Best New Bartenders 2024: Meet the Finalists

Six years ago, Punch launched the Bartender in Residence program with a simple mission: Elevate and amplify rising talent in the bartending community through a combination of editorial coverage, social media, live events and more. Last year, we reimagined the program and gave it a new name, Best New Bartenders, to better capture how the series has evolved—from an intimate takeover of our office test bar for the New York trade community to an editorial franchise with national reach, and a growing family of alums who represent the future of bartending.

The individuals listed below have been selected as 2024 Best New Bartenders finalists. Each possesses a distinctive creative point-of-view behind the bar paired with a genuine desire to push the industry forward. From this talented group, 10 will be named the Best New Bartenders of 2024. Check back on August 13 for the final list.

Kitty Bernardo | Paradise Lost, New York, New York

Justin Brody | The Port of Call, Mystic, Connecticut

Rensel Cabrera | The Sylvester, Miami, Florida

Gabriel Chavez | Last Rites, San Francisco, California

Kelly Corso | Lobby Bar, San Francisco, California

Linda Douglas | Donna’s, Los Angeles, California

Allison Everitt | Kiesling, Detroit, Michigan

Chris Figueroa | Crown Shy, Overstory and Saga, New York, New York

Altamash Gaziyani | Puritan & Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Summer Goff | Run For The Roses, Denver, Colorado

Manny Hernandez | Stokes Adobe, Monterey, California

Antonio Jimenez | Bolo, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Tom G. Liu | Thunderbolt, Los Angeles, California

Jon Mateer | TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Jackson Mercier | Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Thomas Moore IV | The Elysian Bar and The Columns, New Orleans, Louisiana

Maddy Morrison | Kumiko, Chicago, Illinois

Thi Nguyen | Moon Rabbit, Washington, D.C.

Jordan Valls | Palomar, Portland, Oregon

Shaun Williams | Jewel of the South, New Orleans, Louisiana