If you are unfamiliar with Kate Gerwin, you are really not paying attention. Kate is a trailblazer in the world in the cocktail and hospitality industry and her stack of accolades and awards show just how important she is. With over 20 years of experience, Kate has earned a spot on Drinks International’s list of the Top 100 Most Influential Figures in the World, for five years, currently ranking #33. On Netflix’s Drinkmasters where she finished as runner-up and has consulted on Bar Rescue. She is an instructor at the Bar 5 Day program at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park and Flair Camp in Albufeira, Portugal.
In 2015, Kate was inducted into the Tales of the Cocktail Hall of Fame Catalyst Awards—one of the few peer-judged honors in the industry—cementing her reputation as a pioneer in the field. But what really fuels her passion is her bar and distillery, Happy Accidents, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Co-founded with her longtime business partner Blaze Montana in 2021, the bar quickly became a game-changer. It was named Best New American Cocktail Bar twice—at both the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards and the liquor.com Awards—and in 2023, Kate and her team were crowned Best U.S. Bar Team at the Spirited Awards. In 2023, she was also named Bartender of the Year, and Happy Accidents was awarded Bar of the Year at the Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas in 2024. Kate and Blaze were both named Drinks Industry’s Innovators of the Year by Seven Fifty Daily for their innovative approach to the way
they run their business and prioritize staff wellbeing. Most recently, Kate was named a semifinalist for a James Beard award for 2025 and she was also one of Imbibe’s 75 people shaping the future of the industry for 2025.
Kate’s creativity doesn’t stop at the bar: she designed custom glassware collection for Onis, a prize from her global win in the 2023 Glassology competition in Athens. Her flair for innovation has also earned her a finalist spot in the Best Bar Mentor and Best American Cocktail Bar categories at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail. But Kate’s latest adventure has been in front of the camera. Her TV show Free Spirit, which airs on the Very Local platform, is a hit, exploring the diverse and dynamic world of bar culture across the country. It became the top-viewed show in the station’s history, and season two is already in the works. Kate’s infectious enthusiasm, coupled with her deep knowledge and love for the industry, has made her an
ambassador for the craft and a true force in the global hospitality scene.
Kate has DONE THINGS. What we love most about Kate is that she’s real. She is always available and open. She is one of those people who truly believes in this industry and works hard to make it better for everyone.
Bartender Atlas: Where were you born?
Kate Gerwin: I was born in Northern California and moved all over the Sonoma County area before I moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia. After high school I moved back to wine country and posted up in Napa Valley to study winemaking.
BA: What city do you work in?
KG: Albuquerque, New Mexico
BA: Where do you go out to eat and drink on your days off?
KG: Honestly I usually stay home on my days off, but I will always hit up my Nob Hill neighbors like Mesa Provisions or The Shop for some good eats, and I am constantly on the lookout for where Mighty Mike’s Meats Food Truck will land.
BA: What do you do outside of work on your days off?
KG: I love to explore art museums, soak in my hot tub, or read a good book.
BA: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
KG: Be unapologetically authentic in who you are.
BA: What’s something you’re excited about?
KG: My daughter just left for her first year at college, Montana State, and I can’t wait to watch her continue on the incredible journey she has created.
RETURN TO ALL HOSPITALITY GEMS
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Posted September 5th, 2025
