Since 2008, the Cocktail Apprentice Program (CAP) has hosted more than 400 apprentices who have gained valuable experience working and managing large-scale, high-volume events during the annual Tales of The Cocktail conference (TOTC). This year, 40 accomplished and up-and-coming bartenders have earned the opportunity to become Red Coat CAPs and learn alongside some of the world’s most respected bartenders and cocktail experts as apprentices, assisting with seminars and events at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans from July 23-28, 2023. In partnership with VinePair, CAPs official media partner, TOTCF is pleased to announce this year's CAP class.
First-year CAPs will work together under an assigned “Grey Coat” mentor to prep and execute cocktails and tastings presented during seminars as well as the, Singapore Residency, Catalyst Luncheon, Spirited Awards ceremony, and other headlining events taking place at TOTC’s 2023 host venue, The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.
“2022 was a benchmark year for the CAP program coming off of the two-year COVID hiatus," said CAP Director, Trevor Kallies. "With this July being the 15th Anniversary of the Cocktail Apprentice Program, we are extremely excited for another Tales of the Cocktail at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. This year we saw close to 500 applications from over 20 different countries. With 2023 bringing The Cocktail Apprentice Program back to the full team size, we have selected 40 new Apprentices. We also have a mix of 20 new and veteran Grey Coats. 2023 also brings us promotions of four CAPs new to the Black Coat role as well as two CAPs that have been promoted to White Coats. 2023 is looking to be a phenomenal year of growth and transition for the CAP team."
This year’s incoming class, known as Red Coats, represents a broad geographical area, and new CAPs hail from eight countries and 19 states. Apprentices were selected through a competitive process that considers recipe submissions, professional experience, and the ability to work with a fast-paced, global team. The team was selectively chosen in order to promote global diversity and ensure that a balance exists between newer and experienced professionals.
These first-time apprentices will be joined by an experienced group of veteran apprentices, who will use their previous experiences to lead this year’s program. Throughout the festival, apprentices can be identified by the color of their chef coats: white for managers, black for assistant managers, grey for leaders, and red for first-time apprentices.
By working directly with seminar presenters, program apprentices hone their skills while simultaneously learning about both the history and future of their craft. After the festival, apprentices are able to apply their new skills to their home and work environments, making the experience of being a CAP member a long-term investment. In addition to technical skills, the valuable professional connections and the team camaraderie fostered during the event have been consistently praised by former members as the most valuable assets the program has given them.
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation would like to thank our generous annual supporters of the Cocktail Apprentice Program: Campari, Crown Royal, Maison Courvoisier, and Pernod Ricard USA.
2023 Red Coat Apprentices:
- SC Baker Expo, Louisville, KY
- Katanas Blade, Hanah Detroit, Detroit, MI
- Brendon Bos, Padre & Mezcalero, Long Beach, CA
- Pete Browne, Five Acres, New York, NY
- Zen Castro, Espiritu Mezcaleria, New Orleans, LA
- Alina Lucia Cichozki, Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Joe Coleman, Doublespeak Cocktails, Aquebogue, NY
- Thumper Cooper, The Jones Assembly, Oklahoma City, OK
- Warren Corazzini, Tiki Chick, New York, NY
- Kelly Dcruz, The Secret Mermaid, Singapore
- Leah DuFresne, Cocktails and Grace, Las Vegas, NV
- Tyler Fernberg, Quarters Bar and Arcade, Salt Lake City, UT
- Ashley Flynn, The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON, Canada,
- Jackson Gracy, Bay Harbor Yacht Club, Petoskey, MI
