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 24, 2019 – After a record year of submissions, highly competitive Top Ten nominees and in-depth deliberation from the judging panels, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation® is thrilled to announce the Top Four Finalists in each category for the upcoming 13th Annual Spirited Awards®. Since their debut in 2007, the Spirited Award® have recognized the best and brightest in the cocktail and spirits industries. The award categories stretch from bartenders and brand ambassadors to bars and writers in order to ensure that every aspect of the industry receives recognition for its contributions. For these efforts, the Spirited Award® have grown to become one of the most coveted honors an industry professional can receive.
“The depth and breadth of quality in our industry continues to grow and reflect the hard work and dedication of so many bar professionals around the world,” says Charlotte Voisey, Spirited Awards Chairperson. “We are delighted to be able to celebrate that through the Spirited Awards® year after year. Many congratulations to all of our Top 4 nominees this year, we look forward to recognizing you all and to announcing the winners in New Orleans soon.”
The finalists in each category are invited to attend The Spirited Awards®, hosted at the iconic Orpheum Theatre in New Orleans on Saturday, July 20th from 7:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. The winners of each category will be announced live in front of their peers in the cocktail and spirits industry. In addition to the prestige that comes with winning a Spirited Award®, recipients will receive a Riedel Crystal Trophy to commemorate their accomplishments.
“The Foundation is thrilled to shine a light on these select talents in our industry and acknowledge their invaluable contributions at the 13th Annual Spirited Awards®,” says Caroline Rosen, Executive Director of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “We extend our congratulations to all nominated and are thrilled to honor such a global group of talent.”
General admission tickets to the awards are available for $100 and floor seats for $450 each. New this year, a Spirited After Hours party will be held from 10:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. to celebrate and toast this year’s winners. Purchase of Spirited Awards® tickets includes access to Spirited After Hours. For those interested in exclusively attending the Spirited After Hours party, tickets can be purchased separately online. Tickets are now on sale at tocstaging.wpengine.com.
The Title Sponsor of the 13th Annual Spirited Awards® is BACARDÍ USA. Presenting Sponsors are Beam Suntory, Montenegro Americas, Pernod Ricard USA, and William Grant & Sons. Supporting Sponsors are Brown Forman, Heaven Hill, Maison Ferrand, Perrier, TABASCO® Brand, The House of Angostura, and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).
G.H. Mumm is the Official Champagne Partner of the 2019 Spirited Awards®. Perrier is the Official Mineral Water Partner of Tales of the Cocktail 2019. Q Mixers is the Official Mixer of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. Aardvark Paper Straws is the year long Paper Straw Sponsor for Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. Riedel generously donated the trophies for the Spirited Awards®.
Please see below for the complete Top Four finalists in each category listed in alphabetical order.
AMERICAN CATEGORIES
American Bartender of the Year presented by Amaro Montenegro
Julio Cabrera – Cafe La Trova, Miami, FL
Kevin Diedrich – Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA
Masa Urushido – Katana Kitten, New York City, NY
Jillian Vose – The Dead Rabbit, New York City, NY
Best American Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Megan Breier, Beam Suntory
Kiowa Bryan, Spiribam Fine R(h)um Specialists
Tim Cooper, Fords Gin
Trevor Schneider, Reyka Vodka
Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
Clover Club – Brooklyn, NY
Herbs and Rye – Las Vegas, NV
Lost Lake – Chicago, IL
Nickel City – Austin, TX
Best American Cocktail Bar presented by Select Aperitivo
Amor Y Amargo – New York, NY
Attaboy – New York, NY
Drink – Boston, MA
Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA
Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Grey Goose Vodka
Half Step – Austin, TX
Herbs and Rye – Las Vegas, NV
Nickel City – Austin, TX
The Dead Rabbit – New York, NY
Best American Hotel Bar presented by Altos Tequila
Broken Shaker at Freehand LA – Los Angeles, CA
Compère Lapin at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery – New Orleans, LA
Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay – Las Vegas, NV
Midnight Rambler at the Joule – Dallas, TX
Best American Restaurant Bar presented by Woodford Reserve
Better Luck Tomorrow – Houston, TX
Dante – New York, NY
Gramercy Tavern – New York, NY
The Silver Dollar – Louisville, KY
Best New American Cocktail Bar presented by Elijah Craig Bourbon
Cafe La Trova – Miami, FL
Death & Co. – Denver, CO
Existing Conditions – New York, NY
Katana Kitten – New York, NY
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
International Bartender of the Year presented by BACARDÍ RUM
Moe Aljaff – Two Schmucks, Barcelona, Spain
Monica Berg – Tayer and Elementary, London, UK
Philippa “Pippa” Guy – The American Bar at The Savoy, London, UK
Matt Whiley – Scout, Sydney, Australia
Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Dickie Cullimore, Bacardi Rum
Gareth Evans, Absolut Elyx
Joe McCanta, Grey Goose
Lauren Mote, Diageo Reserve Global Cocktailian
Best International Bar Team presented by The House of Angostura
Black Pearl – Melbourne, Australia
Connaught Bar at The Connaught – London, UK
Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons – Mexico City, Mexico
Licorería Limantour – Mexico City, Mexico
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand
Atlas Bar – Singapore
Le Syndicat – Paris, France
Native – Singapore
Three Sheets – London, UK
Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Beam Suntory
Baba Au Rum – Athens, Greece
Callooh Callay – London, UK
HIMKOK – Oslo, Norway
Schumann’s Bar – Munich, Germany
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier
Artesian Bar at The Langham – London, UK
Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons – Mexico City, Mexico
Manhattan at Regent Singapore – Singapore
Punch Room at The London EDITION – London, UK
Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Peroni Nastro Azzurro
Danico – Paris, France
Hawksmoor Spitalfields – London, UK
Le Mary Céleste – Paris, France
Tippling Club – Singapore
Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Homeboy Bar – London, UK
Lyaness – London, UK
MAYBE SAMMY – Sydney, Australia
Punch Room at The Barcelona EDITION – Barcelona, Spain
GLOBAL CATEGORIES
Best Bar Mentor presented by BARSMARTS
Ago Perrone
Colin Asare-Appiah
Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero
Nectaly Mendoza
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by TABASCO® Brand
BERTOUX Brandy
Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Boca del Cerro
Fords Gin Officers’ Reserve
Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry Rum
World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Wine & Spirit Education Trust
BlackTail – New York, NY
Dante – New York, NY
Mace – New York, NY
Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA
World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory
Amor Y Amargo – New York, NY
Atlas Bar – Singapore
Raised By Wolves – San Diego, CA
The Office – Chicago, IL
WRITING & MEDIA CATEGORIES
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
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- Cocktail Wonk
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- Neat Pour
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- Scotchwhisky.com
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- SevenFifty Daily
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
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- Aaron Goldfarb, Esquire, PUNCH, VinePair
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- Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast, Wall Street Journal, PUNCH
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- Robert Simonson, The New York Times, Imbibe Magazine, PUNCH
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- Wayne Curtis, Imbibe Magazine, The Daily Beast, Garden & Gun
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
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- Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions by Alex Day, David Kaplan, Nick Fauchald, and Devon Tarby
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- Northern Hospitality with The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club: A Celebration of Cocktails, Cooking, and Coming Together by Andrew Volk and Briana Volk
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- The Aviary Cocktail Book by Allen Hemberger, Grant Achatz, and Nick Kokonas
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- The Dead Rabbit Mixology & Mayhem: The Story of John Morrissey and the World’s Best Cocktail Menu by Jack McGarry, Jillian Vose, and Sean Muldoon
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
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- A Drinkable Feast: A Cocktail Companion to 1920s Paris by Philip Greene
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- Drinking Like Ladies: 75 Modern Cocktails from the World’s Leading Female Bartenders by Kirsten Amann and Misty Kalkofen
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- From Barley to Blarney: A Whiskey Lover’s Guide to Ireland by Jack McGarry, Sean Muldoon, and Tim Herlihy
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- Hacking Whiskey: Smoking, Blending, Fat Washing, and Other Whiskey Experiments by Aaron Goldfarb
Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
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- Bartender at Large
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- Bourbon Up with Fred Minnick
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- Cocktails For You
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- WhiskyCast
SPECIAL AWARDS
World’s Best Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
The World’s Best Bar award is presented 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 2019 Spirited Awards®.
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons
The recipient of the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the 2019 Spirited Awards®.
Philanthropy Award presented by Santa Teresa 1796 Rum
The recipient of the 2019 Philanthropy Award will be announced at the 2019 Spirited Awards®.
Timeless American Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
The recipient of the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the 2019 Spirited Awards®.
Timeless International Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
The recipient of the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the 2019 Spirited Awards®.
The 2019 Timeless Awards are evaluated by a Committee comprised of U.S. and International representatives. Robert Simonson and David Wondrich serve as the Co-Chairs. Committee Members included Carrie Allen (U.S), Colin Asare-Appiah (U.S), Alice Lascelles (UK), François Monti (Spain), Kara Newman (U.S), Garrett Oliver (U.S), Luca Picchi (Italy) and Christine Sismondo (Canada).
For more information on Tales of the Cocktail, please visit www.tocstaging.wpengine.com.
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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 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. For more information on Tales of the Cocktail, please visit www.tocstaging.wpengine.com
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 300+ 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.
Media Inquiries:
Gia Vecchio, [email protected], 917.280.5043
Katherine Crawford, [email protected], 404.513.0528
