Jean Trinh of Alquímico in Cartagena, Colombia, is the most influential bar industry figure, according to Drinks International’s Bar World 100.
The French-born operator rises from fourth to first in the annual list, which is the result of a poll of more than 120 industry commentators spread across 72 bar scenes around the world.
Trinh’s Alquímico is a veritable cathedral to fiesta, featuring on The World’s 50 Best Bars list – while also funding community projects, including farmers and a school for hospitality.
It’s the first time a bar figure from outside of the UK has topped Bar World 100, which launched in 2019.
Iain McPherson, the owner of bar Panda & Sons in Edinburgh, and last year’s most influential – takes second this year.
His work around sub-zero cocktail-making techniques is complemented by his latest innovation this year – Densing. McPherson is creative in and out of his bar, co-launching The Edinburgh Bar Show and the Panda Highland Games.
In third this year is Tayēr + Elementary’s Monica Berg. The five-time number one in this list between 2020-2024 has long been considered a leader in cutting-edge, far-sighted bartending, putting sustainability – of humans and resources – at the forefront of her approach.
In fourth this year is another London-based leader, Anna Sebastian. The luxury hospitality consultant and founder of Celebrate Her balances life at the elite end of hospitality with a social conscience and rises six places this year.
Danil Nevsky, no stranger to the upper echelons of this list, completes the top five. The self-styled Indie Bartender’s daily analysis of the industry on social media positions him as the de facto spokesperson for bartending.
Also in the top 10 is Lorenzo Antinori, whose Bar Leone in Hong Kong now has a second site in Shanghai. Simone Caporale, with who Antinori shares the bar Montana, is in seventh, while sustainability future-gazer, Vijay Mudaliar of Native bar in Singapore, is eighth.
The top 10 is made up of Shingo Gokan, founder of the ever-multiplying SG Group, and Alex Kratena, co-owner of Tayēr + Elementary.
The list of 100 sees 19 changes from last year, with 12 new entries and seven re-entries (those who have appeared in editions from 2019-2024).
Split down by primary role, 71 of the 100 are bartenders and bar owners, 11 are consultants and educators, 10 are media and eight represent brands.
New York can be considered the most influential city in the bar world, contributing the most names to the list (11), while London is second with nine contributions and Barcelona in third with five.
Hamish Smith, editor of Bar World 100, said: “If you’re new to Bar World 100 – our list of the industry’s most influential figures – you’re likely not new to the names that feature on its pages.
“These are the people who our panel of global voters consider to have the most impact on the bar industry, those that drive growth, shape behaviour and trends around the world. Not over their careers – this is a freeze frame of opinion of who is most relevant to the world of bars now.
“The big news is that in this edition – for the second year running – we have a new number one most influential. Frenchman Jean Trinh, based in Colombia, follows in the footsteps of three UK-based winners: Iain McPherson, Monica Berg and Ryan Chetiyawardana.
“There can’t be a person who has come in contact with the Alquímico owner who hasn’t been taken with his positive energy; the way he has shown that bartenders really can change the world.”
The Bar World 100 2026 magazine can be read in full here.
