About: Erick Castro
Erick Castro initially built his cocktail empire at San Francisco's Rickhouse and Bourbon & Branch by searching for obscure recipes, methods and ingredients that originated prior to Prohibition. The bartending behemoth has created unique beverage programs that have earned a place on some of the nation’s most coveted lists, including Esquire's Best Bars in America, Food & Wine’s “World’s Top Bars” and countless nominations at the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards in New Orleans. In 2013, Castro partnered up with Southern California's hospitality collective, CH Projects, to launch Polite Provisions –which quickly received accolades such asImbibe magazine’s Cocktail Bar of the Year 2014 and Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Bars. In 2014, he teamed up with the team behind Cocktail Kingdom to create Boilermaker in New York City, where it quickly earned a reputation as an East Village hangout with incredible cocktails. The bar has since been featured in periodicals such as the Wall Street Journal and Wine Enthusiast, and was recently chosen by New York magazine as Best Serious Cocktails in New York City.
Erick Castro: Awards & Accolades
Star Chefs: San Francisco Bay Area
Rising Star Mixologist: 2010
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best American Brand Ambassador 2012: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
American Bartender of the Year 2013: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
American Bartender of the Year 2014: Nominee
Imbibe Magazine
Creator of the Kentucky Buck: One of 10 Modern Classics May/June 2014 Issue
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
American Bartender of the Year 2014: Nominee
Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards
Best Director of Documentary Feature 2017: Winner
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best American Bar Mentor 2020: Nominee
Punch Drink
Creator of the Piña Verde: Modern Classic: August 2020
Drink’s International’s Bar World 100
Most Influential Figures, 2021: No. 79
Drink’s International’s Bar World 100
Most Influential Figures, 2022: No. 74
His Projects: Awards & Accolades
POLITE PROVISIONS
Proprietor
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
World’s Best New Bar 2013: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best High Volume Cocktail Bar 2013: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best High Volume Cocktail Bar 2014: Winner
Imbibe Magazine
Cocktail Bar of the Year 2014: Winner
James Beard Awards
Outstanding Bar Program 2016: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best High Volume Cocktail Bar 2017: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best High Volume Cocktail Bar 2018: Nominee
San Diego Magazine
Best Cocktails 2019: Winner
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best Bar Bar 2019: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best High Volume Cocktail Bar 2019: Nominee
RAISED BY WOLVES
Proprietor
Imbibe Magazine
Cocktail Bar of the Year 2019: Winner
San Diego City Beat
Best New Bar 2018: Winner
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best New American Cocktail Bar 2019: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
World’s Best Spirits Selection 2019: Nominee
Esquire Magazine
Best Bars in America: 2019
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best New American Cocktail Bar 2020: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
World’s Best Spirits Selection 2020: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
World’s Best Menu 2020: Nominee
North America’s 50 Best Bars
2022: Number 19
BARTENDER AT LARGE: PODCAST
Host
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series 2018: Nominee
Nightclub & Bar Show
Industry Podcast of the Year 2019: Winner
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series 2019: Winner
BOILERMAKER
Proprietor
New York Magazine: Best of New York 2015
Best Serious Cocktails
New York City’s Best Burgers: The Definitive Guide
Thrillist 2018
RICKHOUSE
Opening Bar Manager
GQ Magazine
Best Cocktail Bars in America 2009
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
World’s Best Cocktail Menu 2010: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
World’s Best New Cocktail Bar 2010: Nominee
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best American Cocktail Bar 2010: Nominee
Food & Wine Magazine
Best Bars in the World 2010
Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award
Best High Volume Cocktail Bar 2011: Winner