Celebrated during Tales of the Cocktails in New Orleans, the 16th Annual Spirited Awards® honor excellence in the drink industry and recognize the world’s top professionals, organizations, and establishments.
NEW ORLEANS, LA (July 28, 2022) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the winners of the 2022 Spirited Awards®. Since its inception in 2007, the Spirited Awards have become one of the most globally recognized accolades, recognizing beverage professionals, brands, media, journalists, and establishments across all areas of the cocktail industry. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF honored the Spirited Awards recipients during an in-person celebration at the conference’s 2022 host venue, The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.
Recognized through the lens of this year’s conference theme, “Progress” — chosen for its appreciation of the nimble and adaptive development of the drinks community, the winners of the 2022 Spirited Awards have made strides in progressing the beverage industry forward. Honoring 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 200 industry experts, led by Charlotte Voisey, the Spirited Awards Overall Chair.
“The Spirited Awards celebrates excellence in our industry and this year’s winners embody that standard so well,” says Charlotte Voisey, Spirited Awards Overall Chair. “After a difficult few years, it is truly inspiring to gather together once more and see what these recognitions really mean to everyone nominated.”
In celebrating the growth and achievements of the drinks industry, the Foundation is pleased to announce this year’s winners, broken into International, U.S., Media & Writing, and Global categories, along with announcing the winner of the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award and World’s Best Bar.
2022 Spirited Awards® Winners:
View 2022 Spirited Awards Ceremony & Winner Images here. Photo Credit: Cory Fontenot (Instagram: @coryjames_fontenot)
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
International Bartender of the Year presented by Patrón Tequila
- Remy Savage — 🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London, UK
Best International Bar Mentor presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
- Lauren Mote
Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
- Martin Hudak — Mr. Black Spirits
Best International Bar Team presented by House of Angostura
- MAYBE SAMMY — Sydney, Australia
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Tequila Fortaleza
- Tayēr + Elementary — London, UK
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier
- Lyaness at Sea Containers London — London, UK
Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo
- Sexy Fish — London, UK
Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Stranger & Sons
- 🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name — London, UK
U.S. CATEGORIES
U.S. Bartender of the Year presented by Del Maguey
- Chris Hannah — Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA
Best U.S. Bar Mentor presented by BarSmarts
- Sean Kenyon
Best U.S. Brand Ambassador presented by Libbey
- Lynn House — Heaven Hill
Best U.S. Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
- Katana Kitten — New York, NY
Best U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka
- Katana Kitten — New York, NY
Best U.S. Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose
- Silver Lyan at the Riggs — Washington, DC
Best U.S. Restaurant Bar presented by Maison Ferrand
- Jewel of the South — New Orleans, LA
Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Aviation Gin
- Happy Accidents — Albuquerque, NM
WRITING & MEDIA CATEGORIES
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- VinePair
Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- The Cocktail Lovers
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- “Get Real: The bar world looks beyond feel-good measures on sustainability and climate change” by Max Falkowitz for Imbibe Magazine
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
- The Japanese Art of the Cocktail by Masahiro Urushido and Michael Anstendig
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails edited by David Wondrich with Noah Rothbaum
GLOBAL CATEGORIES
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic – Italian Orange
World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- Little Red Door — Paris, France
World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory
- Jack Rose Dining Saloon — Washington, DC
Pioneer Award Presented by The Blend
- Amanda Gunderson – CEO & Co-Founder, Another Round Another Rally
Timeless International Award presented by Jägermeister
- Harry’s New York Bar — Paris, France
Timeless U.S. Award presented by Johnnie Walker
- Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel — New York, NY
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons
- Julie Reiner — Co-Founder Clover Club, Leyenda, Social Hour Cocktails, & Mixtress Consulting
World’s Best Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Lyaness at Sea Containers London — London, UK
Spirited Awards Directory
Tales of the Cocktail is excited to share the Spirited Awards® Directory in partnership with marquee sponsor Diageo Bar Academy with support from Angostura, Bacardi Limited, CAMPARI, Elijah Craig, Hendricks Gin, Tequila Fortaleza, and The Blend. Giving discerning imbibers a comprehensive compendium of all 900+ Spirited Awards winners and nominees from the past 16 years, the Directory is an interactive, global map created to easily guide guests to officially recognized Spirited Awards establishments.
