Spirited Awards® Categories & Regional Breakdown

This award recognizes an International and a U.S.-based bartender who has had the most influence on drinks styles and cocktail culture. This bartender works regularly behind the bar and develops and serves incredible drinks.

Considerations include:

• Innovation in drink creations
• Personability, hospitality and generous spirit
• Technical, practical skills and knowledge
• National recognition of their work and personal recipes that have crossed borders and appeared on cocktail menus in other areas
• Must work regularly behind a bar–at least 3 shifts a week or more
• Someone who does not qualify for “International/U.S. Bar Mentor”

Individuals considered for (International/U.S.) Bartender of the Year must be living at the time of nomination and through the judging periods. Post-mortem nominations during the nomination and judging periods will not be considered. 

This award recognizes the individual or individuals who, in their professional life, play a crucial role in raising the quality of bars, bartenders, and cocktails without currently working as a bartender*.

Considerations include:

• Someone who does not qualify for “International/U.S. Bartender of the Year”*
• Inspiration to others in the industry
• Level of professional standards
• Positive impact on the industry in their career
• Innovation in the industry
• Exceptional industry insights
• Willingness to foster and educate the next generation

*In this context, a bartender is defined as someone who works at least 3 shifts a week behind the bar.*

Individuals considered for Best (International/U.S.) Bar Mentor must be living at the time of nomination and through the judging periods. Post-mortem nominations during the nomination and judging periods will not be considered. 

This award recognizes an International and a U.S.-based ambassador whose creative use of brand communication, combined with personality, has had the most impact on the promotion of drink brands through engaging the trade and executing compelling education and seminars.

Considerations include:

• Trade engagement
• Quality of education and seminars
• Creativity in brand communication
• Must have been in this position for at least one year or since January 1, 2023
  • Must be working in this position throughout the nomination and judging period
• Must be working as a full-time Brand Ambassador in the field with a primary focus on education for the trade
• This category excludes any Brand Executives

Individuals considered for Best (International/U.S.) Brand Ambassador must be living at the time of nomination and through the judging periods. Post-mortem nominations during the nomination and judging periods will not be considered. 

This award recognizes the best collection of talent working in an International and a U.S. bar today, including bartenders, barbacks, servers, and front of house. Eligible recipients may range from two dynamic bartenders who bring a unique, compelling chemistry to their small bar, to a larger team that orchestrates the theater of high-volume craft experience.

Considerations include:

• Professionalism
• Dedication
• Hospitality
• Consistency of service
• High quality cocktails
• Venue must have opened prior to January 1, 2023

All bars and establishments must be open to the public and in accordance with all local and federal laws and conditions they are obliged to adhere to at the time of submitting a Spirited Awards nomination. If a bar or venue closes at any time during the Spirited Awards nomination or judging period, the Spirited Awards Committee has the right to disqualify them and name a replacement nominee or Regional Honoree. 

This award recognizes an International and a U.S. bar that sets the highest of standards in the industry and has influenced national cocktail trends.

Considerations include:

• Menu
• Bar teams
• Atmosphere
• Cocktail quality
• Must be a free-standing bar
• Must have opened prior to January 1, 2023

Note:

• If a bar is determined to be a part of a “franchise bar” and one of its locations has previously won this award, other locations are no longer eligible for consideration for this award.
• Bars that are nominated in more than one of the following categories: Best (International/U.S.) Cocktail Bar, Restaurant Bar, and/or Hotel Bar, will only be considered for one of the above categories. In case of ambiguity, the Regional Co-Chairs reserve the right to decide which category is the most appropriate.

All bars and establishments must be open to the public and in accordance with all local and federal laws and conditions they are obliged to adhere to at the time of submitting a Spirited Awards nomination. If a bar or venue closes at any time during the Spirited Awards nomination or judging period, the Spirited Awards Committee has the right to disqualify them and name a replacement nominee or Regional Honoree. 

This award recognizes an International and a U.S. hotel bar that offers the best service and consistently well-made drinks in a comfortable setting, ultimately upholding the tradition of the classic hotel bar.

