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Bridget is an advocate for upbeat education that makes an impact.
She has been a contributor to 10 cocktail and beverage books and is the recipient of numerous beverage industry awards. These include the Tales of the Cocktail Bar Chef Competition (first place), the Chicago Tribune’s Good Eats Award, and No Kid Hungry’s Share Our Strength Award for Sustaining a Community. Bridget has been repeatedly nominated to Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards list of Best Bar Mentors, most recently in 2023.
Bridget is the Founder of the National Charity Foundation of the United States Bartenders’ Guild.
She was the first female mixologist to be featured on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America Battle Mango.
Karla has rightly earned worldwide recognition for her spirits-industry journalism. For eight years prior to joining Food & Wine, Karla was senior contributor for ForbesLife, with spirits as her primary beat.
Karla honed her craft during stints at Haute Media Group, The New York Observer, Metropolis Magazine, Lifestyle Mirror, and Tatler Philippines.
Karla is especially passionate about brown liquor, red meat, and green M&Ms.
Known globally as The Drinking Coach, Tiffanie is a celebrated bartender, educator, author, and industry innovator. A Louisiana–Texas native with a deep reverence for culture, storytelling, and hospitality, she is known for weaving history, heart, and flavor into every pour.
She is the author of Good Spirits, her debut cocktail book that blends recipes, technique, history, and cultural storytelling—further cementing her role as one of the most compelling voices in modern drinks culture.
Tiffanie currently serves as the U.S. Co-Chair of the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards and has received some of the beverage industry’s highest honors, including Women of Whiskey’s Bartender of the Year and the Visionary Award from Tales of the Cocktail. A respected international spirits judge, she has lent her palate and perspective to L.A. Spirits Awards, the New Orleans Spirits Competition, and Diageo World Class.
Her expertise and storytelling have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Southern Living, Wine Enthusiast, Forbes, Essence, and beyond, with television appearances on NBC’s Today Show, Netflix’s Drink Masters, and Food Network’s The Kitchen.
Tiffanie is also the founder of Barriere Collective, a creative hospitality agency dedicated to strategic storytelling, cultural curation, brand consulting, and industry education. Through the Collective, Tiffanie bridges brands, communities, and culture—building experiences that feel intentional, inclusive, and unforgettable.
Whether on stage, behind the bar, on screen, or in the boardroom, Tiffanie inspires the next generation of beverage professionals to lead with authenticity, knowledge, creativity, and joy.
After more than a decade working in the wine and spirits industry, Rachel co-founded award-winning culinary cannabis hospitality group Altered Plates in 2016. She is also the founder of Smoke Sip Savor, where she is a cannabis curator, consultant, and bong vivant.
Rachel is the Editor-in-Chief of The Clever Root, a digital publication specializing in all things cannabis food and drink that will be relaunching June 2023.
Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her wife and two young daughters.
Erick began his cocktail empire at San Francisco’s Rickhouse and Bourbon & Branch, served as Brand Ambassador for Plymouth and Beefeater, and co-created New York City’s Boilermaker. This bartending behemoth has created unique beverage programs that have earned a place on some of the nation’s most coveted lists, including Esquire‘s Best Bars in America, Food & Wine’s “World’s Top Bars” and countless nominations at the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards in New Orleans.
Having helped develop and launch numerous successful craft spirits brands throughout his career, Clyde is currently the Vice President of U.S. Sales for Equiano Rum. Clyde owns 75 Proof Beverage Solutions and is a partner in Vergys Capital.
John is a celebrated mixologist, author, podcast hose, and workers rights advocate with over a decade of experience crafting delicious drinks. In March 2020, his nonprofit RWCF established a COVID-19 relief fund and has so far raised over $8 million to fund relief efforts for affected hospitality industry workers.
Lonnie Finley is a Los Angeles–based spirits educator, consultant, and founder of IDrinkICan Cocktail Class.
Originally from the Washington, DC, he has more than 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry and has served for nearly a decade as Assistant Manager at Bar Keeper in Los Angeles, one of the world’s most respected spirits retailers.
Deeply connected to emerging spirits trends, Lonnie helps shape the conversation around what consumers and bartenders are drinking and mixing. He has collaborated with leading hospitality professionals and celebrity chefs on cocktail programs throughout Los Angeles, including developing the Spanish Gin & Tonic menu for Curtis Stone’s Netflix Bites pop-up alongside Julie Reiner and Kate Gerwin.
In addition to consulting, bartender training, and work on film productions and private events, Finley serves as a cocktail competition judge, occasional competitor, and mentor to the next generation of bartenders, championing both classic and lesser-known spirits through education and advocacy.
Tara is the founder and editor-in-chief of Thirsty, an independent digital media platform covering the global bar, beverage, and hospitality industry through reporting, cultural analysis, and industry-facing commentary.
