NEW YORK (press release) – In celebration of World Cocktail Day, luxury wines and spirits leader Moët Hennessy USA and hospitality-focused non-profit, Another Round Another Rally are partnering to scale the impact of the Phoenix-based Skylight Hospitality Mentorship Program by expanding it to New Orleans this year and other cities in 2025 and beyond.
The six-week mentorship program will pair up-and-coming women, femme or nonbinary bartenders based in New Orleans with industry leaders and experts from across the United States for an impactful mentorship experience in the cultural capital of the South. For the duration, mentors and special guest educators will provide guidance drawing on their industry tenure and success. Mentors and educators include prior Bartenders of the Year (North America’s 50 Best Bars), Spirited Awards Winners (Tales of the Cocktail), bar group owners, published authors and employees of highly recognized non-profits.
“We’re honored to partner with Another Round Another Rally because they understand and embrace the importance of mentorship, which is my department’s north star,” said Liz Batsche, Head of Trade Advocacy at Moët Hennessy USA. “The best cocktails unlock the power of mixing just like mentorship unlocks the potential of hospitality leaders, and we’re thrilled to collaborate on this impactful program so the industry icons of today can support the icons of tomorrow.”
New Orleans was a natural expansion for Skylight given its rich hospitality heritage and impact on global cocktail culture. The program will enrich mentees with a wide array of topics including mixology development, personal brand building, navigating professional scenarios and making bar and restaurant businesses more sustainable, to name a few.
To kick off this year’s mentorship program, mentors and mentees will connect in person during the premier spirits industry event, Tales of the Cocktail, in New Orleans where Moët Hennessy USA will invite attendees to Latrobe’s on Royal for its signature activation—La Maison—a curated experience featuring brands from its iconic portfolio of luxury wines and spirits. Like visiting a friend’s house, La Maison hopes to provide a welcoming and nurturing environment for its guests as they partake in the “Symphony of Spirits.”
“Our previous Skylight graduates have gone on to manage their own bars, direct cocktail programs, teach seminars, win cocktail competitions and most importantly, they become mentors themselves. That’s why we’re delighted for this partnership with Moët Hennessy USA allowing us to expand our impact in the lives of women, femme, and nonbinary bartenders across the country,” said Amanda Gunderson, CEO and co-founder, Another Round Another Rally.
Symbolically launched on World Cocktail Day (May 13) as a nod to the parallel between cocktails and mentorship: the power of mixing unlocks the potential of both. Submissions will be accepted today through June 10. For submission details and applications please visit Another Round Another Rally or sign-up: skylight.anotherroundanotherrally.org.