Considerations include:

• Service
• Consistency
• Cocktail quality
• Atmosphere
• Ability to cater to an international guest
• Must be located on hotel property
• Must have opened prior to January 1, 2023

Note:

• If a bar is determined to be a part of a “franchise bar” and one of its locations has previously won this award, other locations are no longer eligible for consideration for this award.
• Bars that are nominated in more than one of the following categories: Best (International/U.S.) Cocktail Bar, Restaurant Bar, and/or Hotel Bar, will only be considered for one of the above categories. In case of ambiguity, the Regional Co-Chairs reserve the right to decide which category is the most appropriate.

All bars and establishments must be open to the public and in accordance with all local and federal laws and conditions they are obliged to adhere to at the time of submitting a Spirited Awards nomination. If a bar or venue closes at any time during the Spirited Awards nomination or judging period, the Spirited Awards Committee has the right to disqualify them and name a replacement nominee or Regional Honoree. 

This award recognizes an International and a U.S. restaurant bar that is dedicated to creating a great cocktail experience for their dining guests.

Considerations include:

• Aperitif and digestive drinks
• The food and cocktail menus need to be well integrated
• Bartending
• Mixology excellence
• Establishment must have full dinner menu
• Must already have high ratings as a primarily food and wine business
• Must have opened prior to January 1, 2023

Note:

• If a bar is determined to be a part of a “franchise bar” and one of its locations has previously won this award, other locations are no longer eligible for consideration for this award.
• Bars that are nominated in more than one of the following categories: Best (International/U.S.) Cocktail Bar, Restaurant Bar, and/or Hotel Bar, will only be considered for one of the above categories. In case of ambiguity, the Regional Co-Chairs reserve the right to decide which category is the most appropriate.

All bars and establishments must be open to the public and in accordance with all local and federal laws and conditions they are obliged to adhere to at the time of submitting a Spirited Awards nomination. If a bar or venue closes at any time during the Spirited Awards nomination or judging period, the Spirited Awards Committee has the right to disqualify them and name a replacement nominee or Regional Honoree. 

This award recognizes a recently opened International and U.S. cocktail bar that made an immediate impact on cocktail culture and set new high standards for the industry.

Considerations include:

• Creativity
• Décor
• Service
• Execution of drinks
• Must have opened between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023

Note:

• If a bar is determined to be a part of a “franchise bar” and one of its locations has previously won this award OR another “Establishment” Award, other locations are no longer eligible for consideration for this award.
• Bars that qualify for “Best New (International/U.S.) Cocktail Bar” are NOT eligible to be considered for any other award category that year.
  

All bars and establishments must be open to the public and in accordance with all local and federal laws and conditions they are obliged to adhere to at the time of submitting a Spirited Awards nomination. If a bar or venue closes at any time during the Spirited Awards nomination or judging period, the Spirited Awards Committee has the right to disqualify them and name a replacement nominee or Regional Honoree. 

This award recognizes an International and a U.S.-based bar that has a connection to either cocktail culture or has contributed to the history of cocktails and/or spirits. The Timeless recipient is a bar that is both welcoming and familiar but also respected as an institution that has inspired the culture and growth of other establishments and has been a staple for locals and visitors alike. 

Considerations include:

• Unique environment that represents its location
• Focus on Hospitality
• Connection to the history of cocktail culture
• Must have opened prior to January 1, 1994 (30+ years)

*Permanently closed bars are ineligible*

All bars and establishments must be open to the public and in accordance with all local and federal laws and conditions they are obliged to adhere to at the time of submitting a Spirited Awards nomination. If a bar or venue closes at any time during the Spirited Awards nomination or judging period, the Spirited Awards Committee has the right to disqualify them and name a replacement. 

This award recognizes an individual who has encouraged mentorship and contributed to making the hospitality industry equitable and inclusive by working to remove barriers as it pertains to gender identity, race, religion, and socioeconomic status.

