The Top 10 Nominees for the 12th Annual Spirited Awards®

Posted on: Jun. 15, 2018 | | By: Gia Vecchio

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Top 10 Nominees for the 12th Annual Spirited Awards®

Held during Tales of the Cocktail, the Spirited Awards will honor the world’s top bars, bartenders, writers, and cocktail experts

NEW ORLEANS, LA – June 15, 2018 – Following a thorough evaluation of over 1,000 unique nominees, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is thrilled to announce the top ten nominees for each award category have been chosen for the 12th Annual Spirited Awards. The Spirited Awards were created in 2007 to recognize the best bars, bartenders, writers and experts in the hard working service industry.

American and International committees comprised of the most respected minds in the cocktail industry selected the top 10 nominees for the 25 award categories. Each nominee was reviewed in detail to ensure it met the criteria and then presented by ballot to the committee judges. A diverse, international panel of over 150 esteemed judges’ votes yielded this year’s top 10 nominees.

“Congratulations go to all of the nominees this year, it truly is exciting to see the growth of the industry generating more and more bars, bartenders, products and media every year, says Charlotte Voisey, Chairperson of the Spirited Awards. “I am delighted for everyone capture in these top ten lists and look forward to sharing the finalists and winners soon.”

The Spirited Awards recipients will be announced at the Spirited Awards on July 21st, 7:00 PM (Central Time) at the iconic Orpheum Theatre to memorialize our grand host city’s 300th year. Attendees are encouraged to celebrate in the colors of our city’s flag, blue and gold, as we recognize the best bars, bartenders, distillers, writers and more from the past year. Tickets will go on sale Friday, June 22 at 10:00 AM (Central Time) from our ticketing website https://tickets.tocstaging.wpengine.com.

“The Spirited Awards are the equivalent of the Oscars for the bar world and we are thrilled for our nominees who represent many of the best and brightest in our business,” said Neal Bodenheimer, Board Member of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “We are excited to shine a light on the hard working and talented people who have made a meaningful impact on their peers and communities this year.”

The top four finalists for each category will be announced on On June 22, 2018. All top four finalists will be invited to attend the live ceremony in New Orleans. Each award recipient will receive an exclusive Riedel Crystal Trophy.

The current sponsors of the 12th Annual Spirited Awards include Bacardi USA, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, G.H. Mumm, Gra’it Grappa, Italicus, Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, Maison Ferrand USA, Peroni, Pernod Ricard, The House of Angostura, William Grant & Sons, and Woodford Reserve.

Please see below for the complete top 10 nominees in each category.

*Please note that in some categories there were ties for 10th place, therefore some categories have more than 10 nominees listed.

American Categories

American Bartender of the Year presented by Bacardi USA

Tyson Buehler, Death & Co – Denver, CO

Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven – San Francisco, CA

Marcovaldo Dionysos, ABV – San Francisco, CA

Abigail Gullo, Compère Lapin at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery – New Orleans, LA

ms. franky marshall, Le Boudoir – New York, NY

Micah Melton, The Aviary – Chicago, IL

Ezra Star, Drink – Boston, MA

Kellie Thorn, Empire State South – Atlanta, GA

Yael Vengroff, Spare Room – Los Angeles, CA

Jillian Vose, Dead Rabbit – New York, NY

Christine Wiseman, Broken Shaker – Los Angeles, CA

Best American Brand Ambassador

Kiowa Bryan, Spiribam

Tim Cooper, 86 Co.

Gardner Dunn, Suntory Whiskies

Erin Hayes, House Spirits

Vance Henderson, Monkey Shoulder

Lynn House, Heaven Hill

Anne Louise Marquis, Campari America

Jessamine McLellan, Irish Whiskey, Pernod Ricard

Robin Nance, Beam Suntory

Trevor Schneider, Reyka

Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Clover Club – Brooklyn, NY

Columbia Room – Washington D.C.

Dante – New York City, NY

Drink – Boston, MA

Herbs & Rye – Las Vegas, NV

Leyenda – Brooklyn, NY

Pacific Cocktail Haven – San Francisco, CA

Sportsman’s Club – Chicago, IL

Sweet Liberty – Miami, FL

Williams & Graham – Denver, CO

Best American Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard

ABV – San Francisco, CA

Amor Y Amargo – New York City, NY

Anvil – Houston, TX

Bar Goto – New York City, NY

BarMini by Jose Andres – Washington, D.C.

Lost Lake – Chicago, IL

Pacific Cocktail Haven – San Francisco, CA

PDT – New York City, NY

Pouring Ribbons – New York City, NY

Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by William Grant & Sons

Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour – Phoenix, AZ

Drink – Boston, MA

Harvard and Stone – Los Angeles, CA

Occidental – Denver, CO

Pagan Idol – San Francisco, CA

Polite Provisions – San Diego, CA

Roosevelt Room – Austin, TX

Sportsman’s Club – Chicago, IL

The Anderson – Miami, FL

The NoMad Bar – New York City, NY

Best American Hotel Bar presented by Bacardi USA

Brothers and Sisters at The Line Hotel – Washington D.C.

