Julia Momosé is a bartender, James Beard awarded author, business owner, and the creative force behind Kumiko, the acclaimed dining bar in Chicago. Momosé was raised in Japan, where she began developing the traits that would inform her approach to beverages: sophistication, elegance, and a deep respect for artisanship. Her work has garnered international renown, from features in Time magazine, Esquire and Food & Wine to a spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars, and has been consistently named the Best bar in the Midwest by North America’s 50 Best Bars since their launch in 2022. In 2022, she was awarded the very first Exceptional Cocktails Award from the Michelin Guide. In addition, Momosé developed the cocktails and spiritfree program for Starbucks Roastery Reserve, and her debut book The Way of the Cocktail was named one of the best cookbooks of 2021 from Vanity Fair and WIRED, and received a James Beard Award in 2022.