Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans Celebrates J’Nai Williams Named to Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 Tastemakers


Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences New Orleans is proud to announce that J’Nai Angelle Williams, Lead Bartender of Chandelier Bar, has been named to Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 Tastemakers. This annual list honours the next generation of leaders shaping the global drinks industry.
Williams is recognized for her ability to fuse technical precision with cultural fluency, mentorship, and creativity. At the Chandelier Bar, she continues to elevate the guest experience while inspiring a new wave of bartenders and beverage enthusiasts in New Orleans and beyond.
“It is an incredible honour to be recognized by Wine Enthusiast among so many talented peers across the industry,” said Williams. “New Orleans has always been a city that celebrates culture and cocktails, and I am proud to represent both my hometown and Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans on this stage.”
In the accompanying Future 40 Question and Answer, Williams underscored her passion for building a healthier, more inclusive industry, noting that “sustainability is about both human and economic wellbeing. To me, sustainability means creating spaces where bartenders feel safe, supported and appreciated. It’s about building a community that prioritizes mental and physical health just as much as cocktail knowledge.”
She also shared her perspective on cocktail trends and overly seasonal menus, explaining “I think the best approach is to keep a solid core menu year-round and use seasonal cocktails as a lagniappe: an extra touch, not a total replacement.”
A proud New Orleans native and LSU graduate, Williams brings over a decade of bartending expertise across diverse settings, from dive bars to fine dining, and brand activations to pop-up shifts. She has competed in notable industry events such as the NOLA Bourbon Fest Bourbon Brawl, Espolon Cocktail Fights, and Speed Rack, and her cocktail, Seafood on a Saturday, was recently featured in Essence and the cocktail anthology A Quick Drink.
Beyond her role at Four Seasons, Williams is a content creator sharing her knowledge and bringing fellow bartenders together through her original Instagram video series, Pick Up My Shift, spotlighting emerging bartenders alongside smaller spirit brands. She also mentors women and non-binary bartenders through the Skylight Program by nonprofit Another Round Another Rally.
Williams’ accolades include being named “NOLA’s Finest Bartender” by Essence Magazine and “Favourite Virtual Bartender” by Where Y’at Magazine. In 2025, the Chandelier Bar was honoured as a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Bar and a Spirited Award regional honouree for Best U.S. Hotel Bar, underscoring the bar’s role as a premier cocktail destination in the city.
For more information about Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans and Chandelier Bar, visit the website.

New Orleans, 70130
USA