Charmaine’s at The Proper Hotel – San Francisco, CA

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

Covina at Park South – New York City, NY

Libertine Social at The Mandalay – Las Vegas, NV

Midnight Rambler at The Joule – Dallas, TX

Sable Kitchen & Bar at The Palomar – Chicago, IL

The Broken Shaker at The Freehand – Miami, FL

The Living Room at The Dewberry Hotel – Charleston, SC

The Roof at Park South – New York City, NY

The Spare Room at The Roosevelt Hotel – Los Angeles, CA

Best American Restaurant Bar presented by Woodford Reserve

Bad Hunter – Chicago, IL

Bar Agricole – San Francisco, CA

Cherry Circle Room – Chicago, IL

Clyde Common – Portland, OR

Gramercy Tavern – New York City, NY

Kimball House – Decatur, GA

Liholiho Yacht Club – San Francisco, CA

No. 9 Park – Boston, MA

Nopa – San Francisco, CA

Silver Dollar – Louisville, KY

Best New American Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand USA

*An edit was made to this listing on 6/27/18

Attaboy Nashville – Nashville, TN

Broken Shaker LA – Los Angeles, CA

Death or Glory – Delray Beach, FL

Navy Strength – Seattle, WA

Nickel City – Austin, TX

NoMad LA Giannini Bar – Los Angeles, CA

Prairie School – Chicago, IL

The Aviary NYC – New York City, NY

The Pool Lounge – New York, NY

The Way Back – Denver, CO

International Categories

International Bartender of the Year presented by Bacardi USA

Sullivan Doh, La Commune – Paris

Marcis Dzelzainis, Sager and Wilde – London

Roman Foltan, ATLAS – Singapore

Chris Hysted-Adams, Black Pearl – Melbourne

Chris Moore, Coupette – London

Tess Posthumus, Flying Dutchmen Cocktails – Amsterdam

Remy Savage, Artesian – London

Joe Schofield, Tippling Club – Singapore

Kaitlyn Stewart, Royal Dinette – Vancouver

Luke Whearty, Operation Dagger – Singapore

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by G.H. Mumm

Georgie Bell, Malts – Bacardi

Ian Burrell, Global Rum Ambassador

Dickie Cullimore, Bacardi

Gareth Evans, Absolut Elyx

Daniyel Jones, Angostura

Roberta Mariani, Martini

Joe McCanta, Grey Goose

Raj Nagra, Bombay Sapphire

George Nemec, Becherovka

Nicola Riske, Macallan & Edrington Malts

Meimi Sanchez, Havana Club International

Best International Bar Team presented by The House of Angostura

The Baxter Inn – Sydney

Black Pearl – Melbourne

Licoreria Limantour – Mexico City

Lost & Found Drinkery – Cyprus

Manhattan Bar – Singapore

Swift – London

The American Bar, The Savoy – London

The Clumsies – Athens

The Connaught Bar – London

Tippling Club – Singapore

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard

ATLAS – Singapore

Bulletin Place – Sydney

Happiness Forgets – London

Le Syndicat – Paris

Licoreria Limantour – Mexico City

Lost and Found Drinkery – Cyprus

Native – Singapore

Operation Dagger – Singapore

Speak Low – Shanghai

The Gibson – London

Three Sheets – London

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar

Baba Au Rum – Athens

Baxters Inn – Sydney

Callooh Callay – London

Central Station – Beirut

Dirty Dick – Paris

Eau-de-Vie – Melbourne

HIMKOK – Oslo, Norway

La Factoria – San Juan

Oriole Bar – London

Panda and Sons – Edinburgh

Super Lyan – London

The Barber Shop – Sydney

The Clumsies – Athens

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association

Bamboo Bar at the Mandarin Oriental- Bangkok

Charles H at the Four Seasons- Seoul

Dukes Bar at Dukes – London

Fifty Mils at Four Seasons Hotel- Mexico City

Lobster Bar at Island Shangri-La- Hong Kong

Manhattan Bar at Regent – Singapore

Punch Room at London Edition – London

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood – London

The American Bar at The Savoy – London

The Lobby Bar at The London EDITION

Best International Restaurant Bar

Blind Pig – London

Cub – London

Danico – Paris

Hawksmoor Spitalfields – London

Maybe Frank – Sydney

Sager & Wilde – London

Sexy Fish – London

Sober Company – Shanghai

The Clove Club – London

Tjoget/Linje Tio – Stockholm

Zuma Dubai – Dubai

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand USA

Botanist – Vancouver, Canada

Coupette – London

Flying Dutchmen Cocktails – Amsterdam

Les Grands Verres – Paris

MOOTEE – Johannesburg

Scout – London

The Mint Gun Club – London

The Old Man – Hong Kong

The Strangers Club – Panamá

Two Schmucks – Barcelona

Waeska Bar at the Mandrake – London

Writing Categories

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication

1806 Magazine

Difford’s Guide

Fine Drinking Magazine

Liquor.com

Neat Pour

Rumporter Magazine

The Daily Beast Half Full Section

The Spirits Business

VinePair

Whisky Advocate

Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer presented by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

