New York Bartender Week Returns for Its Second Year

Hanna Lee Communications, an award-winning multimedia PR/marketing agency specializing in hospitality and luxury travel, has announced the second edition of New York Bartender Week, taking place November 17-23 across New York State. New York Bartender Week is a week-long celebration of the bar community and locally produced spirits of the Empire State. The festival salutes storytelling as the common thread that ties the drinks community together, showcasing the compelling stories of its people, products, and places. Each participating bar will create and serve a New York State-themed cocktail that incorporates at least one locally produced spirit.

 “We are excited to announce the second edition of New York Bartender Week and the roll-out of localized festivals both in the U.S. and globally in 2025,” says Hanna Lee, NYBW Co-Founder and President & Founder of Hanna Lee Communications. “As New Yorkers, we are proud to spotlight this beautiful state and bring global attention to the talent, culture and craft that make New York one of the most influential cocktail destinations in the world.”

“As New Yorkers, we are proud to spotlight this beautiful state and bring global attention to the talent, culture and craft that make New York one of the most influential cocktail destinations in the world.”
—Hanna Lee

This year, New York Bartender Week will feature the first-ever “Bar Star Awards,” honoring bartenders and barbacks across New York State. The awards will be judged by a panel of national and international media. Each applicant will submit a short story about why they chose the bar world for their profession and the obstacles they overcame along the way. The most inspiring storytelling will determine the winners. “Bartenders and barbacks are the heart of our industry,” says Lee. “Through the Bar Star Awards, we are proud to honor their resilience, creativity and personal stories that inspire not only their peers but also the communities they serve.”

The deadline for nominating candidates for Best Bartender and Best Barback is August 31, and finalists will be announced on October 20. The 2025 Bar Star Awards winners will be announced during the NYBW Kick-Off Gala on  November 16. “We believe bartending is more than a job, it is a powerful vehicle of storytelling, community building and cultural exchange,” adds Michael Anstendig, NYBW Co-Founder and Editor in Chief at Hanna Lee Communications. “The Bar Star Awards are our way of bringing these stories to the forefront and giving them the attention they deserve.”

Created and produced by Hanna Lee Communications, New York Bartender Week is an annual celebration of the bar community and bar professionals in New York City and across New York State. Celebrating storytelling as the common thread that unites the bar community, NY Bartender Week spotlights the Big Apple and the Empire State as world-class cocktail destinations while celebrating the career path of bartending. 

For more details about this year’s celebration, follow @newyorkbartenderweek.

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