Spirited Awards®
Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards have become one of the industry’s most revered awards, recognizing beverage professionals, products, establishments, journalists, and media across every facet of the spirits and cocktail industry on a global scale. The award categories spotlight a range of talent to ensure each aspect of the industry is well represented and recognized for its contributions.
The Spirited Awards are comprised of industry accolades, both U.S. and International, and a few highly coveted, overall awards that transcend regionality including World’s Best Cocktail Bar, World’s Best Cocktail Menu, and Tales Visionary Award.
Read the 18th Annual Spirited Awards® Playbill
Read the 18th Annual Spirited Awards® Playbill to learn about the 2024 Top 4 Finalists.
Watch the 18th Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony
Watch the awards ceremony which took place on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at the Fillmore New Orleans.
View the Spirited Awards Directory
Explore over 1,000 bars around the world recognized by the Spirited Awards®.
The Spirited Awards Directory includes every bar the Spirited Awards has acknowledged as winners, nominees, and regional honorees. Use this interactive map to discover the best bars in your own city and the cities you plan to visit around the world. Filter by award category or search by location to take a closer look.
View the Spirited Awards Archive
Explore a list of past winners in the Spirited Awards archive.
2024 Spirited Awards® Dates & Deadlines
January 29: Spirited Awards Nomination Period Opened
February 20 at 11:59PM ET: Spirited Awards Nomination Period Closed
April 18: Regional Top 10 Honorees Announced
May 29: Top 10 Nominees Announced
June 17: Top 4 Finalists, Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award, Tales Visionary Award, International Timeless Award, and U.S. Timeless Award Announced
July 25: 2024 Spirited Awards Ceremony
Spirited Awards® Frequently Asked Questions
When is this year’s Spirited Awards Ceremony?
When is the nomination period?
Are there any fees involved in submitting a nomination?
How do I nominate?
I want to nominate a bar but not sure if they’ve won before. How can I find out?
Can I self-nominate?
How many times can I nominate a bar, product, or person?
Can I submit a post-mortem nomination?
Can I nominate a bar that is temporarily closed?
Which Spirited Awards will be awarded in 2024?
What is the eligibility period for new books?
What is the eligibility period for “Best New (Intl./U.S.) Cocktail Bar” & “Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient”?
When will the nominees be announced?
Who are the judges this year?
How can I become a judge?
What are the requirements to be a Spirited Awards Judge?
Additional information to keep in mind:
What is considered a “franchise bar”?
Spirited Awards® Categories & Regional Breakdown
International & U.S. Award Categories
Spirited Awards® for the drinks industry in which International and U.S. bars, teams, and individuals are recognized.
Disclaimer: Any person or establishment that has previously won a Spirited Award is not eligible for nomination in the category for which it won.
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has the right to disqualify any person, bar, publication or establishment that violates the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Code of Conduct during, before, or after the nomination or judging period. To read the TOTCF Code of Conduct, click here.
We encourage anyone who feels that this Community Harassment & Misconduct Policy has been violated to submit a complaint to TOTCF. Complaints can be submitted online, or made directly to TOTCF CEO and Misconduct Prevention & Response Coordinator, Eileen Wayner, by email at [email protected].
(International & U.S.) Bartender of the Year
Best (International & U.S.) Bar Mentor
Best (International & U.S.) Brand Ambassador
Best (International & U.S.) Bar Team
Best (International & U.S.) Cocktail Bar
Best (International & U.S.) Hotel Bar
Best (International & U.S.) Restaurant Bar
Best New (International & U.S.) Cocktail Bar
Timeless (International & U.S.) Award
Global Categories
Tales Visionary Award
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
World’s Best Cocktail Menu
World’s Best Spirits Selection
Writing & Media Categories
Eligibility criteria around repeat winners:
- “Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication” & “Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series”: Winners are limited to no more than one (1) award every five (5) years.
- “Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing”: The writer of the winning piece is limited to no more than one (1) award every five (5) years.
- This does not impact future nominations with the same publisher.
- “Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book” & “Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits”: An author may not win the same category two (2) years in a row and is limited to no more than two (2) awards in the same category within five (5) years.
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing
Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits
Additional Industry Awards
The following awards are NOT available for public nomination
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Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award
World’s Best Bar
Regional Breakdown
Each year, the Spirited Awards® judges also break down regional recognitions for these categories. Please find the breakdown of each region below:
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International Regions - Asia & Pacific (APAC)
International Regions - Canada
International Regions - Europe
International Regions - Latin America & Caribbean
International Regions - Middle East & Africa
US Regions - United States - Central
US Regions - United States - East
US Regions - United States - West
Spirited Awards Committee
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards® Committee, including Co-Chairs, Regional Committee Members, and Writing & Media Judges, is composed of respected bartenders, bar owners, educators, and writers from across the globe. Drawing on their years of experience and their knowledge of the current work being done locally, nationally, and internationally, together the Co-Chairs and Judges can evaluate nominees from far and wide to ensure that the Spirited Awards are inclusive and represent the breadth and diversity of the global drinks industry.
This Committee is dedicated to valuing the inclusion of the communities we serve by enlisting a judging panel that reflects their incredible diversity in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality.
Spirited Awards® Media Partner:
Spirited Awards® Sponsors: