Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and Diageo have named the Top 15 US Finalists for Diageo World Class 2026 — the first year the two organizations officially partner to run the US competition.
For 2026, Diageo World Class has a new home. The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has stepped in as the official US partner, taking over from the USBG and marking the most significant structural change to the American competition in years. The result is a program more tightly integrated with education, mentorship, and the wider cocktail community — and a finalist list that reflects the breadth and depth of bartending talent across the country right now.
How the Diageo World Class 2026 Finalists Were Chosen
Selection was rigorous. From a pool of Top 100 applicants, a panel of experts physically recreated and tasted each bartender’s original cocktail submission, evaluating them blind before narrowing the field to 15. The result is a group that spans cities, styles, and perspectives — from New York and Los Angeles to Cincinnati, Seattle, and Kissimmee, Florida.
The Top 15 US Finalists for Diageo World Class 2026
The 15 bartenders heading to Chicago are:
- Alexis Ortega — Philadelphia, PA
- Becky Rose — Aurora, CO
- Bridget Ramsey — East Brunswick, NJ
- Colin Williams — New Orleans, LA
- Elliot Reibert — Chicago, IL
- Gonzalo Ramos — New York, NY
- Jason Briseno — Los Angeles, CA
- Jeff Banks — Decatur, GA
- Kai Lucas — Brooklyn, NY
- Kyler Nolan — Brooklyn, NY
- Makenzie Helem — Seattle, WA
- Michelle Freed — Los Angeles, CA
- Peter Hannah — Kissimmee, FL
- Sierra Knight — Cincinnati, OH
- Taylor Jamison-Parrish — Chicago, IL
What’s at Stake: Chicago, Tales, and Dubai
The 15 finalists will compete at the US Finals in Chicago from 11–13 May 2026, where one bartender will be crowned US Bartender of the Year and earn the right to represent the United States at the World Class Global Finals in Dubai — competing against bartenders from more than 50 countries.
Beyond the competition itself, all 15 finalists will attend Tales of the Cocktail 2026 as part of the Tales Scholars program — a new addition that connects competitors directly to one of the industry’s most important annual gatherings, with access to education sessions, mentorship opportunities, and networking with leading voices from across the global bar world.
The partnership between Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and Diageo signals a deliberate shift towards embedding the competition more deeply in the fabric of the US bar community — not just as a contest, but as a career-building platform for the bartenders who reach it.
The US Finals take place 11–13 May 2026 in Chicago. For full details, visit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation website.