M. Carrie Allan, Imbibe Magazine

Simon Difford, Difford’s Guide

Aaron Goldfarb, PUNCH

Pableaux Johnson, New York Times, Imbibe, and more

Matt Pietrek, Cocktail Wonk

Clay Risen, New York Times

Noah Rothbaum, The Daily Beast

Robert Simonson, Imbibe Magazine

Hamish Smith, Class Magazine, Drinks International

Max Watman, The Daily Beast

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Gra’it Grappa

Cocktail Chameleon by Mark Addison

FEVER-TREE The Art of Mixing Simple Long Drinks & Cocktails From The World’s Leading Bars by Charles Rolls and Tim Warrillow

Gin Tonica by David T. Smith

L’Heure du Cocktail / The Cocktail Hour by Marcel Requien & Lucien Farnoux-Reynaud

One-Bottle Cocktail by Maggie Hoffman

Meehan’s Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan

The Imbible by Micah LeMon

3 Ingredient Cocktails by Robert Simonson

The Cocktail Competition Handbook by Andy Ives

The Cocktail Guy’ by Rich Woods

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits

Barrel Strength Bourbon: The Explosive Growth of America’s Whiskey by Carla Harris Carlton

Beachbum Berry’s Sippin Safari by Jeff Berry

By the Smoke and the Smell by Thad Vogler

Distillery Cats by Brad Thomas Parsons

Masters of Craft: Old Jobs in the New Urban Economy by Richard E. Ocejo

Mezcal by Emma Janzen

Rum Curious: The Indispensable Tasting Guide to the World’s Spirit by Fred Minnick

STRAIGHT UP The insiders’ guide to the world’s most interesting bars and drinking experiences by Joel Harrison & Neil Ridley

The Curious Bartender’s Rum Revolution by Tristan Stephenson

The Way of Whisky: A Journey Around Japanese Whisky by Dave Broom, Photography by Kohei Take

Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series

Bar None Podcast

BarChick Media Ltd.

Bartender At Large

Cocktails For You

Difford’s Guide

Gin Foundry

Life Behind Bars

Curbside Cocktails, Liquor.com

Shift Drink podcast with Ed Rudisell and Arthur Black

The Speakeasy

WhiskyCast

Global Categories

Best Bar Mentor presented by Barsmarts

Tony Abou-Ganim, The Modern Mixologist

Bridget Albert, Southern Wine and Spirits

Ryan Chetiyawardana, Mr Lyan

Alex Kratena, Pour

Francesco Lafranconi, Bar consultant

Christopher Lowder, Proof & Company, China

Dre Masso, Comunidad Consulting

Nectaly Mendoza, Herbs & Rye

Mike Ryan, Kimpton Hotels

Andy Seymour, Liquid Productions, INC

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient

Creme de Banane, Tempus Fugit Spirits

Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Jabali

J. Rieger & Co. Monogram Whiskey 2018 Sherry Bota

Laird’s Straight Applejack 86

MARTINI Riserva Speciale Bitter

Old Duff Single Malt Genever

Paranubes Oaxacan Rum

Privateer Rum Pot Stilled Overproof Rum- Tres Aromatique

Tequila Siembra Valles Blanco Ancestral

The Bitter Truth Bogart’s Bitters

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Peroni

American Bar, The Savoy – Every Moment Tells a Story – London

Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour – Phoenix, AZ

BlackTail – New York City, NY

Canon – Seattle, WA

Charles H, Four Seasons Hotel – Seoul

Dandelyan – London

Dante – New York City, NY

MACE bar – New York City, NY

The Aviary – Chicago, IL

Tippling Club – Singapore

World’s Best Spirits Selection

Amor y Amargo – New York, NY

ATLAS – Singapore

Mabel – Paris, France

Old Crow – Zürich, Switzerland

Rumba – Seattle, WA

Sexy Fish – London

Sweet Liberty – Miami, FL

The Baxter Inn – Sydney, Australia

The Office – Chicago, Illinois

Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA

Whitechapel – San Francisco, CA

World’s Best Bar presented by Italicus

World’s Best Bar is awarded to one of the winners in the bar categories: Best American and International Cocktail Bar, Best American and International Restaurant Bar, Best American and International Hotel Bar and Best American and International High Volume Bar. The winner will be announced at the 2018 Spirited Awards.

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons

The recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced soon.

The Spirited Awards are not based on popular vote and all nominations will be evaluated by their respective judging committees.

Tales of the Cocktail will be hosted in New Orleans from July 17th to 22nd, 2018, and the Spirited Awards will occur on July 21st, 2018. To view the past Spirited Awards winners, click here. To learn more about Tales of the Cocktail, please click here.

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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. With 200+ 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.

About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is an 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 lasting impact in communities that host our events.

Media Inquiries:

Gia Vecchio, [email protected], 917.280.5043


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