NEW ORLEANS, LA (July 28, 2023) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Winners of the 17th annual Spirited Awards®. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® have become one of the industry’s most revered awards, recognizing beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the spirits and cocktail community on a global scale. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF honored recipients during the Spirited Awards Ceremony which took place at the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference in New Orleans on July 27, 2023.
The Spirited Awards are comprised of domestic and international industry accolades, writing and media awards, and overall awards that transcend regionality, including World’s Best Bar and World’s Best Cocktail Menu. Today, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is proud to announce the Winners of each International, U.S., and Global category. The evening’s award recipients were carefully considered by a panel of over 250 industry experts, led by Charlotte Voisey, the Spirited Awards Overall Chair.
“Congratulations to all of the Spirited Awards 2023 Winners! I am delighted to see even more patches of magic and corners of excellence shining brightly at the Spirited Awards this year,” said Overall Chair, Charlotte Voisey. “Thank you to everyone involved in pulling together such a meaningful celebration.”
Recognized through the lens of the 2023 conference theme, “Vitalize” – winners were chosen who encapsulate the hospitality community’s vibrancy and adaptability, as well as its unmatched kinetic energy that brings so much life to our shared experience. The winners of this year’s Spirited Awards have made an indelible contribution to invigorating and elevating the collective cocktail community.
2023 Spirited Awards® Winners:
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
International Bartender of the Year presented by The Busker
- Giorgio Bargiani — Connaught Bar, London, UK
Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Agostino Perrone
Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Nicola Riske — The Macallan
Best International Bar Team presented by Angostura Caribbean Rum
- ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena, Colombia
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patrón Tequila
- SIPS — Barcelona, Spain
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier
- Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Analogue Initiative — Singapore
Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- Line Athens — Athens, Greece
U.S. CATEGORIES
U.S. Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard USA
- Christine Wiseman — Marygold’s Brasserie / Broken Shaker, Miami, FL
Best U.S. Bar Mentor presented BarSmarts
- Chris Patino
Best U.S. Brand Ambassador presented Libbey
- Vance Henderson — Hendrick’s Gin
Best U.S. Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
- Happy Accidents — Albuquerque, NM
Best U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka
- Century Grand — Phoenix, AZ
Best U.S. Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose
- Hey Love at The Jupiter — Portland, OR
Best U.S. Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo
- Café La Trova — Miami, FL
Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- Martiny’s — New York, NY
WRITING & MEDIA CATEGORIES
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Punch
Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- The Speakeasy Podcast
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- “The Great Mezcal Heist” by Emma Janzen, for Eater
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- The Bartender’s Manifesto by Toby Maloney with Emma Janzen
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region’s Essential Spirit by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith
GLOBAL CATEGORIES
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
- Martini & Rossi Floreale Non Alcoholic Aperitivo
World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy
- Double Chicken Please — New York, NY
World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Raised by Wolves — San Diego, CA
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons
- Desmond Payne MBE
Timeless International Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel Singapore — Singapore
Timeless U.S. Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- Tiki-Ti — Los Angeles, CA
Tales Visionary Award Presented by Johnnie Walker
- Tiffanie Barriere
World’s Best Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
- SIPS – Barcelona, Spain
2023 Spirited Awards® Digital Playbill
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation shares the official 2023 Digital Playbill, which further outlines winner highlights, insights on the judging process from Spirited Awards Co-Chairs, and a comprehensive look at this year’s generous sponsors. For more information, please visit www.talesofthecocktail.org/events/spirited-awards.
Spirited Awards® Judges
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
- Sam Bygrave
- Pankaj Balachandran
- Charmaine Thio
- Canada Co-Chairs
- Kate Boushel
- Sabrine Dhaliwal
- Europe Co-Chairs
- Roberta Mariani
- Nicola Riske
- Latin America & Caribbean Co-Chairs
- Carlos Aguinsky
- Jean Trinh
- Middle East & Africa Co-Chairs
- Stephen “Kojo” Aidoo
- Cassandra Eichhoff
- Caitlin Hill
- U.S. Central Co-Chairs
- Steva Casey
- Lynn M. House
- U.S. East Co-Chairs
- Jackson Cannon
- Laura Cullen
- U.S. West Co-Chairs
- Jason Asher
- Mary Palac
- Writing & Media Co-Chairs
- François Monti
- Matthew Rowley
- Sandrae Lawrence
- Timeless Co-Chair
- Jared Brown
- Anistatia Miller
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 are evaluated by their respective judging committees.
Spirited Awards Directory
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is thrilled to share the Spirited Awards® Directory in partnership with Absolut Vodka, Angostura Caribbean Rum, BarSmarts, Diageo Bar Academy, Grey Goose, Amaro Montenegro, Select Aperitivo, Johnnie Walker, Libbey, Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic, Patron Tequila, Perrier, Pernod Ricard, The Busker, and William Grant & Sons. Giving discerning imbibers a comprehensive compendium of all 900+ Spirited Awards winners and nominees from the past 17 years, the Directory is an interactive, global map created to easily guide guests to officially recognized Spirited Awards establishments.
This resource will be updated annually, 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.
A Special Thanks: Spirited Awards® Sponsors
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation would like to thank all of its Spirited Awards sponsors. Title Partners: Diageo Bar Academy, Pernod Ricard; Presenting Partners: Bacardi Limited, William Grant & Sons; Supporting Partners: Angostura Caribbean Rum, Gruppo Montenegro, Johnnie Walker, Libbey, Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic, Perrier, The Busker; Official Beer of the Spirited Awards: Zony Mash Beer Project; Official Champagne of the Spirited Awards: G.H.Mumm; Official Glassware of TOTC2023: Libbey; Official Mixer of TOTC2023: East Imperial; Official Water of TOTC2023: Perrier.
Please follow along for additional information on the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, please visit the website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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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 a lasting impact in its host communities. TOTCF is the global leader in spirits education and a platform that tackles critical issues and topics facing the cocktail community. This year, TOTCF hosts its 21-year anniversary Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference in New Orleans from July 23-28, 2023, and celebrates the theme Vitalize.
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