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The 2026 Spirited Awards U.S. Bartender of the Year winner is announced July 23, 2026 at The Fillmore New Orleans. Finalists: Juliette Larrouy, Libby Lingua, Takuma Watanabe, J'Nai Angelle Williams.
The Spirited Awards are the cocktail industry's annual recognition program, hosted by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. The 2026 U.S. Bartender of the Year Top 4 was named on June 8-9, 2026 from a Top 10 nominee pool announced earlier in the spring. Winners are announced at the 20th annual ceremony at The Fillmore New Orleans on July 23, 2026.
The 2026 Spirited Awards mark the 20th anniversary of the program, with categories covering International, U.S., World, Writing & Media, Books, and Spirit & Cocktail Ingredients. The U.S. Bartender of the Year category recognizes excellence within its specific scope, judged by a global panel of industry voters. The Top 10 nominees were announced in May 2026, the Top 4 finalists on June 8 and June 9, 2026, and the winner will be revealed at the ceremony on July 23, 2026 at The Fillmore New Orleans during Tales of the Cocktail week.
This year's U.S. Bartender of the Year Top 4 finalists are: - Juliette Larrouy — schmuck., New York, NY - Libby Lingua — Highball, Phoenix, AZ - Takuma Watanabe — Martiny's / L'Americana / Midnight Blue, New York, NY - J'Nai Angelle Williams — Chandelier Bar at the Four Seasons, New Orleans, LA
Voting reflects industry sentiment in the months leading to ceremony. Predict who takes home the medal, and check your call against the official outcome on July 23.
Resolves YES for the named winner of the 2026 Spirited Awards U.S. Bartender of the Year as announced by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation at the July 23, 2026 ceremony at The Fillmore New Orleans, and confirmed by the official press release at talesofthecocktail.org.
The Top 4 finalists are: Juliette Larrouy, Libby Lingua, Takuma Watanabe, J'Nai Angelle Williams.
The winner is announced on July 23, 2026 at the 20th annual Spirited Awards Ceremony at The Fillmore New Orleans.
The Spirited Awards are hosted by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF), the New Orleans-based nonprofit behind Tales of the Cocktail.
A global judging panel of industry voters scores the Top 4 finalists. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation administers voting and audits results.
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