The Bartender Spirits Awards is pleased to announce that Elliott Reibert, one of the Top 15 finalists in the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Presents World Class sponsored by Diageo U.S. competition, has joined its judging panel in Chicago.

Reibert was selected from a highly competitive national field to compete alongside 14 of the country’s leading bartenders at the U.S. National Finals. The competition tested participants across multiple areas of modern bartending, including cocktail creativity, technical precision, speed, flavour balance, storytelling and hospitality under pressure.

His selection as a national finalist also earned him a place in the Tales Scholars cohort, providing access to advanced seminars, workshops, tastings and educational sessions at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.

A Bartender Focused on Creativity and Guest Connection

Now based in Chicago, Reibert has developed his career around thoughtful cocktails, genuine hospitality and a strong connection with guests. His previous experience includes working at Peridot and York Food & Drink in Ann Arbor, where he developed drinks designed to be creative and distinctive without losing sight of approachability.

For Reibert, bartending is about more than following recipes. It involves understanding the guest, asking the right questions and creating a drink that suits the individual in front of him. When guests ask to be surprised, his approach is to first understand their preferred spirits, flavours and any dietary considerations before creating something tailored to their tastes.

That guest-first philosophy is particularly relevant to the Bartender Spirits Awards. A spirit may perform well when tasted on its own, but its long-term success in a bar depends on whether bartenders can confidently use it, recommend it and connect it with the right drinking occasion.

Reibert’s cocktail work demonstrates an ability to explore a wide range of flavours and categories, from tequila and mezcal to gin, whiskey, amari and herbal liqueurs. His approach combines creativity with balance, ensuring that individual ingredients contribute to a complete and enjoyable drink.

Tested on the World Class Stage

Reibert’s place among the World Class U.S. Top 15 reflects his standing within a new generation of American bartenders combining technical skill with storytelling, speed and hospitality.

At the national competition, finalists were required to create original cocktails inspired by their personal heritage and bartending journeys, develop the next generation of coffee cocktails and complete a high-pressure speed challenge involving six drinks in eight minutes.

These challenges evaluated the same practical abilities that influence whether a spirit can succeed behind a working bar: versatility, balance, efficiency, consistency and the ability to inspire creative applications.

“Elliott represents the type of active and forward-thinking bartender we want on the Bartender Spirits Awards judging panel,” said Sid Patel, CEO of Beverage Trade Network and Founder of the Bartender Spirits Awards. “His World Class experience demonstrates his technical ability, but his guest-focused approach is equally important. He understands that a successful spirit must inspire bartenders, work during service and ultimately deliver an experience that guests want to order again.”

Evaluating Spirits for Real On-Premise Success

The Bartender Spirits Awards is designed to identify spirits that bartenders, bar managers and beverage buyers would confidently stock and use in bars, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality venues.

Entries are assessed on mixability, balance and versatility, taste, mouthfeel and finish, packaging and value. Judges consider the quality of the liquid alongside its practical and commercial potential within the on-premise industry.

Reibert will bring a working bartender’s perspective to this process. His evaluation will consider questions that matter behind the bar: Does the spirit offer a clear and distinctive flavour profile? Can it perform in more than one style of cocktail? Does it remain balanced when combined with other ingredients? Is the packaging practical during service? Does the price support a commercially viable pour? Will guests understand and enjoy it?

His appointment strengthens the competition’s commitment to building a judging panel of active hospitality professionals who understand how purchasing and pouring decisions are made in the real world.

Strengthening the Bartender Spirits Awards Panel

Reibert joins a distinguished group of bartenders, bar managers, beverage directors and hospitality buyers responsible for selecting, listing, recommending and serving spirits across the U.S. on-premise market.

For participating brands, this means each product is assessed by professionals who understand both creative cocktail development and the operational realities of modern bars.

A medal from the Bartender Spirits Awards therefore represents more than technical quality. It indicates that a spirit has demonstrated the mixability, value, presentation and commercial relevance required to earn a place within a working beverage program.

With Elliott Reibert joining the judging panel, entrants will receive the perspective of a nationally recognised bartender whose work is grounded in creativity, education, guest connection and real-world service.

About the Bartender Spirits Awards

The Bartender Spirits Awards is an international spirits competition created to identify the best products for bars, restaurants, hotels and other on-premise establishments in the United States.

The competition is judged by active bartenders, bar managers, beverage directors and hospitality buyers. Spirits are evaluated on mixability, balance and versatility, taste, mouthfeel and finish, packaging and value, providing producers with a practical assessment of how their brands may perform in the U.S. on-premise market.

The Bartender Spirits Awards is organised by Beverage Trade Network, a global media and events company serving the wine, beer, spirits and beverage industries.

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