Introducing the Final Nominees for Best New Bartenders 2026

Through our annual Best New Bartenders program, Punch puts a spotlight on rising talent in the industry. This year, in partnership with Astral Tequila, we’re placing a special focus on the people putting hospitality first—for their guests, their teammates and the industry at large.

Listed below are this year’s final nominees. We were impressed and inspired by their drinks, their creativity, their passion and their commitment to their communities. We received a record number of submissions and are so grateful to everyone who nominated themselves and their peers.

Please join us in celebrating the final nominees, and check back in June, when we will name the 10 Best New Bartenders of 2026.

Miley Aryucharoen | Tomat, Los Angeles, California
Carley Callis | Paloma Restaurant and Copita Wine Bar, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Kayla Campbell | Courtland Club, Providence, Rhode Island
Christy Cartagena | Sparrow, Chicago, Illinois
Matthew Huntley | Three Dots and a Dash, Chicago, Illinois
Abigail Jennings | Father Forgive Me, Detroit, Michigan
Princess Johnson | Allegory, Washington, D.C.
Chris Kuse | Monstera Mezcaleria & Natural Wines, St. Louis, Missouri
Sid Lewis | Occidental Bar, Denver, Colorado
Laurymar Lopez Melon | Bar Snack, New York, New York
Lena Maio | Beatbox, New York, New York
Nicole Nathan | Viridian, Oakland, California
Jakob McCabe-Johnston | Kimball House, Decatur, Georgia
Dominique Muñoz | Polite Provisions, San Diego, California
Kristine Nguyen | Bludorn, Houston, Texas
Dillon Raaz | Atoma, Seattle, Washington
Samantha Ruth | Darling, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Nicolette Shea Irvine | The Paddock, Eugene, Oregon
Sean Teague | Rada, Charlotte, North Carolina
Lucy Mae Valenti | Residents, Washington, D.C.