Following a thorough evaluation of over 1,000 unique nominees, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is thrilled to announce the top ten nominees for each award category have been chosen for the 12th Annual Spirited Awards. The Spirited Awards were created in 2007 to recognize the best bars, bartenders, writers and experts in the hard working service industry.
American and International committees comprised of the most respected minds in the cocktail industry selected the top 10 nominees for the 25 award categories. Each nominee was reviewed in detail to ensure it met the criteria and then presented by ballot to the committee judges. A diverse, international panel of over 150 esteemed judges’ votes yielded this year’s top 10 nominees.
“Congratulations go to all of the nominees this year, it truly is exciting to see the growth of the industry generating more and more bars, bartenders, products and media every year,” says Charlotte Voisey, Chairperson of the Spirited Awards. “I am delighted for everyone capture in these top ten lists and look forward to sharing the finalists and winners soon.”
The Spirited Awards recipients will be announced at the Spirited Awards on July 21st, 7:00 PM (Central Time) at the iconic Orpheum Theatre to memorialize our grand host city’s 300th year. Attendees are encouraged to celebrate in the colors of our city’s flag, blue and gold, as we recognize the best bars, bartenders, distillers, writers and more from the past year. Tickets will go on sale Friday, June 22 at 10:00 AM (Central Time) from our ticketing website https://tickets.talesofthecocktail.org.
“The Spirited Awards are the equivalent of the Oscars for the bar world and we are thrilled for our nominees who represent many of the best and brightest in our business,” said Neal Bodenheimer, Board Member of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “We are excited to shine a light on the hard working and talented people who have made a meaningful impact on their peers and communities this year.”
The top four finalists for each category will be announced on On June 22, 2018. All top four finalists will be invited to attend the live ceremony in New Orleans. Each award recipient will receive an exclusive Riedel Crystal Trophy.
The current sponsors of the 12th Annual Spirited Awards include Bacardi USA, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, G.H. Mumm, Gra’it Grappa, Italicus, Japan Shochu and Sake Maker Association, Maison Ferrand USA, Peroni, Pernod Ricard, The House of Angostura, William Grant & Sons, and Woodford Reserve.
Please see below for the complete top 10 nominees in each category.
*Please note that in some categories there were ties for 10th place, therefore some categories have more than 10 nominees listed.
American Categories
American Bartender of the Year presented by Bacardi USA
Tyson Buehler, Death & Co – Denver, CO
Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven – San Francisco, CA
Marcovaldo Dionysos, ABV – San Francisco, CA
Abigail Gullo, Compère Lapin at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery – New Orleans, LA
ms. franky marshall, Le Boudoir – New York, NY
Micah Melton, The Aviary – Chicago, IL
Ezra Star, Drink – Boston, MA
Kellie Thorn, Empire State South – Atlanta, GA
Yael Vengroff, Spare Room – Los Angeles, CA
Jillian Vose, Dead Rabbit – New York, NY
Christine Wiseman, Broken Shaker – Los Angeles, CA
Best American Brand Ambassador
Kiowa Bryan, Spiribam
Tim Cooper, 86 Co.
Gardner Dunn, Suntory Whiskies
Erin Hayes, House Spirits
Vance Henderson, Monkey Shoulder
Lynn House, Heaven Hill
Anne Louise Marquis, Campari America
Jessamine McLellan, Irish Whiskey, Pernod Ricard
Robin Nance, Beam Suntory
Trevor Schneider, Reyka
Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
Clover Club – Brooklyn, NY
Columbia Room – Washington D.C.
Dante – New York City, NY
Drink – Boston, MA
Herbs & Rye – Las Vegas, NV
Leyenda – Brooklyn, NY
Pacific Cocktail Haven – San Francisco, CA
Sportsman’s Club – Chicago, IL
Sweet Liberty – Miami, FL
Williams & Graham – Denver, CO
Best American Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard
ABV – San Francisco, CA
Amor Y Amargo – New York City, NY
Anvil – Houston, TX
Bar Goto – New York City, NY
BarMini by Jose Andres – Washington, D.C.
