NEW ORLEANS, LA (May 21, 2024) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Top 10 Writing & Media, Books, Spirit & Cocktail Ingredients, and World’s Best Cocktail Menu and Spirits Selection Nominees, for the 19th annual Spirited Awards®. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards has become one of the industry’s most sought-after awards, recognizing beverage professionals, products, and establishments across every facet of the spirits and cocktail community on a global scale. In partnership with official media partner, Forbes, TOTCF will honor recipients during the Tales of the Cocktail® conference, which is celebrating its 23rd year in New Orleans, July 20-25, 2025.
The Spirited Awards honor excellence across the global bar industry, recognizing achievements in both domestic and international categories. The program includes awards for writing and media, as well as top honors that celebrate the best in the world—such as World’s Best Cocktail Bar and World’s Best Cocktail Menu.
“Every year, we’re inspired by the extraordinary and diverse global talent emerging from our industry,” said Tiffanie Barriere, Spirited Awards U.S. Chair. “This year’s shortlist is a celebration of those who are redefining excellence—crafting remarkable cocktails, elevating guest experiences, and pushing our industry to new heights around the world.”
In that spirit, the Foundation is proud to announce the Top 10 Writing & Media, Books, Product & Ingredients, and World’s Best Cocktail Menu and Spirits Selection Nominees.
2025 Spirited Awards Top 10 Writing & Media, Books, Product & Ingredients, and World’s Best Cocktail Menu and Spirits Selection Nominees (in alphabetical order):
Writing & Media, Books, Product & Ingredients Categories, and World’s Best Cocktail Menu and Spirits Selection Nominees
- Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
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- Boothby
- Candra Drinks
- CLASS magazine
- COQTAIL – for fine drinkers
- Difford’s Guide
- Drinks International
- Full Pour
- Places You Are Welcome
- SevenFifty Daily
- The Spirits Business
- Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing
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- “Charting a New Course — In Louisiana’s Sugarcane Country, a New Spirit Emerges from Complicated Conditions” by Christine Sismondo, for Good Beer Hunting
- “Facing Racism on the Job as a Black Beverage Journalist” by Shayna Conde, for SevenFifty Daily
- “In War-Torn Ukraine, Nightlife Offers a Fleeting Escape” by Adam Robb, for Wine Enthusiast
- “License to spill: Six London landladies on what it takes to run a pub in 2024” by Millie Milliken, for The Standard
- “Nobody Walks — In a Sprawling Los Angeles, Restaurants Create a Constellation of Cocktail Culture” by Esther Tseng, for Good Beer Hunting
- “Praying Before Eating – From ‘Libations’ to ‘Pouring One Out,’ Spilling Drinks Connects Souls Across Centuries and Continents” by Yolanda Evans, for Good Beer Hunting
- “The Hidden Hospitality Hazards When You’re Too Big for the Bar” by Brad Thomas Parsons, for VinePair
- “This Martini Costs $22. Here’s Exactly Why.” by Robert Simonson, for The Wall Street Journal
- “What Do Neo-Prohibitionists Really Want?” by Tyler Wetherall, for SevenFifty Daily
- “Yes, Black Women Make Country Music – They also Enjoy Whiskey” by Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, for Sweet July
- Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series Presented by Cheech & Chong
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- All Mxd Up
- Amourdrink TV
- Campari Academy Sessions
- Cocktail College
- Like•a•ble Cocktails by Kaitlyn
- Perspectives by Campari Academy
- Radio Imbibe
- Rare Spirits Society
- The Shaft by Josh Lindley of Bartender Atlas
- The Spirits Business Podcast
- Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book Presented by Branca USA
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- A Quick Drink: The Speed Rack Guide to Winning Cocktails for Any Mood by Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix with Megan Krigbaum
- Bubbles: A Guide to Carbonated Cocktails by Bart Miedeksza and Valentino Girotto
- Cocktail Theory – A Sensory Approach to Transcendent Drinks by Dr. Kevin Peterson
- Difford’s Guide to Cocktails Book 18th Edition
- Roundbuilding 2nd Edition by Daniel Waddy and Kevin Armstrong
- Sparkling: Champagne and Sparkling Cocktails for Any Occasion by Elva Ramirez
- The Bartender’s Pantry: A Beverage Handbook for the Universal Bar by Jim Meehan and Bart Sasso with Emma Janzen
- The Cocktail Balance 2.0 by Stanislav Harcinik
- The Connaught Bar: Cocktail Recipes and Iconic Creations by Agostino Perrone with Giorgio Bargiani and Maura Milia
- The Martini: The Ultimate Guide to a Cocktail Icon by Alice Lascelles
- Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits
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- A Most Noble Water: Revisiting the Origins of English Gin by Anistatia Miller & Jared Brown
- Distilled in Washington: A History by Becky Garrison
- Dusty Booze: In Search of Vintage Spirits by Aaron Goldfarb
- IN FINE SPIRITS A Complete Guide to Distilled Drinks by Joel Harrison & Neil Ridley
- Liqueur: A Global History by Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
- Liquid Legacy: A Timeless Tribute to the Founders of the United States Bartenders’ Guild by Livio Lauro
- Malort: The Redemption of a Revered and Reviled Spirit by Josh Noel
- Spirits Distilled: A Guide to the Ingredients Behind a Better Bottle by Nat Harry
- The Cocktail Parlor: How Women Brought the Cocktail Home by Nicola Nice
- The World Atlas of Whisky 3rd Edition by Dave Broom
- Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
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- Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret
- Giffard Non-Alcoholic Elderflower Liqueur
- Ilegal Mezcal Reposado Caribbean Cask Finish
- LALO Tequila Limited Edition High Proof
- Mijenta Maestra Selection No. 1
- Planteray Cut & Dry Coconut Rum
- Rhum Clément Bana Canne
- The Botanist Distiller’s Strength Gin
- The Lost Explorer Blanco Tequila
- Worthy Park Overproof
- World’s Best Cocktail Menu
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- Bar 1661 — Dublin, Ireland
- Bar Kaiju — Miami, FL
- Bar Us — Bangkok, Thailand
- Café de Nadie — Mexico City, Mexico
- Dr. Stravinsky — Barcelona, Spain
- Himkok — Oslo, Norway
- Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
- Maybe Sammy — Sydney, Australia
- Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland
- Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain
- World’s Best Spirits Selection
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- Amazonia — Washington D.C.
