Mystic's Jade Ayala Is Vinepair's Drinks Professional of the Year

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Oct 16, 2026, 08:32 ET

The Port of Call and Oyster Club Beverage Director Wins at the 2026 Next Wave Awards

MYSTIC, Conn., Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Jade Ayala, Beverage Director at The Port of Call and Oyster Club in Mystic, Connecticut, has been named Drinks Professional of the Year in VinePair's 2026 Next Wave Awards.

The win adds to a notable year for Ayala and The Port of Call, which was also named a 2026 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Wine & Other Beverages, further establishing Mystic as a destination for exceptional food and drink. In 2026, Travel + Leisure named Mystic the Best Small Food Town in America.

Jade Ayala, Beverage Director at The Port of Call and Oyster Club in Mystic, CT, is VinePair's Drinks Professional of the Year at the 2026 Next Wave Awards, which honor the movers and shakers shaping drinks culture. Part of 85th Day Food Community, she draws on local farms, seasonal ingredients and culinary techniques to create inventive cocktails with a local flavor. The win follows The Port of Call's recognition as a 2026 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Wine & Other Beverages.

Pouring creativity into every glass, Jade Ayala, Beverage Director at The Port of Call and Oyster Club in Mystic, CT, has been named Drinks Professional of the Year in VinePair's 2026 Next Wave Awards. Her farm-inspired, seasonal, culinary-minded approach helps define Mystic's drinks scene. The Port of Call was a 2026 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Wine & Other Beverages, adding to the acclaim for Mystic, named America's Best Small Food Town by Travel + Leisure in 2026.

VinePair's Next Wave Awards recognize the movers and shakers in contemporary drinks culture. The Drinks Professional of the Year distinction honors Ayala's influence beyond the bar, placing her among the industry's leading tastemakers.

At The Port of Call and Oyster Club, both part of Mystic's 85th Day Food Community, Ayala brings a distinct epicurean perspective to the beverage program. Working closely with the culinary team, she draws on local farms, seasonal ingredients and unexpected techniques to develop cocktails with the same attention to flavor, texture and balance that goes into a dish. Her work has helped shape The Port of Call's identity since its 2022 opening, with the bar earning a place on Esquire's Best Bars in America list.

"I love the moment when someone tries a drink and discovers a flavor they weren't expecting, or experiences a familiar ingredient in a completely different way," said Ayala. "That curiosity drives so much of what we do. Being recognized by VinePair is an incredible honor, and I'm grateful to work with a team that gives us the freedom to experiment, learn from one another and keep creating."

"Jade has an extraordinary palate and is always asking what else an ingredient can do, or how an idea can become something worth sharing with our guests," said Dan Meiser, founder of 85th Day Food Community. "Just as impressive is her ability to bring people into that process. She makes the team around her better, and we're thrilled to see her talent recognized."

About the VinePair Next Wave Awards

Selected by the VinePair team with input from contributors and its industry network, VinePair's Next Wave Awards honor the visionaries and innovators shaping the future of the drinks industry, recognizing exceptional contributions to creativity, community, and hospitality. The full list of winners is here.

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SOURCE Jade Ayala