There are bartenders who follow trends. Then there are those who create them. Simone Caporale belongs firmly in the second category. If you’ve ever poured a drink with a story, crafted a cocktail with intention, or thought of hospitality as more than just service, chances are you’re walking a path he helped pave.

In the pantheon of cocktail history, one name stands out like a beacon—Jerry Thomas, affectionately known as "The Professor." Often regarded