NEW ORLEANS, LA – July 23, 2016 – Following the largest nomination pool in the history of the show and a rigorous judging process by some of the most respected minds in the cocktail industry, Tales of the Cocktail® is proud to announce the winners for each category of the 10th Annual Spirited Awards®. All winners were announced live last night at the Sheraton Hotel New Orleans. In addition to this year’s judged award winners, Georgette Moger-Petraske, Sasha Petraske’s wife, accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on Sasha’s behalf.

“With this being my last year as chairman, it was a very special Spirited Awards for me. And, of course, the industry did not disappoint with such strong nominees in every category,” said Simon Ford, Spirited Awards® Chairman. “Congratulations to the winners. You absolutely earned this honor.”

For the past nine years, The Spirited Awards® have recognized the year’s best bars, bartenders, writers and experts, becoming the industry’s most prestigious and coveted award. Winners were voted on by a panel of more than 100 industry experts led by Simon Ford (Chairman), Jackson Cannon (U.S. Judging Committee Chairman), Jacob Briars (International Judging Committee Chairman) and David Wondrich (Writing Committee Chairman). In 2017, Simon Ford will be stepping down as Chairman for the Spirited Awards® and Charlotte Voisey, Director of Brand Advocacy for William Grant & Sons USA, will take over in leading the Spirited Awards®.

“I am personally thrilled for all of this year’s winners. Recognition from peers is a special thing,” said Charlotte Voisey, incoming Spirited Awards® Chairperson. “I am excited for the Spirited Awards to continue to grow along with our industry into the next decade.”

The World’s Best Bar award was the final award announced at the Spirited Awards® and quite possibly the most coveted with competition between bars from every corner of the world. The winner of the World’s Best Bar award was determined by the most total 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 or World’s Best Cocktail Menu. Ultimately it was The Connaught Bar at the Connaught in London that took home the Spirited Award® and the bragging rights that come with being honored as the world’s best.

“Every year these awards get harder and harder to win as the talent in our industry continues to grow.” said Ann Tuennerman, Founder of Tales of the Cocktail®. “I want to thank our judges who were up for the tallest of tasks in deciding the best among all the incredible and deserving nominees.”

This year, the sponsoring partners of the 10th Annual Spirited Awards® were Bacardi USA, BarSmart, Beam Suntory, Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, Chivas Regal, El Dorado Rum, Fords Gin, Gazela Vinho Verde, Goose Island Beer Company, House of Angostura, Luxardo, Nikka Whisky, Parlor Lounge at The Mirage, Pernod Absinthe, Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Ramazzotti, Rutte, The Cromwell, United States Bartenders Guild and William Grant & Sons.

For more information about the Spirited Awards®, to view past winners or to learn more about all the week’s spirited events, visit TalesoftheCocktail.com or call 504-948-0511.

2016 Spirited Awards® Winners

American Categories

Best American Bar Team
Presented by William Grant & Sons
ABV San Francisco

Best American Brand Ambassador
Presented by El Dorado Rum
Colin Asare-Appiah (Bacardi)

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar
Presented by William Grant & Sons
Herbs & Rye (Las Vegas)

Best American Restaurant Bar
Presented by Goose Island Beer Company
Saxon + Parole (New York)

American Bartender of the Year
Presented by Bacardi USA
Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Clyde Common (Portland)

Best American Cocktail Bar
Presented by Pernod Absinthe
Smuggler’s Cove (San Francisco)

Best American Hotel Bar
Presented by Ramazzotti
The Elephant Bar at The NoMad (New York)

Best New American Cocktail Bar
Presented by Luxardo
Sweet Liberty (Miami Beach)

International Categories

Best International Bar Team
Presented by House of Angostura
American Bar at the Savoy (London)

Best International Brand Ambassador
Presented by Rutte Distillateurs
Max Warner (Chivas Regal)

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar
Presented by The Cromwell
Callooh Callay (London)

Best International Restaurant Bar
Presented by Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte
Hawksmoor Spitalfields (London)

International Bartender of the Year
Presented by Bacardi USA
Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar High Five (Tokyo)

Best International Cocktail Bar
Presented by Chivas Regal
Happiness Forgets (London)

Best International Hotel Bar
Presented by The Cromwell
The Connaught Bar at The Connaught (London)

Best New International Cocktail Bar
Presented by Maison Ferrand
Oriole (London)

Writingrn

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
Presented by Fords Gin
Cocktail Lovers

Best New Cocktail & Bartending Book
Presented by Nikka Whisky
The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual: Secret Recipes and Barroom Tales from Two Belfast Boys Who Conquered the Cocktail World by Sean Muldoon, Jack McGarry and Ben Schaffer

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer
Presented by Beam Suntory
Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Best New Spirits Book
Presented by Maison Ferrand
Divided Spirits – Tequila, Mezcal, and the Politics of Production by Sarah Bowen

Global

Best Bar Mentor
Presented by BarSmarts
Angus Winchester

World’s Best Cocktail Menu
Presented by Beam Suntory
Dandelyan (London)

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
Presented by the Parlor Lounge at The Mirage
Stiggins’ Fancy Plantation Pineapple (Barbados)

World’s Best Spirits Selection
Presented by the Parlor Lounge at The Mirage
Tommy’s (San Francisco)

World’s Best Cocktail Bar
Presented by Gazela Vinho Verde
The Connaught Bar at the Connaught (London)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Sasha Petraske

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 exchange of new ideas, products and techniques.
Tales of the Cocktail® also produces a number of other events and programs such as Tales of the Cocktail on Tour®, Tales 365®, Tales of the Toddy® and New Orleans Daiquiri Season, all to further the mission of supporting and growing the international cocktail community.