The Tales Visionary Award Winner is an individual who has:

• Made unique and lasting contributions to the accessibility and intersectionality of the global drinks community
• Shaped the beverage landscape and provides visible models of achievement for tomorrow’s leaders
• Served as a leader and mentor
• Worked in the hospitality industry for 10+ years

Individuals considered for Tales Visionary Award must be living at the time of nomination and through the judging periods. Post-mortem nominations during the nomination and judging periods will not be considered. 

This award recognizes the item that has made the most significant impact on the cocktail and bar industry in the last year or designated date range.

Considerations include:

• Must be a spirit (liquor, liqueur) or a cocktail ingredient (non-alcohol ingredients, tonic, bitters, syrup, or garnish)
  • This nomination is for a single product
  • Nominations of portfolios or a line of products will be disqualified
• Even if the product is available to purchase online, it must be locally distributed in at least three (3) states in the U.S. or in three countries in the rest of the world.
  • Provide a list of outlets in key markets where the product is distributed
• Item may be new or a new reformulation
• After the first round of judging, qualified products will be asked to submit samples to each judge.
• Items must have been launched between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023*.
• *A product that may have been launched before January 1, 2023 under one of the following classifications will still be eligible for nomination in this category as long as it established distribution in at least 3 states or countries between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023
  • Non-commercial Special Occasion Launch – whereby a product has been made for gifting and/or educational purposes and not released for general sale
  • Distillery Release – whereby a product is made available for purchase at the distillery where it is made for the immediate geographical area only.

This award recognizes the bar’s ability to communicate its offerings to their guests in a physical manner–via hard copy bar menu or board.

Considerations include:

• Originality and creativity of design
• Content: range of spirits and specialty cocktails
• Diversity of cocktail styles
• To be considered, a PDF or JPG copy of the menu must be uploaded along with nomination form
• Menu must have been used between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

Note:

• If a bar is determined to be a part of a “franchise bar” and one of its locations has previously won this award, other locations are no longer eligible for consideration for this award.
• If a venue has won the title of “World’s Best Bar” they are no longer eligible for consideration for this award.

This award recognizes a venue that has an expertise or a focus on a specific spirit or a category of spirits.

Considerations include:

• Comprehensiveness of one particular spirit or category
• Discernment and extraordinary dedication to the spirit or category
• Number of bottles stocked
• A focus on specialty, rare or vintage selections
• Staff knowledge of the spirit or category
• PDF or JPEG copy of the spirits selection must be uploaded along with nomination form
• Menu must have been used between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

Note:

• If a bar is determined to be a part of a “franchise bar” and one of its locations has previously won this award, other locations are no longer eligible for consideration for this award.
• If a venue has won the title of “World’s Best Bar” they are no longer eligible for consideration for this award.

This award recognizes outstanding print journalism (magazine, newspaper, online media) that features bars, bartenders, cocktails, spirit reviews, trends, and drinks culture.

Note: A Publication is limited to no more than one (1) award every five (5) years.

Considerations include:

• Beverage-related content
• Innovative, engaging, and notable writing
• Distinguished and dynamic collection of writers
• Exciting and impressive photography and design
  • For print magazines, a digital sample of a single issue published during the date range specified below must be submitted with the nomination. 
  • For newspapers and online publications, digital samples of specific, relevant articles published within the date range specified below must be submitted with the nomination.
• Samples must have been published between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

DISCLAIMER: ENGLISH IS THE SHARED LANGUAGE FOR THE JUDGING COMMITTEE. FOR THE MOST THOROUGH CONSIDERATION BY THE JUDGES, SAMPLES SHOULD EITHER BE PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH OR TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH. SAMPLES IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES ARE WELCOME, BUT THE JUDGES’ ABILITIES TO READ AND SCORE SUCH SAMPLES MAY BE LIMITED.

Great journalism is one of the best ways to communicate the value and significance of great bars, bartenders, cocktails, and drinks culture. This award recognizes the writing and publication of a single piece of outstanding work (magazine, newspaper, online media) that highlights bars, bartenders, cocktails, spirits, trends, and drinks culture.

Note: The writer of the winning piece is limited to no more than one (1) award every five (5) years. However, this does not impact future nominations with the same publisher. 

