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Bartender Spirits Awards

Bartender Spirits Awards
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Kapri Robinson

US Bartender of the year 2024, Netflix Drinks Master's and Bartender of The Year 2023 at Liquor.com

Kapri Robinson is DC's 2017 Cocktail Queen. While spending her time being a bartender, educator and event organizer, she is also the president & founder of Chocolate City's Best (CCB). Chocolate City’s Best is an organization geared towards connecting Black and Brown bar industry members to community, mentorship, education and career growth opportunities. Kapri has been welcomed onto many television spotlights such as: Great Day Washington and Good Morning Washington. Kapri is one of twelve first ever Drink Masters on Netflix. As well as being featured on TV, Kapri has been featured in many media outlets such as PUNCH, Eater, Forbes, Washington Post, Washingtonian, Washington City Paper, District Fray, and Edible DC.

Kapri, a WSET Level 3 Spirits graduate. Kapri continues to lead seminars on hospitality, empowerment, cocktail knowledge and spirit history/ education. She has been asked to speak/teach on national and global stages at renowned conferences like Tales of The Cocktail, Bar Convent Brooklyn, and Bar & Restaurant Expo. In 2021, Kapri was chosen to be one of Eaters New Guard. This recognition allows Eater to highlight 10 national leaders who use food and beverage to challenge conventions, empower their communities and create positive change in the industry.  She also was graciously nominated as a top 10 bartender in the nation by the Tales of The Cocktail Spirited Awards in 2022 and top 4 bartender in the nation for 2023. Kapri was awarded 2023 Bartender of the year by Liquor.com. She was wonderfully awarded Bartender of the Year 2024 by Tales of the Cocktail Spirited awards. She has co-created cocktail menus for one of 2023’s North America’s 50 Best Bars and Tales of the Cocktail 2024 Spirited Awards U.S. Hotel Bar winner, Allegory. This menu went on to win 2023 North America’s 50 Best Bar award for Best Cocktail Menu in North America. She is a Co-Host of Soul Palate Podcast in which provides a platform to normalize Black and Brown palates. Kapri is dedicated to educating the masses on cocktail/spirits knowledge and strives to create opportunities for Black and Brown industry members. 

Meet our Judges

Martin Duffy

Whisky Educator and Ex Sr. Master of Whisky for the entire Diageo whisky portfolio

Mike Ryan

Global Beverage Director, Acurio International, Chicago

Peter Vestinos

Partner and Beverage Director at Sparrow Chicago and Spirit Specialist at The Winebow Group

Kiki Avalos

2024 US Tastemaker of the Year at the USBG and Bar Manager at Red Feather Kitchen, Cincinnati, Ohio