- Barro Negro — Athens, Greece
- Cat Bite Club — Singapore
- Eleven Madison Park — New York, NY
- Mírate — Los Angeles, CA
- Rumba — Seattle, WA
- Salón de Agave — Mexico City, Mexico
- Sexy Fish London — London, UK
- Side Hustle at The NoMad Hotel London — London, UK
- Tlecān — Mexico City, Mexico
2025 Spirited Awards Committee
The Spirited Awards Committee comprises revered bartenders, bar owners, educators, and writers who are entrusted with evaluating nominees based on structured criteria. The experienced and diverse committee of judges brings years of expertise and knowledge of industry developments locally, nationally, and internationally. The Spirited Awards nominations are not based on popular vote, and all nominations are evaluated by their respective judging committees, ensuring each vote carries equal weight in the evaluation process.
Honorees were selected by a panel of over 250 industry experts, led by the following Chair and Co-Chairs representing distinct regions:
International Chair & U.S. Chair:
- Ryan Chetiyawardana
- Tiffanie Barriere
Asia Pacific Co-Chairs:
- Andrew Ho
- Symphony Loo
- Alice Newport
- Stefanie Wijono
Canada Co-Chairs:
- Jonathan Smolensky
- Juliana Wolkowski
Europe Co-Chairs:
- Stephanie Jordan
- Camille Vidal
Latin America & Caribbean Co-Chairs:
- Georgina Barbachano Garcia
- Roberto Berdecia
Middle East & Africa Co-Chairs:
- Richie Barrow
- Caitlin Hill
- Lara Rawa
U.S. Central Co-Chairs:
- Amanda Carto
- Joshua Gandee
U.S. East Co-Chairs:
- Jaymee Mandeville
- Natasha Sofia
U.S. West Co-Chairs:
- Erin Shaeferle
- Mary Allison Wright
Writing & Media Co-Chairs:
- Erick Castro
- Emma Janzen
Books Chair:
- Anna Sulan Masing
Timeless Co-Chairs:
- François Monti
- Rebecca Sturt
To learn more about the Spirited Awards Committee and awards criteria, please visit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards® page.
Spirited Awards® 2025 Timeline
Top 10 U.S. Nominees will be announced on May 22, 2025. Top 4 Finalists, along with the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award, Tales Visionary Award, International Timeless Award, and U.S. Timeless Award, will be named on June 9, 2025. Tickets for the Spirited Awards ceremony will go on sale June 9th, 2025, and Spirited Awards Winners will be celebrated on July 24, 2025, at the 19th Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony at the Fillmore New Orleans.
Spirited Awards® 2025 Partners
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation would like to thank all of its Spirited Awards® sponsors: Australian Bitters Co., Branca USA, Cheech & Chong, G.H. Mumm Champagne, Innovation Beverage Group, Johnnie Walker, Pernod Ricard, and William Grant & Sons.
Spirited Awards® Directory
Tales of the Cocktail is pleased to share the Spirited Awards Directory, which gives discerning imbibers a comprehensive compendium of all Spirited Awards winners and nominees from the past 19 years. This resource is updated annually, making it a go-to guide for planning the perfect drinking and dining itinerary. Access the Spirited Awards Directory to explore award-winning bars.
23 Years of Inspiration & Tales of the Cocktail
This year, marking the 23-year anniversary, the conference returns with more seminars, events, and, of course, imbibing, all in the name of the conference’s 2025 theme, “Evolve.” Chosen to represent the collective of individuals who come together to create, share, and find inspiration each year at Tales, the 2025 conference will highlight the global cocktail community that continues to inspire each other year after year.
Please follow along for additional information on the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation website, Instagram, X, and Facebook.
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About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation:
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the global hospitality industry through education, advocacy, and community support. As the world’s leading spirits education platform, the Foundation provides year-round programs and initiatives that foster professional growth and drive meaningful change. Each July, the industry gathers in New Orleans, the beating heart of cocktail culture and hospitality, for a one-of-a-kind conference that blends education, networking, and celebration like no other. Guided by its core pillars—Educate, Advance, and Support—the Foundation’s impact extends far beyond the U.S., reaching professionals and communities around the world.
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