MARCH 6, 2009 CLEVELAND, OH – Nightclub & Bar magazine honored King Cocktail Dale DeGroff with its Lifetime Achievement Award and presented five outstanding on-premise operators with Five Star Awards on March 2 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The Five Star Awards Dinner took place during the Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas, March 1 – 4.
The Five Star Awards recognize beverage professionals whose leadership, innovation and passion for the on-premise business raise the bar for the entire hospitality industry. The Five Star Awards have been presented since 2004 by Nightclub & Bar magazine.
Lauded for pioneering the classic cocktail revival in the United States and for a career dedicated to teaching the craft of the cocktail and elevating bartending to a recognized profession, Dale DeGroff was presented with the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award. He first gained notoriety for using fresh ingredients and quality spirits in cocktails prepared using authentic recipes, tools and techniques while at Manhattan’s Rainbow Room in the late 1980s. DeGroff went on to develop beverage programs at numerous top bars and restaurants across the country, all the while mentoring, teaching and inspiring legions of bartenders. Known as King Cocktail, DeGroff is the author of two books -- The Craft of the Cocktail (2002) and The Essential Cocktail (2008) -- and is also a founding partner of Beverage Alcohol Resource, LLC, and founding president of the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans.
“For his passion, commitment, creativity and mentorship, we are proud to present Dale DeGroff with the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Nightclub & Bar Editorial Director Donna Hood Crecca in presenting the award.
Winners were also announced in five categories.
Operator of the Year -- Victor Drai, owner; Jesse Waits and Cy Waits, managing partners; Tryst at Wynn Las Vegas, XS at Encore and Drai’s After Hours.
Mixologist of the Year -- Julie Reiner, proprietor of Flatiron Lounge and Clover Club and a partner in Pegu Club in New York City.
On-premise Promotion of the Year – “Live at LongHorn,” LongHorn Steakhouse, Darden Restaurants, Orlando, Fla.
Best Casual Chain Dining Beverage Program -- O’Charley’s, Nashville, Tenn.
Retailer of the Year – Tie -- BevMax of Stamford, Conn. and Lee’s Discount Liquors of Las Vegas, Nev. were both presented with this award.
Nominations for the Five Star Awards were submitted by members of the Nightclub & Bar Advisory Board, editorial team and conference and show staffs. The winners were selected based on the number of nominations received and a review of each program and initiative by the Nightclub & Bar editorial team.
For questions relating to the Five Star Awards, please contact Donna Hood Crecca, Nightclub & Bar editorial director via email at dcrecca@questex.com or by phone at 631-265-3839.
About Nightclub & Bar
Published monthly by Questex Media Group, Nightclub & Bar serves the innovators and influentials in on-premise bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Readers are the top executives, owners and operators who are responsible for driving growth, innovation and profitability. Other Nightclub & Bar media properties include The Hub, Nightclub & Bar's enewsletter, and The Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show, which is part of International Hospitality Week in Las Vegas drawing 30,000 professionals in the food, beverage and lodging industries from the United States and 22 other countries.
About Questex Media Group LLC.
Questex Media Group LLC. is a global, diversified business-to-business integrated media and information provider that serves multiple industries including beauty, spa, travel, hospitality, home entertainment, technology, landscape design, building services and natural resources through a range of well-established, market-leading publications, events, interactive media, research, information and integrated marketing services. Strategically, Questex places a strong emphasis on the hospitality market and publishes Hotel & Motel Management, Hotel Design, Luxury Hotelier and produces HotelWorld Expo and Conference.