHICAGO, IL
Paul Webb – DENVER, CO
Peter Hannah – KISSIMMEE, FL
Randy Caniglia – BOSTON, MA
Renate Spurlock – ORLANDO, FL
Richie Millwater – NEW YORK, NY
Robert Trimmer – DURHAM, NC
Rodrigo Serrano – GALLOWAY, OH
Sanwar Khokhar – IRVING, TX
Sarah Foley – SEATTLE, WA
SC Baker – LOUISVILLE, KY
Sebastian Martinez – CHICAGO, IL
Shubham Deshmukh – IRVING, TX
Shyann Clark – REDFORD, MI
Sierra Knight – CINCINNATI, OH
Soma Fukuta – PLANO, TX
Stella Miller – CHICAGO, IL
Stuart Weaver – DENVER, CO
Tara Wong – SAINT CLAIR SHORES, MI
Taylor Jamison-Parrish – CHICAGO, IL
Tyler Maclellan – CHICAGO, IL
Weston Simons – SANTA FE, NM
Xander Almeida – PORTLAND, OR
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.