- Seth Hiravy, Chez Zou, New York, NY
- Zoo Holmström, Mírate, Los Angeles, CA
- Gaby Holzer, Thyme X Table, Cleveland, OH
- Matt Huntley, High West Distillery, Park City, UT
- Scott Jenkins, The Stock Room, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Cheech Kinsway, Market Bar, Dublin, OH
- Corrie Levis, La Otra, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Augusto Lino, Noir at The Charles Hotel, Cambridge, MA
- Kai Lucas, European Bartender School, New York City, NY
- Tyler MacLellan, Three Dots and a Dash, Chicago, IL
- Jon Mateer, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
- Sarah LM Mengoni, Historically Drinking / Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, Los Angeles, CA
- Sebastián Montero, Arco Cocktail Lounge, Savannah, GA
- Alexie Myles, Mystic Restaurant and Bar, Manchester, VT
- Jessica Neblina, Employees Only Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Lauren Pileggi, Tuco's Taco Lounge, Sudbury, ON, Canada
- Antoinette Rangel, Sugar Monk, New York, NY
- Daniel Reylock, Raines Law Room / Thyme Bar, New York, NY
- Joel Spencer, Wildjac Spirits, Bewdley, UK
- Nicole Stankovic, Emerald City Cocktails, Seattle, WA
- Andre Sykes, Alpino, Detroit, MI
- Brandon Thrash, Middle Child Clubhouse, Philadelphia, PA
- Sabrina Touzel, Restaurant Foxy, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Jessica Westergom, Beauty & Essex NY, New York, NY
- Cynthia Wong, Resonance by Heston Blumenthal, Atlantis The Royal, Dubai, UAE
- Viktoria Zolotoverkhaya, Bar Neiro / OXI Club, Berlin, Germany
2023 Grey Coat Apprentices:
- Jen Akin, BCI, Seattle, WA
- Israel Barón, Casa Prunes CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico
- Skipper Bonano, Freelance Bartender, Renvo, NV
- Dylan Brentwood, Bar Kismet, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Linda Douglas, Cocktail Academy, Los Angeles, CA
- Kai Duarte, Pacific'o on The Beach, Wailuku, HI
- Glenn Eldridge, ROKA Dubai, Dubai, UAE
- Tim Frandsen, The Little Gay Pub, Washington, DC
- Aaron Hatchell, S&V Uptown Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Arianna Hone, High West Saloon / Post Office Place, Park City, UT
- Delena Humble-Fischer, Sin Muerte, Phoenix, AZ
- Rylen Komeiji, Caviar Bar Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
- Themos Kontodimas, Pernod Ricard Hellas, Athens, Greece
- Ronnie Lopez, Causwells, San Francisco, CA
- Evan McNeil, Sovereign Wine & Spirits, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Jacob Mentel, Wormwood / Secret Garden, San Diego, CA
- Vito Morales, Bestia, Los Angeles, CA
- Allie Phifer, The Collins Bar, Birmingham, AL
- Joey Smith, Zou Zous / Chez Zou, New York City, NY
- Ivan Villegas, The NoMad Hotel, London, London, UK
2023 Black Coat Apprentices:
- Hagay I. Abramovitz, Imperial Craft Cocktail BarTel Aviv, Israel
- Samantha Casuga, Temple Bar, New York, NY
- Richie Delahoyde, Stillgarden Distillery, Dublin, Ireland
- Sarah Syman, The Dandy Crown, Chicago, IL
2023 White Coat Apprentices:
- Alexis Belton, F&B Consultant, Chicago, IL
- Cris Dehlavi, Diageo Hospitality Partnership, Columbus, OH
- Kaleena Goldsworthy*, Proof Incubator and Maven Table, Chattanooga, TN
- Trevor Kallies, Freehouse Collective, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Juyoung Kang, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
- Alex Lerman*, Nine Orchard Hotel, New York, NY
*denotes Jr. White Coat
CAP Advisor:
John Deragon, ResyBrooklyn, NY
CAPs Ongoing Opportunities
After Tales of the Cocktail 2023 concludes, CAP members will be eligible to apply for the Cocktail Apprentice Scholarship Program when the application reopens in January 2024. Founded by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, the Scholarship Program has annually helped former apprentices pursue further learning opportunities over the past ten years. After undergoing a rigorous selection process, former apprentices are selected to receive funding for a wide variety of projects, from those designed to further their career to those designed with the intent to educate the cocktail community.
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