This resource will be updated year over year, making it an easy-to-use tool to plan which bars to visit at home or when traveling. Use the Spirited Awards® Directory today to explore award-winning bars, including 183 bars added this year.
The Spirited Awards Chairs and Co-Chairs
Below is a list of Spirited Awards® Chairs, responsible for overseeing the judging process this year:
- Spirited Awards Overall Chair
- Charlotte Voisey
- Spirited Awards International Chair
- Jacob Briars
- Asia Pacific Co-Chairs
- Lorenzo Antinori
- Pankaj Balachandran
- Hayley Morison
- Charmaine Thio
- Canada Co-Chairs
- Evelyn Chick
- Sabrine Dhaliwal
- Europe Co-Chairs
- Guiseppe Gallo
- Nicola Riske
- Latin America & Caribbean Co-Chairs
- Camille Austin
- Jean Trinh
- Tato Giovannini
- Middle East & Africa Co-Chairs
- Cassandra Eichhoff
- Richard Irwin
- U.S. Central Co-Chairs
- Bridget Albert
- Steva Casey
- U.S. East Co-Chairs
- Laura Cullen
- Andy Seymour
- U.S. West Co-Chairs
- Kiowa Bryan
- Mary Palac
- Writing & Media Co-Chairs
- François Monti
- Paul Clarke
- Matthew Rowley
- Sandrae Lawrence
- Timeless Co-Chair
- Christine Sismondo
- Colin Asare-Appiah
Spirited Awards® judges are a collection of respected bartenders, bar owners, educators, and writers from across the globe entrusted with this critical calling. Drawing on their years of experience and their knowledge of the current work being done locally, nationally, and internationally, together the judges can evaluate nominees from far and wide to ensure that the Spirited Awards® represents the breadth and diversity of the global drinks industry.
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards® Committee is dedicated to valuing the inclusion of the communities we serve by ensuring that our judging panel reflects their incredible diversity in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality. Recognizing that inclusion is key to a well-represented committee, TOTCF strives to ensure that we have an equitable representation of gender across the judging panel. The Spirited Awards® are not based on popular vote and all nominations will be evaluated by their respective judging committees.
To learn more about the Spirited Awards Committee and awards criteria, please visit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards page.
A Note on Sponsors
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation would like to thank all of its Spirited Awards sponsors. Title Partners: Diageo Bar Academy, Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic, Pernod Ricard (Absolut Vodka, BarSmarts, and Del Maguey); Presenting Partners: Bacardi (Grey Goose and Patron), Beam Suntory and The Blend, William Grant & Sons; Supporting Partners: Aviation Gin, Gruppo Montenegro, House of Angostura, Jägermeister, Johnnie Walker, Libbey, Maison Ferrand, Perrier, Stranger & Sons, Tequila Fortaleza; Official Barware: Bull in China; Official Champagne: G.H. Mumm. Tales of the Cocktail 2022 Official Partners include Official Glassware: Libbey, Official Mixer: Q Mixers, and Official Water: Perrier.
Spirited Awards® 2022 Updates
In light of global events with the Russian government’s invasion of Ukraine, and the humanitarian crisis that is ongoing in Ukraine and in Europe, the Spirited Awards Committee and Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Board will not consider nominees from Russia for this year’s awards. Similarly, the Spirited Awards currently has two sitting judges from Russia, both of whom mutually agreed to abstain from judging this year.
The Foundation stands in solidarity with colleagues and friends in the hospitality industry in Ukraine and to all citizens impacted by this catastrophic invasion. And, the organization acknowledges industry colleagues in Russia who do not support this war, but also have very limited ways to protest without risking their own personal safety. In the weeks and months to come, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation will continue efforts to directly support the hospitality community of Ukraine.
Please follow along for additional information on the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, please visit the website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
###
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 a 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.
About Forbes:
Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 150 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 44 licensed local editions in 77 countries. Forbes Media’s brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements.
Media Inquiries:
Foxglove Communications
Gia Vecchio, [email protected], 917.280.5043
Hunter Smith, [email protected], 803.397.8878
