HR 305

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 305
BY REPRESENTATIVE KNOX
  A RESOLUTION
To commend Chris Hannah for his contributions to the American bar industry and North
       American cocktail culture.
       WHEREAS, Chris Hannah is based in New Orleans, a city synonymous with the
birthplace of the cocktail, and is one of the defining figures of modern American cocktail
culture; and
       WHEREAS, Chris is a bartender whose influence is rooted in precision, restraint, and
deep historical knowledge, and he has spent more than two decades refining a style that
honors tradition while maintaining a quietly contemporary quality; and
       WHEREAS, Chris had humble beginnings in the hospitality sector; he worked as a
dishwasher at Locke's Point, a bar in North Carolina, and subsequently spent six years doing
line work; and
       WHEREAS, Chris rose to prominence at the French 75 Bar inside Arnaud's, where
he helped transform the bar into a national benchmark for classic cocktail execution; the bar
earned a James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Bar Program during his tenure,
which cemented his reputation as a leading force in the cocktail industry; and
       WHEREAS, Chris's work at the French 75 Bar was defined by his unwavering
commitment to balance, technique, and hospitality, qualities that have become hallmarks of
his career; and
       WHEREAS, Chris's bartending philosophy focuses on the revival and refinement of
historic drinks while maintaining the integrity of icons like the sazerac and French 75; and
       WHEREAS, in 2019, Chris co-founded Jewel of the South, a bar and restaurant that
quickly earned international acclaim and enjoys a near-permanent ranking in both The
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HR NO. 305  ENROLLED
World's 50 Best Bars and North America's 50 Best Bars lists; he and his team's authentic
approach to true Southern-style service earned the bar the Michter's Art of Hospitality
Award in 2024; and
       WHEREAS, Chris was named the 2022 Spirited Awards U.S. Bartender of the Year,
and he most recently received the Roku Industry Icon Award as part of North America's 50
Best Bars 2026; and
       WHEREAS, Chris Hannah is a titan of the hospitality and cocktail industries and is
most deserving of recognition for his outstanding career.
       THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Chris Hannah for his contributions to the
American bar industry and North American cocktail culture and does hereby extend sincere
wishes that he remain prosperous in all of his endeavors.
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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