Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Announces 13th Annual Spirited Awards® Winners

Posted on: Jul. 21, 2019 | | By: Gia Vecchio

Held during Tales of the Cocktails in New Orleans, the Spirited Awards® honor the world’s top bars, bartenders, writers, and cocktail experts

NEW ORLEANS, LA – July 20, 2019 – Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is honored to announce the winners of the 13th Annual Spirited Awards®. Hosted at New Orleans’ iconic Orpheum Theater during Tales of the Cocktail, the Spirited Awards® have grown to become one of the most prestigious and coveted honors in the industry since its creation in 2007. The Spirited Awards® opened with remarks from actor Bryan Cranston. Both Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston activated at Tales of the Cocktail this year to introduce their newly launched Dos Hombres mezcal to the global spirits community.

This theme of this year’s event is “Cultivate” — a reflection of the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to actively engage partners and participants through meaningful thought leadership to advance the global hospitality industry. In keeping with this theme, the Spirited Awards® recognizes those who continue to elevate the craft and cultivate further growth for the industry.

“As a Foundation, we are privileged to honor this select group of national and international talent who continue to raise the bar for industry,” said Caroline Rosen, President of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “The Spirited Awards® represent the industry standard for excellence and the Foundation as a whole extends its congratulations to all this evening’s winners.”

Recognizing writers and brand ambassadors alongside bartenders and bars, the Spirited Awards® showcase talent on a global stage. The evening’s award recipients were carefully considered by a panel of over 140 industry experts, led by Charlotte Voisey (Spirited Awards Chairperson), Jacob Briars (International Spirited Awards Chair), Paul Clarke (Writing Chair), Bridget Albert and Kiowa Bryan (U.S. Judging Chairs), and Joseph Mortera, Lauren Mote, Claire Warner, Giuseppe Gallo, Micaela Piccolo, Zdenek Kastanek, Kurt Schlechter and Rebecca Sturt (International Judging Chairs).

The Foundation awarded this year’s prestigious Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award to Javier De Las Muelas who is championed as one of Spain’s, and the world’s, most prominent cocktail masters. De Las Muelas was recognized for his tremendous contributions and the lasting impact he has made on the industry.

New this year, the Foundation introduced three new awards categories: the Philanthropy Award, American Timeless and International Timeless Awards. The Philanthropy Award champions an individual or institution that demonstrates outstanding commitment to the hospitality community either through direct financial support, development of charitable or educational programs, volunteering and/or leadership in philanthropy. The Timeless American Award recognizes a bar that is a pillar in its community, has built a strong reputation for being an important space within its region, and one that has provided a benchmark for the industry there; the International Timeless Award acknowledges the same merits on a global scale.

The 2019 Timeless Awards were evaluated by a committee comprised of U.S. and International representatives led by Co-Chairs Robert Simonson and David Wondrich. Committee Members included M. Carrie Allen (U.S), Colin Asare-Appiah (U.S), Alice Lascelles (UK), François Monti (Spain), Kara Newman (U.S), Garrett Oliver (U.S), Luca Picchi (Italy) and Christine Sismondo (Canada).

While every award that is presented carries a high level of prestige, the final award of the night is always the most sought-after. The World’s Best Bar award compiles the gross votes for both American and International finalists in the following categories: Best High Volume Cocktail Bar, Best Hotel Bar, Best Restaurant Bar, Best Cocktail Bar and World’s Best Cocktail Menu. From this incredibly competitive pool of finalists, Dante (New York, NY) will be taking home the signature Riedel Crystal Trophy and the honor of being recognized as the best in the world.

The Title Sponsor of the 13th Annual Spirited Awards® is BACARDÍ USA. Presenting Sponsors are Beam Suntory, Montenegro Americas, Pernod Ricard USA, and William Grant & Sons. Supporting Sponsors are Brown Forman, Heaven Hill, Maison Ferrand, Perrier, TABASCO® Brand, The House of Angostura, and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

G.H. Mumm is the Official Champagne Partner of the 2019 Spirited Awards®. Perrier is the Official Mineral Water Partner of Tales of the Cocktail 2019. Q Mixers is the Official Mixer of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. Aardvark Paper Straws is the year long Paper Straw Sponsor for Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. Riedel generously donated the trophies for the Spirited Awards®.

Please see below for the complete list of winners in each category:

AMERICAN CATEGORIES

American Bartender of the Year presented by Amaro Montenegro 

Julio Cabrera – Cafe La Trova, Miami, FL

Best American Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Tim Cooper, Fords Gin

Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons 

Herbs and Rye – Las Vegas, NVrn

Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Herbs and Rye – Las Vegas, NV

Best American Cocktail Bar presented by Select Aperitivo

Attaboy – New York, NY

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Grey Goose Vodka

Herbs and Rye – Las Vegas, NV

Best American Hotel Bar presented by Altos Tequila

Compére Lapin at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery – New Orleans, LA

Best American Restaurant Bar presented by Woodford Reserve

Dante – New York, NY

Best New American Cocktail Bar presented by Elijah Craig Bourbon

Katana Kitten – New York, NY

INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES

International Bartender of the Year presented by BACARDÍ RUM

Monica Berg – Tayer and Elementary, London, UK

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Joe McCanta, Grey Goose

Best International Bar Team presented by The House of Angostura

Licorería Limantour – Mexico City, Mexico

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand

Atlas Bar – Singapore

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Beam Suntory

Schumann’s Bar – Munich, Germany

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

Manhattan at Regent Singapore – Singapore

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Hawksmoor Spitalfields – London, UK

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

MAYBE SAMMY – Sydney, Australia

GLOBAL CATEGORIES

Best Bar Mentor presented by BARSMARTS

Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by TABASCO® Brand

Fords Gin Officers’ Reserve

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Wine & Spirit Education Trust

Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory

Atlas Bar – Singapore

WRITING & MEDIA CATEGORIES

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

SevenFifty Daily

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Robert Simonson, The New York Times, Imbibe Magazine, PUNCH

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions by Alex Day, David Kaplan, and Nick Fauchald

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

A Drinkable Feast: A Cocktail Companion to 1920s Paris by Philip Greene

Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Bartender at Large

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY AWARDS

World’s Best Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundationrntrn

Dante – New York, NY

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons

Javier De Las Muelas

Philanthropy Award presented by Santa Teresa 1796 Rum

Speed Rack

Timeless American Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Napoleon House – New Orleans, LA

Timeless International Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

El Floridita – Havana, Cuba

For more information on Tales of the Cocktail, please visit www.tocstaging.wpengine.com

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About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization that educates, advances and supports the global hospitality industry and creates lasting impact in our host communities. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is the global leader in spirits education and a platform to tackle issues facing the industry. The pillars of the Foundation are to Educate, Advance and Support the hospitality industry through programs that benefit individuals and organizations in the community and to make a lasting impact in communities that host our events. For more information on Tales of the Cocktail, please visit www.tocstaging.wpengine.com

About Tales of the Cocktail

Founded in 2002, Tales of the Cocktail has grown from a small gathering of cocktail lovers into the world’s premier cocktail festival. Each year the international spirits industry is welcomed to New Orleans for a week of seminars, tastings, networking events and much more. Notably in 2019, Tales of the Cocktail hosted attendees from 38 countries. With 400+ annual events developed specifically for bartenders, distillers and other spirits professionals, Tales of the Cocktail is the industry’s annual meeting place for the exchange of new ideas, products and techniques.

Media Inquiries:

Gia Vecchio, [email protected], 917.280.5043

Katherine Crawford, [email protected], 404.513.0528


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