We love PUNCH and punchdrink.com. It's one of our favorite sources for information about what's hot, cool, creative, and exciting in the world of spirits and cocktails.
PUNCH recently announced their list of the Best New Bartenders in America, which they have compiled since 2018. Each of their picks has evolved and perfected a particular style of cocktail in a unique and engaging way. And each bartender showcases the all-important human and social aspects that are critical to doing this job well.
Here's a list of the talented folks who are being honored for 2024, along with the establishments they represent and the cocktail they are best known for. If you're fortunate enough to have an opportunity to visit one of these bars, be sure to check out the cocktail program. You'll be very glad you did.
Kitty Bernardo (Paradise Lost), New York City
Signature cocktail: Attack of the Banantulas (a Filipino-inspired riff on a banana Daiquiri)
Justin Brody (Port of Call) Mystic, Connecticut
Signature cocktail: Last Night by the Jetty (Brody says it's "the love child of a margarita and an Old Fashioned")
Allison Everitt (Kiesling) Detroit, Michigan
Signature cocktail: Filthiest Martini (an extra dirty version of the classic made with nori-infused vodka and a house-made brine flavored with olives, roasted garlic powder, dashi, rice vinegar and MSG)
Manny Hernandez (Stokes Adobe) Monterey, California
Signature cocktail: The Hana (a floral, citrusy, creamy gin cocktail that pays homage to classic Japanese flavors)
Antonio Jimenez (Bolo) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Signature cocktail: La Croabas (a dirty gin Martini with chile oil–washed dry vermouth and ceviche brine)
Tom Liu (Thunderbolt) Los Angeles, California
Signature cocktail: Fu Gwaa Falsetto (a riff on a swizzle, with bitter melon, shochu, rum, gentian, lemon, and salted plum powder)
Jackson Mercier (Bryant's Cocktail Lounge) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Signature cocktail: Stop-And-Go Light (a rum and brandy elixir with Créme de noyaux, lime juice, vanilla, and peach bitters)
Thi Nguyen (Moon Rabbit) Washington, D.C.
Signature cocktail: Hết Nước Chấm | Out of Dipping Sauce (a vodka cocktail with lemon, and passionfruit that evokes the flavors of classic Vietnamese dipping sauce)
Jordan Valls (Palomar) Portland, Oregon
Signature cocktail: Rusty Nail (a riff on the classic Scotch cocktail that uses papaya cordial and cocoa bitters to add a tropical twist)
Shaun Williams (Jewel of the South) New Orleans, Louisiana
Signature cocktail: Deiji (a Japanese-inspired margarita-style cocktail with Roku gin, sake, and house-made yuzu Curaçao)
No matter where you get your cocktails—in your neighborhood or while traveling—it's always nice to support exceptional bartender creativity wherever you see it. So, the next time you see a drink that includes something like house-made yuzu Curaçao or chile oil-washed vermouth, give it try! Encourage the extraordinary!