Tales of the cocktail, the annual trade show and industry professional gathering that takes place in New Orleans, has announced the top four finalists for the 12th annual Spirited Awards.
In total, there are 27 awards that span four categories: American, International, Writing and Global. Whichever venue wins World’s Best Bar will be one of the winners from 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, and will be announced Saturday, July 21.
The winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced prior to the 12th annual Spirited Awards ceremony.
While all the finalists are remarkable people, venues, resources, books, and cocktail ingredients, a number should be notable to Nightclub & Bar Show attendees. Herbs & Rye, nominated for Best American Bar Team, is owned and operated by Nectaly Mendoza. Mendoza won the Nightclub & Bar Award for Bartender of the Year in 2016 and has presented several education sessions at multiple Nightclub & Bar Conferences & Trade Shows.
Both Mendoza and Erick Castro, a presenter of several Nightclub & Bar Show sessions and owner of Polite Provisions, finalist for the 2018 Spirited Award for Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar, were recently featured in an article focused on substance abuse and sobriety in the hospitality industry. Castro is also the host of the Bartender At Large podcast, which is up for Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series.
Read this: Regaining Control: Substance Abuse in the Hospitality Industry
The Broken Shaker took home Cocktail Bar of the Year, Lost Lake won New Concept of the Year, and PDT earned Speakeasy of the Year in 2016. In March of this year, BlackTail was awarded Cocktail Bar of the Year by Nightclub & Bar. Each finalist for World’s Best Cocktail Menu at the Spirited Awards is amazing but we’d love to see BlackTail take it this year.
See the full list of award categories, awards, finalists and sponsors below.
American Categories
American Bartender of the Year presented by Bacardi USA
Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven - San Francisco, CA
Marcovaldo Dionysos, ABV - San Francisco, CA
Yael Vengroff, Spare Room - Los Angeles, CA
Jillian Vose, Dead Rabbit - New York, NY
Best American Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Tim Cooper, 86 Co.
Lynn House, Heaven Hill
Anne Louise Marquis, Campari America
Robin Nance, Beam Suntory
Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
Columbia Room - Washington D.C.
Drink - Boston, MA
Herbs & Rye - Las Vegas, NV
Sweet Liberty - Miami, FL
Best American Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard
Anvil - Houston, TX
Bar Goto - New York City, NY
Lost Lake - Chicago, IL
PDT - New York City, NY
Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by William Grant & Sons
Drink - Boston, MA
Polite Provisions - San Diego, CA
Harvard & Stone - Los Angeles, CA
The NoMad Bar - New York City, NY
Best American Hotel Bar presented by Bacardi USA
Compère Lapin at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery - New Orleans, LA
Midnight Rambler at The Joule - Dallas, TX
The Broken Shaker at The Freehand - Miami, FL
The Spare Room at The Roosevelt Hotel - Los Angeles, CA
Best American Restaurant Bar presented by Woodford Reserve
Clyde Common - Portland, OR
Gramercy Tavern - New York City, NY
Nopa - San Francisco, CA
Silver Dollar - Louisville, KY
Best New American Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand USA
Attaboy Nashville - Nashville, TN
Broken Shaker LA - Los Angeles, CA
Navy Strength - Seattle, WA
The Aviary NYC - New York City, NY
International Categories
International Bartender of the Year presented by Bacardi USA
Roman Foltan, ATLAS – Singapore
Tess Posthumus, Flying Dutchmen Cocktails – Amsterdam
Remy Savage, Artesian – London
Joe Schofield, Tippling Club – Singapore
Best International Brand Ambassador presented by G.H. Mumm
Ian Burrell, Global Rum Ambassador
Dickie Cullimore, Bacardi
Joe McCanta, Grey Goose
Nicola Riske, Macallan & Edrington Malts
Best International Bar Team presented by The House of Angostura
Licoreria Limantour - Mexico City
The American Bar, The Savoy – London
The Clumsies – Athens
The Connaught Bar – London
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard
ATLAS – Singapore
Happiness Forgets – London
Le Syndicat – Paris
Licoreria Limantour - Mexico City
Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Rutte Gin
The Baxter Inn – Sydney
Callooh Callay – London
La Factoria - San Juan
The Clumsies – Athens
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Japan Shochu and Sake Maker Association
Fifty Mils at Four Seasons Hotel - Mexico City
Manhattan Bar at Regent – Singapore
Punch Room at London Edition - London
The American Bar at The Savoy – London
Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Mandarine Napoléon
Danico – Paris
Hawksmoor Spitalfields – London
Sager & Wilde – London
Sexy Fish – London
Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand USA
Coupette – London
Scout – London
The Mint Gun Club – London
Two Schmucks – Barcelona
Writing Categories
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
1806 Magazine
Neat Pour
The Daily Beast Half Full Section
Whisky Advocate
Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer presented by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
M. Carrie Allan, The Washington Post and more
Matt Pietrek, Cocktail Wonk
Noah Rothbaum, The Daily Beast
Robert Simonson, The New York Times
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Gra’it Grappa
Gin Tonica by David T. Smith
One-Bottle Cocktail by Maggie Hoffman
Meehan’s Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan
3-Ingredient Cocktails by Robert Simonson
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Beachbum Berry's Sippin Safari by Jeff Berry
By the Smoke and the Smell by Thad Vogler
Mezcal by Emma Janzen
The Way of Whisky: A Journey Around Japanese Whisky by Dave Broom, Photography by Kohei Take
Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Bartender At Large
Life Behind Bars
The Speakeasy
WhiskyCast
Global Categories
Best Bar Mentor presented by Barsmarts
Bridget Albert, Southern Wine and Spirits
Ryan Chetiyawardana, Mr Lyan
Alex Kratena, Pour
Andy Seymour, Liquid Productions, INC
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Maverick Drinks
Creme de Banane, Tempus Fugit Spirits
Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Jabali
MARTINI Riserva Speciale Bitter
Old Duff Single Malt Genever
World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Peroni
BlackTail - New York City, NY
Dandelyan – London
Dante - New York City, NY
The American Bar, The Savoy - Every Moment Tells a Story – London
World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
ATLAS – Singapore
Sweet Liberty - Miami, FL
The Office - Chicago, IL
Whitechapel - San Francisco, CA
World’s Best Bar presented by Italicus
World’s Best Bar is awarded 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 2018 Spirited Awards.
Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons
The recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced soon.