Considerations include:

• Innovative, engaging, and notable reporting, research, and writing
• This award recognizes a single, exceptional piece of work—candidates must upload or provide a link to the published writing piece (one writing piece per nomination)
  • Candidates who do not attach a sample with their submission form may not be eligible
• Must have been originally published between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

DISCLAIMER: ENGLISH IS THE SHARED LANGUAGE FOR THE JUDGING COMMITTEE. FOR THE MOST THOROUGH CONSIDERATION BY THE JUDGES, SAMPLES SHOULD EITHER BE PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH OR TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH. SAMPLES IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES ARE WELCOME, BUT THE JUDGES’ ABILITIES TO READ AND SCORE SUCH SAMPLES MAY BE LIMITED.

This award recognizes the best broadcast, podcast, or online video series regarding bars, bartenders, cocktails, spirits, drinks culture, and bartending in general.

Note: Nominees are limited to no more than one (1) award every five (5) years.

Considerations include:

• Beverage-related content
• Influence and following within the industry
• Innovative, engaging, and notable media pieces
• Judges will consider a single episode initially broadcast or posted online during the date range specified below. A sample file of a single, eligible episode, or a link to a single, eligible episode, must be included with the nomination form. 
• The selected samples must have been broadcast or posted online between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

This award recognizes the best book published in the designated date range regarding cocktails, bars, bar design, or bartending in general.

Considerations include:

• Bartending or cocktail-related content (this includes books focusing on low- or no-alcohol cocktails)
  • A recipe book, for example, that includes specs for drinks or recipes and formulas for making syrups, mixers, modifiers, infusions, and other cocktail ingredients
• Bartenders’ or bar owners’ manuals that may be more appropriate for the trade and industry rather than for general readers. 
  • For example, instructions for operating specialized equipment to make mixed drinks ingredients such as rotary evaporators, Dewar flasks, or other gear more typically found in laboratories than in bars
  • Directions for making and using modifiers or ingredients for use in cocktails. 
• Books that discuss, instruct, or advise on operating bars.
• Innovative, engaging, and compelling writing
• Book must have an initial designated publication date between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.
  • New editions of previously published books may be nominated.
• Books must be readily available for retail purchase; works prepared and distributed as menus, marketing material, or that are only available to limited audiences are not eligible for consideration.
• A digital sample of the final, finished book must be submitted with the nomination form; nominations without judging samples cannot be considered.
  • Digital samples (sent as PDFs, or as links to online editions) are required for initial consideration by the judging committee to confirm that the book meets submission guidelines. 
• After the first round of judging, ONLY books qualified for the next round will be requested to send hard copies to judges. 
  • Samples of final hard copies will be required by the judging committee. The committee will require a total of ten copies of the nominated work.
  • For hard copy samples, the cost of submitting and shipping the sample is the responsibility of the publisher, publicist, or author.
  • A TOTCF team member will be in contact to arrange coordination and shipping of hard copy samples (as applicable). Samples must be received by May 3, 2024. 
  • For hard copy samples, the submission may only include a standard version of the published work, and a cover letter or copy of the submission form. Samples that are signed by the author, or that include promotional material, personal notes, gifts, or other items will be disqualified.

Note: A book can only be nominated in one of these two categories: “Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book” or “Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits”. In case of ambiguity, the judging panel reserves the right to decide which category is the most appropriate.

DISCLAIMER: ENGLISH IS THE SHARED LANGUAGE FOR THE JUDGING COMMITTEE. FOR THE MOST THOROUGH CONSIDERATION BY THE JUDGES, SAMPLES SHOULD EITHER BE PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH OR TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH. SAMPLES IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES ARE WELCOME, BUT THE JUDGES’ ABILITIES TO READ AND SCORE SUCH SAMPLES MAY BE LIMITED.

This award recognizes the best long-form nonfiction published in the designated date range, including works on drinks culture, cocktail history, drinks-related personal memoir, spirits, and distillation, or other aspects of the drinks world as it relates to spirits and cocktails.

