A few days ago, the latest edition of the prestigious Bar World 100 ranking was published. This list is compiled annually by Drinks International magazine and provides an overview of the hundred figures who are currently having the greatest impact on the global bar scene – from innovators and owners of top-class bars, through visionaries, to educators and industry ambassadors. Over the years, VisitChef has had the opportunity to film exclusive video interviews with several of the figures who also feature in this year’s edition. Here is an overview of them.
The Bar World 100 is one of the world’s most respected rankings focusing on figures in the bar industry. The final ranking is decided by an international jury comprising 124 experts from 72 cities around the world. Each juror nominates ten figures who, in their view, are currently having the most significant influence on the global bar scene. The final ranking of the hundred most influential people in the industry is then determined by the total number of votes.
This year’s winner was Jean Trinh from the Colombian bar Alquímico, whom the jury recognised for his exceptional blend of world-class hospitality, education, sustainability and social impact. The top ten also included Monica Berg, Danil Nevsky, Lorenzo Antinori and Shingo Gokan – names that are currently shaping the direction of global cocktail culture.
2nd place: Iain McPherson (Panda & Sons, Edinburgh)
Last year’s most influential figure in the global bar industry has lost none of his inventiveness. This year, Iain McPherson has once again pushed the boundaries of cocktail creation by introducing another new technique for preparing drinks – one that is likely to appear soon at cocktail competitions around the world. Following on from the Switching and Sous-Pression methods, which rely on working at extremely low temperatures, he has introduced the Densing technique, which allows new cocktail textures to be created significantly faster. His bar, Panda & Sons, which is celebrating its thirteenth anniversary this year, remains a showcase for his innovations. McPherson is also a prominent ambassador for Edinburgh, where he co-founded the Edinburgh Bar Show.
7th place: Simone Caporale (Sips / Boadas, Barcelona)
Simone Caporale is one of the most successful figures in the modern bar world. He has already won the title of The World’s Best Bar five times. After leading Sips to the top of the world rankings in 2023, he breathed new life into the legendary Boadas bar and opened the Cuban-inspired Montana in Hong Kong. At the same time, he has significantly expanded his business activities and now leads a team of more than sixty employees and collaborators around the world.
9th place: Alex Kratena (Tayēr + Elementary, London)
Alex Kratena is one of the architects of contemporary bar culture. A former member of the Artesian team, he co-founded Tayēr + Elementary in London – one of the most progressive bars of our time – and was involved in the creation of Muyu liqueurs, Tayēr RTD cocktails and the travelling collective Like Minded Creatures. In 2023, he opened Tayēr Studios, a creative space combining a gallery, a cocktail bar and a shop. Although he is constantly looking to the future and keeping an eye on new trends in the world of drinks, he remains one of the finest hosts on the contemporary bar scene.
18th place: Stanislav Harciník (The Cocktail Balance / Mirror Bar, Bratislava)
Stanislav Harciník combines creativity, education and strategic management with the aim of raising Slovakia’s profile on the global bar scene. He is the author of the book The Cocktail Balance, co-founder of the Mirror Hospitality Expo professional conference, and skilfully blends traditional bartending techniques with modern craftsmanship. As a global ambassador for Mirror Bar, he has long been promoting a cocktail culture rooted in Central European traditions whilst meeting the highest global standards. This interview was conducted together with his colleague, bar manager Petr Marcina.
45th place: Patrick Pistolesi (Drink Kong, Rome)
Patrick Pistolesi describes himself as a “storyteller of emotions”. During his career, he has tried his hand at almost every role in the bar industry, but his real breakthrough came with the opening of Drink Kong, which quickly gained an international reputation. This was followed in 2023 by Nite Kong, and this year Drink Kong Campo Marzio was added, located in the luxury JK Place Roma hotel. The new venue offers futuristic interpretations of classic cocktails and pays homage to Rome’s timeless elegance.
74th place: Erik Lorincz (Kwant, London)
Always impeccably groomed, Erik Lorincz is not only one of London’s most distinctive bartenders of the last two decades, but also one of the most respected figures in the world of bartending. His bar, Kwant Mayfair – now in its second incarnation – remains a hub of cocktail innovation thanks to its omakase concept and open-bar style of service. A former winner of the Diageo World Class World Final, he is a prominent figure in the international bar community and, through his masterclasses, helps to nurture the next generation of top bartenders. This is an interview with Erik about his work philosophy from 2020.
83rd place: Millie Tang (De Vie, Paris)
Millie Tang, a native of Brisbane, Australia, defies conventional categorisation. As well as being an award-winning bartender, she is also involved in photography, videography and consultancy work. She played a key role in the opening of the Parisian bar De Vie, which quickly gained international acclaim. She currently collaborates with the Schweppes Pioneers platform, acts as a mentor for the Hennessy My Way programme and, together with her partner, Harrison Kenney, is developing the international pop-up project Maison Mahjong.
