Spotlighting Independent Whiskey Distilleries Across the U.S.
Lost Lantern blends and bottles through their label, but with total transparency in sourcing they create greater access to and visibility for independent craft whiskeys
SevenFifty Daily’s 2023 Drinks Innovators
What makes an innovator in 2023? That’s what we wanted to find out when we reached out to our readers earlier this year, asking them about the individuals and initiatives doing things differently—and creating positive change in the process.
It’s easy to repeat inherited mistakes or conduct business using tired, outdated, or unsustainable models; we looked for people who were breaking from the status quo, thinking not in present-day terms but for the future of the industry as a whole.
The hundred-plus nominations we received spanned all aspects of the trade from trailblazers behind the bar to freethinking retailers and forward-thinking producers. In the end, we narrowed the list down to just 11 award winners who work across wine, spirits, beer, and beyond.
Our innovators aren’t necessarily well-known industry names or veterans who have garnered decades of accolades; we wanted to spotlight the leaders of the future instead, whose work today has the power to transform the industry of tomorrow.
Join us in congratulating our 2023 Drinks Innovators!
Meet the Drinks Innovators
Initiatives Moving the Industry Forward
Spearheading a Game-Changing Whiskey Marketing Campaign
With his unique and varied skill set, Trey Wade is exploring new experiential ways to market American whiskey—and shaking up an industry that has long been the domain of older white men
Prioritizing Economic Equity for Bar Staff
Happy Accidents owners Kate Gerwin and Blaze Montana centered their business around the well-being of their team—and created a model for others to follow
Designing a More Sustainable Packaging System for the Spirits Industry
EcoSpirits set out to tackle the enormous waste and carbon emissions produced by single-use glass bottles in the beverage industry with a technology and design solution based on reuse
Creating a New Model for Accessible Wine Retail and Restaurant Design
With his acclaimed on- and off-premise spaces, Contento and Beaupierre Wine & Spirits, Yannick Benjamin is redesigning modern hospitality for all
Confronting Gender Bias in the Whiskey World
A new media library challenging stereotypes of whiskey drinkers is just the latest project from OurWhisky Foundation’s Becky Paskin to drive change in the industry
Championing AAPI Representation in Wine
As the first Korean-American vintners in Oregon, Lois and Dave Cho are doing more than building a vineyard estate—they’re building a community
Building a Wine Movement for Underrepresented People and Grape Varieties Alike
With a mission-driven distribution portfolio and a nonprofit events organization, Jahdé Marley is uplifting the people—and grape varieties—that the wine industry has traditionally discounted
Building a Queer Community in the Wine Industry
When Darwin Oniyx Acosta landed in Napa as a Roots Fund intern, they immediately set to work transforming the scene to bring more queer visibility to the wine industry
Brewing Craft Beer for an Underserved Audience
With Asian-inspired beers like Lemongrass Witbier and Yuza Blonde, Dokkaebier CEO Youngwon Lee is expanding the flavor profiles of craft brews to serve more diverse audiences
Advocating for the Mental and Physical Well-Being of Bar Workers
The growing awareness of hospitality workers’ health and well-being struggles prompted Alex Jump and LP O’Brien into action through their organization Focus on Health