The award for Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits goes to a book that may include recipes, but is otherwise primarily concerned with the history and material and non-material culture surrounding cocktails. 

Considerations include:

• Content must be related in some way to spirits, cocktail history, bar culture, or similar themes.
  • Including: memoirs, narratives, and explorations of specific spirits or spirit categories
• Well-researched, innovative, and compelling writing
• For the purposes of the Spirited Awards,
  • Material culture covers all the tangible objects, artifacts, and technologies associated with drinks culture (tiki mugs, punch bowls, written records, books, or bar tools, for example).
  • Non-material culture includes ideas, thoughts, and beliefs — changing perceptions of gin over the centuries, a philosophy of cocktails, cocktail slang, etc. 
  • History books primarily discuss, analyze, and present the people, events, trends that have affected cocktail culture and spirits-drinking and -making through an examination of the historical record. Such histories often rely upon both material and non-material drinks culture and may include, for example, oral histories of bartenders, examination of distilling traditions, spirits advertising, and any other topic that relies upon presenting, analyzing, and interpreting historical records. 
  • This category also includes books that focus on one or more spirits — Irish whiskey, for example, genever, rum, or other spirits from a specific region or culture. It does not include books on fermented drinks such as wine, beer, cider, and mead unless such books make specific and sustained connections to cocktails. A book on this history of sparkling wine, for instance, would not qualify, but one on the history of sparkling wine as it has been used in cocktails would. Likewise, a history of oatmeal stout is not eligible; one on vermouth is because of its long and integral connection to cocktails.
• Book must have been published between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.
  • New editions of previously published books may be nominated.
• Books must be readily available for retail purchase; works prepared and distributed as menus, marketing material, or that are only available to limited audiences are not eligible for consideration.
• A digital sample of the final, finished book must be submitted with the nomination form; nominations without judging samples cannot be considered.
  • Digital samples (sent as PDFs, or as links to online editions) are required for initial consideration by the judging committee to confirm that the book meets submission guidelines.
• After the first round of judging, ONLY books qualified for the next round will be requested to send hard copies to judges. 
  • Samples of final hard copies will be required by the judging committee. The committee will require a total of ten copies of the nominated work.
  • For hard copy samples, the cost of submitting and shipping the sample is the responsibility of the publisher, publicist, or author.
  • A TOTCF team member will be in contact to arrange coordination and shipping of hard copy samples (as applicable). Samples must be received by May 3, 2024. 
  • For hard copy samples, the package may only include a standard version of the published work, and a cover letter or copy of the submission form. Samples that are signed by the author, or that include promotional material, personal notes, gifts, or other items will be disqualified.

Note: A book can only be nominated in one of these two categories: “Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book” or “Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits”. In case of ambiguity, the judging panel reserves the right to decide which category is the most appropriate.

DISCLAIMER: ENGLISH IS THE SHARED LANGUAGE FOR THE JUDGING COMMITTEE. FOR THE MOST THOROUGH CONSIDERATION BY THE JUDGES, SAMPLES SHOULD EITHER BE PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH OR TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH. SAMPLES IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES ARE WELCOME, BUT THE JUDGES’ ABILITIES TO READ AND SCORE SUCH SAMPLES MAY BE LIMITED.

This award recognizes the achievement of an individual, whom over the course of their career, has made significant contributions and lasting impact in the hospitality industry. 

The award recipient of the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award is selected by a committee composed of luminaries from the drinks industry, and has representation from prior winners of both the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award and Tales Visionary (formerly called Pioneer) Award.

This award is awarded to one of the six winners in the following categories: Best (International/U.S.) Cocktail Bar, Best (International/U.S.) Hotel Bar, and Best (International/U.S.) Restaurant Bar.

Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, East Timor, Easter Island, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, North Korea, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Philippines, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Russian Far East, Samoa, Singapore Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam Wake Island, Wallis and Futuna 

All Provinces

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,  Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela  

Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,  Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe      

IL, IN, MI, OH, AL, AR, LA, MS, TX, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, OK, SD, WI

DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV, FL

AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY, AZ, CO, NM, UT, CA, HI, NV