• Luke Awtry
• Emily Morton

Emily Morton (Deli 126) — Somebody’s going to need a bigger trophy shelf. Emily Morton, general manager and bartender at Deli 126, is on a winning streak: She took home top honors in the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild Vermont Bartender of the Year Competition earlier this year. The bar at Deli 126 may be a speakeasy, but Morton’s love for historic spirits, and for educating her customers and staff, is hardly a secret. When she’s not developing new drinks for the bar’s extensive and creative cocktail list — featuring plenty of Vermont products, of course — Morton spearheads a program for USBG members focused on physical and mental health in the service industry. Cheers to that!

Other Finalists

• Maddy McKenna (Drifter's)
• Melissa Jayne (T. Rugg's Tavern)
• Michael Malinowski (Upper Deck Pub)
• Sevie Cartularo (the Old Post)