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World’s Best Margarita Maker Jonathan Stanyard Joins Bartender Spirits Awards Judging Panel

Photo for: World’s Best Margarita Maker Jonathan Stanyard Joins Bartender Spirits Awards Judging Panel

07/03/2023 Award Winning Mixologist and Bartender Jonathan Stanyard will join the 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards.

Jonathan Stanyard is a Seattle-based bartender and a veteran of the industry. In 1999, his career started at a friend's Italian Restaurant in the Bay Area of California. In 2014, Jonathan moved to Seattle to continue the pursuit of excellence in the cocktail world. In 2019, he launched a very specialized education and bitters production, The Bitter Gringo Company. Most recently, Jonathan was the Bar Manager for Brother Barrel, a craft cocktail bar with a focus on barrel-aged and sour beers. 

After that role, he bartended north of the city in Kirkland at French focused restaurant, Feast. Currently, you can find him behind the bar at Il Bistro a few nights a week. From dimly lit jazz clubs to high-end French steakhouses, cafes, and private events, Jonathan has immersed himself in all styles of service. In the most recent years, he is focusing on becoming the best bartender he can be and creating the most unique and complete cocktail experiences in person and digitally.

Jonathan Stanyard

Image: Bartender Jonathan Stanyard

Accomplishments:

1st Place Cointreau’s World’s Best Margarita Global Winner 2022

Top 15 USBG World Class National Finalists 2022

2nd Place National Finals Woodford Reserve Manhattan Experience 2022

2nd Place National Finals Gentleman Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Sour Classic 2022

2nd Place USA Licor 43’s Bartender’s & Baristas Challenge 2022

1st Place Fastest Hands in the East, Bellevue WA Competition 2021

Top 10 USA Cognac Connection Challenge Winner 2021

Top 50 USBG World Class Finalist 2020 - 1st Place Cardenal Mendoza Golden Week Global Competition 2020 - Sombra Sustainable Cocktail Competition Winner 2019

1st Place Flying Embers PDXCW Cocktail Competition 2019

1st Place NW Food Show Competition by Heritage 2019

1st Place - Temple Distilling Co-Authored Gin Competition

Amazing cocktail recipes.

Check out his Instagram for his amazing cocktail recipes.

As a former Creator and Owner with over several years of experience, I am looking to transition into a new career where I can utilize my management skills and passion for customer care. I have over several years of supervisory experience and Leadership, as well as several years of recruiting/training experience. Throughout my tenure, I had the opportunity to work with teams of up to 40 people and managed operations with multiple departments to ensure that goals were met while maintaining store standards.

Favourite Spirit: All Agave 

Favourite Juice: Lime 

Favourite Classic Cocktail: Vieux Carre 

Favourite Part of the Job: Human Connection 

Favourite After Work Drink: Amaro with a side of soda water 

Favorite Home Drink: A Barrel-Aged Cocktail 

Favorite “at work” memory: We have a “floor window” at our bar. A gal who had a few drinks, while walking over it, suddenly realizes the hole, screams bloody murder, and jumps. She may have left in tears…she freaked.

Bartender Atlas

Image Source: Bartender Atlas

The judging panel consists of some of the most renowned names in the U.S. bar industry, with extensive expertise in the on-premise industry. The result will be a relevant and practical source of reference for bartenders, bar managers, bar owners, and other industry professionals when making purchasing decisions for their establishments.

The goal of the Bartender Spirits Awards is simple: to provide independent and honest reviews for brands targeting the U.S. bar trade. Using the tagline “Judged By Bartenders, Bar Managers, and Off-Premise Managers For The On-Premise Industry,” the Bartender Spirits Awards will recognize, encourage, promote, and celebrate excellence in the U.S. drinks industry. Judged by bartenders, bar managers, and off-premise managers for the on-premise industry, Bartender Spirits Awards aims to deliver the best spirits for the on-premise sector in the USA. 

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The top two questions that bartenders will be attempting to answer as they review spirits are 1) “Would we stock this?” and 2) "Will the consumer buy the 2nd glass"? EACH SPIRIT BRAND WILL BE RATED ON: a) Mixability b) Balance and Versatility c) Taste, Mouthfeel, and Finish d) Package e) Price.

Bartender Spirits Awards medal will help you in raising your bar in the on-trade channels. View complete winning benefits here. The international submission deadline is March 24, 2023.

Header Image Source: Instagram

A unique opportunity to present your spirits to America's top Bartenders. The scores are benchmarked for on-premise channels by top bartenders, mixologists, bar managers and national on-premise buyers. Final submission deadline is April 24, 2024. Enter Now.