The World’s 50 Best Bars has named Iain McPherson, the founder of Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons and a bartender known for his passion for innovation, transparency and Scottish hospitality as the 2024 Altos Bartenders’ Bartender.
This esteemed award is determined by the bartenders featured on this year’s list of The World’s 50 Best Bars. They are invited to nominate a fellow bartender who challenges the definition of excellence in the craft.
The award honours an individual who has significantly influenced the global bar industry during the voting period, acknowledging their dedication to the international community. This announcement marks the second of two special awards to be revealed prior to the live ceremony in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
Iain’s hospitality journey began in 2007 at The Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh, and extended for another six years before he opened Panda & Sons in 2013. Two years later Iain opened Hoot the Redeemer where his world-renowned innovation grew as the bar became known for incredible cocktails and boozy ice cream.
In 2018 Panda & Sons became just the second Scottish bar to make the World’s 50 Best Bars list, and its ranking climbed to 39 in the 2023 World’s 50 Best Bars list.
On winning the award, Iain said: “I am overwhelmingly full of gratitude to be named this year’s Altos Bartenders’ Bartender. How meaningful it is to be nominated by the people that I look up to and admire daily – a true honour.
“Awards, especially one like this, are never truly an ‘individual’ effort but a reflective accolade of the creative, collaborative, driven and passionate team at Panda & Sons. They continuously inspire me and together we have pushed boundaries, creating magic for all.
“It’s always a huge honour to be representing bonnie wee Scotland on the international bartending stage and I believe this award also shines a light on what an amazing bar scene we have in Edinburgh.”
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World’s 50 Best Bars, said: “We are delighted to unveil Iain McPherson as the winner of this year’s Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award. He is renowned for his contribution to cocktail excellence and innovation, and his commitment to education within the industry (as well as his signature panda accessories).
“His sincere advocacy for Edinburgh’s hospitality industry demonstrates the most important attributes of a true Bartenders’ Bartender.”
The Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award was introduced to The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2017 and Carlos Andrés Ramirez, Global Advocacy & PR Manager for Altos Tequila, said: “For the Altos Tequila and Altos Tahona Society family, it has been a priority to support bartenders on scaling up their careers. We want to congratulate our friend Iain McPherson from Panda and Sons in Edinburgh on winning the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award as part of The Worlds 50 Best Bars 2024. We are so happy to see this recognition to one of our favourite bartenders in Scotland.”
The inaugural winner of the award was Iain Griffiths of London’s Dandelyan with subsequent winners being Joe Schofield, then of Tippling Club in Singapore, in 2018; Monica Berg of Tayēr + Elementary, London, in 2019; Renato ‘Tato’ Giovannoni, of Florería Atlántico, Buenos Aires, in 2020; Lynnette Marrero of Llama Inn, New York, in 2021; Jean Trinh of Alquímico, Cartagena, Colombia in 2022; and GN Chan of Double Chicken Please, New York, in 2023.
