Bartender Atlas: Where were you born?
Kaitlin Wilkes: I was born in Toronto.
BA: Where do you work now?
KW: I actually work for myself. I have my own company doing advocacy and marketing for independent spirits brands in Scotland and across the UK.
BA: You’re based in…
KW: …in Edinburgh.
BA: What’s your job title or how would you describe your role in the hospitality industry?
KW: Well, I have my own consultancy, I’m also the co-founder of the Ada Coleman Project. So I would like to say that my role in the industry is in advocacy, in particular for women and non-binary people in the drinks industry. But at the same time, it’s just to educate bartenders on a global scale.
BA: Where do you eat and drink on your days off when you’re not doing work stuff or having meetings at bars?
KW: Is it wrong to stay at my house? I absolutely love to be at home when I’m not, like, at work. That said, a couple of spots in Edinburgh I like to go to are Hey Palu, Panda & Sons, Little Capo, Chancho, Bramble. I mean, the list could keep going.
BA: What do you do outside of work-related stuff? What other hobbies do you have that aren’t eating and drinking?
KW: I like to be in the gym, I’m really focused on lifting heavy these days. I’m trying to get back into writing, working on something that I’m quite excited about, nothing to do with the world of cocktails which is really cool. I’ve been dipping my toe in cold water swimming in Scotland, yeah it’s been fun.
BA: Who’s your favourite fictional bartender?
KW: Oh my god, that girl from Coyote Ugly.
BA: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten, and it can be work related or not?
KW: The best piece of advice I’ve ever gotten is probably to stay authentic to yourself and lean into who you are and not get stuck in what people expect you to be.
BA: What’s something that you’re looking forward to? What’s something you’re excited about?
KW: I am really excited to take most of December off and hang out with my uncle in Malaysia.
RETURN TO ALL HOSPITALITY GEMS
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Posted July 28th, 2025