Through Thirsty, Tara has built one of the most trusted industry-facing media platforms in beverage hospitality, reaching hundreds of thousands of industry professionals globally and facilitating real-time dialogue between bartenders, operators, brands, and media.
Known for her ability to contextualize industry trends within broader cultural, economic, and labor realities, Fougner’s reporting bridges spirits, service, and social impact, with a particular focus on sustainability, equity, workforce dynamics, and evolving consumer behavior.
Kim is a beverage innovation expert with more than 20 years of experience working with global and emerging spirits and beverage brands, juice and RTD companies, and national hospitality groups. Her clients have included PF Chang’s, The Pappas Group, Omni Hotels, Dutch Bros, Diageo, Beam Suntory, and Brown-Forman, with projects spanning the U.S. and international markets.
Kim has served as a spirits and cocktail judge for leading competitions for two decades. She is the co-founder of industry events including the Après Ski Cocktail Classic in Aspen and Arizona Cocktail Weekend, and the author of the 101 Cocktail book series. She is also the former National President of the United States Bartenders Guild.
Tim McKirdy is the co-founder of The Coaster, an independent podcast network exploring the intersection of culture and drinks. He is the co-host of the network’s flagship show, Sauced, and previously hosted Cocktail College, a Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards finalist. Before launching The Coaster, Tim served as a longtime staff member and managing editor at VinePair, where he helped shape some of the industry’s most influential drinks storytelling.
Shake up equal parts nostalgic cocktail curator and tireless industry advocate and you’ll wind up with Mr. Travis Nass, the COO and Co-founder of Another Round Another Rally.
Now, Travis devotes most of his time and talents to advancing the roles of immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC and other historically excluded populations within the food-service industry, by using his privilege and access to open doors and provide tools to help them advance their careers while otherwise leveling the playing field for restaurant workers from all walks of life.
In addition to his efforts on behalf of Another Round Another Rally, Travis also served as Vice President and President of the Phoenix Chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild, an organization he has supported for over a decade. The recipient of a coveted “Beverage Master” induction in the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame among multiple other accolades, Travis’ influence, innovation and advocacy continue to stir up the spirits industry.
Recently named Beverage Director of the renowned Everson Royce Bar in L.A.’s downtown Arts District, Raul continues to provide his customers with what he has coined an “elevated hospitable experience,” inviting anyone and everyone to pull up a seat, join him at the bar, and sample his creative concoctions.
As an advocate for the ancestral cultivation of agave based spirits, Raul is at the forefront of a movement supporting brands that celebrate agave’s rich cultural and familial history.
Eryn has worked in the service industry for over two decades and has years of experience in the craft of building and managing bar programs. She hails from Portland, Oregon, and after moving to New York worked behind the bar at storied destinations Bar Milano, Mayahuel, and Death and Company. She served as Beverage Director of Freemans Restaurant and helped pioneer the concept of its upstairs speakeasy-style cocktail bar, Banzarbar.
Eryn has earned the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines and holds the Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR) 5-Day Certification. Eryn has been a long-time mentor in the Cocktail Apprentice Program at Tales of the Cocktail and has judged a variety of cocktail and spirits competitions including Speed Rack, the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge, L.A. Spirits Awards, and the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. Her work has been featured in numerous publications including Imbibe and The New York Times, and Cosmopolitan, with cocktails featured in a wide array of cocktail books.
Joseph resides where luxury meets taste and has created cocktail for celebrities and red carpet events including the Grammys, BET Awards, and Rihanna’s Diamond Ball.
As the founder of the only trans-owned nonalcoholic bottle shop in the United States, Aqxyl has built Minus Moonshine into a thriving retail destination, serving customers both online and through its two Brooklyn locations. The beverage selection is rigorously taste-tested by the former vegan and raw chef before making it to the shelves. Aqxyl spoke about the nonalcoholic category at Bar Convent Brooklyn in 2022 and continues to educate corporate teams about the magic of nonalcoholic beverages.
Professional bartender Sother Teague is the partner and Beverage Director of Overthrow Hospitality group, which includes the renowned bitters bar Amor y Amargo and the newly opened tequila and mezcal bar Eterea in New York City. Sother has been featured as a cocktail expert in Esquire, The New York Times, New York Magazine, Time Out, BuzzFeed, and more. His third book is in the works.
A decorated bartender with nods from Liquor.com, Wine Enthusiast, Tales of the Cocktail, The United States Bartenders Guild, Baltimore Magazine, and Baltimore Style, Amie has been outspoken on health, equity, and safety in the hospitality industry, and provides training, education, and unrestricted access to wellness resources through these organizations.
While her primary work life revolves around health advocacy for the beverage alcohol community, Amie also enjoys pulling trucks and competing in Strongwoman competitions, and relaxing at home with her two sphynx cats, Nofuratu and Alexander OvechSkin.
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