Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has announced the 2024 Tales Catalyst honourees, recognising international honouree Becky Paskin and US honouree Keyatta Mincey Parker for their contribution to diversity and inclusion in the cocktail industry.
Presented by Diageo Bar Academy, Tales Catalyst will take place during Tales of the Cocktail on 23 July, at the Ritz-Carlon New Orleans. The honourees will speak at the event on their unique visions and how they have fostered inclusivity in the drinks industry, followed by a cocktail hour.
Paskin and Parker were chosen by Tales Catalyst committee members from a pool of more than 100 applicants.
Catalyst Co-Chair Tiffanie Barriere thanked the honourees foor their valuable impact on the industry.
“I am overjoyed to see these new Catalyst Award recipients being honoured at Tales of the Cocktail. Their innovative contributions and consistent dedication to advancing the cocktail and spirits industry set them apart as true pioneers. Each recipient has demonstrated an exceptional ability to inspire, educate, and elevate our community, making profound impacts through their creativity and commitment. Their recognition is not only well-deserved but also a testament to the future and innovation of our craft,” she said.
Paskin is an award-winning whisky journalist, presenter, and consultant, and founder of the OurWhisky Foundation. She is an advocate for equality and inclusion in the whisky industry, and has received accolades such as the Icons of Whisky Communicator of the Year and IWSC Spirits Communicator of the Year, and is a Keeper of the Quaich.
Parker is the Chief Curating Officer at Pictures and Cocktails and the Founder and Executive Director of A Sip of Paradise Garden, a community garden for bartenders and hospitality professionals in Atlanta. In her professional life, Parker combines her two decades of experience in hospitality, including in hotels, fine dining, and dance clubs, with her Liberian heritage. She has created the official cocktail for the Liberian Olympic team, was inducted into the Atlanta chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, and was among Wine Enthusiast’s 2023 Future 40.
“Our two honourees are the definition of community builders. Each a Catalyst in their own way. Keyatta has created and cultivated a space for her community and continues to expand and elevate what is possible. Becky took her disappointment and frustration and created a space that celebrates women in a category that often leaves them out of the conversation,” Barriere said.
“They are both incredibly deserving and I can’t wait to honour them in July.”