Lost Lake – Chicago, IL
Pacific Cocktail Haven – San Francisco, CA
PDT – New York City, NY
Pouring Ribbons – New York City, NY
Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA
Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by William Grant & Sons
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour – Phoenix, AZ
Drink – Boston, MA
Harvard and Stone – Los Angeles, CA
Occidental – Denver, CO
Pagan Idol – San Francisco, CA
Polite Provisions – San Diego, CA
Roosevelt Room – Austin, TX
Sportsman’s Club – Chicago, IL
The Anderson – Miami, FL
The NoMad Bar – New York City, NY
Best American Hotel Bar presented by Bacardi USA
Brother’s and Sister’s at The Line Hotel – Washington D.C.
Charmaine’s at The Proper Hotel – San Francisco, CA
Compère Lapin at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery – New Orleans, LA
Covina at Park South – New York City, NY
Libertine Social at The Mandalay – Las Vegas, NV
Midnight Rambler at The Joule – Dallas, TX
Sable Kitchen & Bar at The Palomar – Chicago, IL
The Broken Shaker at The Freehand – Miami, FL
The Living Room at The Dewberry Hotel – Charleston, SC
The Roof at Park South – New York City, NY
The Spare Room at The Roosevelt Hotel – Los Angeles, CA
Best American Restaurant Bar presented by Woodford Reserve
Bad Hunter – Chicago, IL
Bar Agricole – San Francisco, CA
Cherry Circle Room – Chicago, IL
Clyde Common – Portland, OR
Gramercy Tavern – New York City, NY
Kimball House – Decatur, GA
LihoLiho Yacht Club – San Francisco, CA
No. 9 Park – Boston, MA
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
Death or Glory – Delray Beach, FL
Diamond Reef – Brooklyn, NY
Navy Strength – Seattle, WA
Nickel City – Austin, TX
NoMad LA Giannini Bar – Los Angeles, CA
Prairie School – Chicago, IL
The Aviary NYC – New York City, NY
The Pool Lounge – New York, NY
International Categories
International Bartender of the Year presented by Bacardi USA
Sullivan Doh, La Commune – Paris
Marcis Dzelzainis, Sager and Wilde – London
Roman Foltan, ATLAS – Singapore
Chris Hysted-Adams, Black Pearl – Melbourne
Chris Moore, Coupette – London
Tess Posthumus, Flying Dutchmen Cocktails – Amsterdam
Remy Savage, Artesian – London
Joe Schofield, Tippling Club – Singapore
Kaitlyn Stewart, Royal Dinette – Vancouver
Luke Whearty, Operation Dagger – Singapore
Best International Brand Ambassador presented by G.H. Mumm
Georgie Bell, Malts – Bacardi
Ian Burrell, Global Rum Ambassador
Dickie Cullimore, Bacardi
Gareth Evans, Absolut Elyx
Daniyel Jones, Angostura
Roberta Mariani, Martini
Joe McCanta, Grey Goose
Raj Nagra, Bombay Sapphire
George Nemec, Becherovka
Nicola Riske, Macallan & Edrington Malts
Meimi Sanchez, Havana Club International
Best International Bar Team presented by The House of Angostura
Baxters Inn – Sydney
Black Pearl – Melbourne
Licoreria Limantour – Mexico City
Lost & Found Drinkery – Cyprus
Manhattan Bar – Singapore
Swift – London
The American Bar, The Savoy – London
The Clumsies – Athens
The Connaught Bar – London
Tippling Club – Singapore
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard
ATLAS – Singapore
Bulletin Place – Sydney
Happiness Forgets – London
Le Syndicat – Paris
Licoreria Limantour – Mexico City
Lost and Found Drinkery – Cyprus
Native – Singapore
Operation Dagger – Singapore
Speak Low – Shanghai
The Gibson – London
Three Sheets – London
Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar
Baba Au Rum – Athens
Baxters Inn – Sydney
Callooh Callay – London
Central Station – Beirut
Dirty Dick – Paris
Eau-de-Vie – Melbourne
HIMKOK – Oslo, Norway
La Factoria – San Juan
Oriole Bar – London
Panda and Sons – Edinburgh
Super Lyan – London
The Barber Shop – Sydney
The Clumsies – Athens
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Japan Shochu and Sake Maker Association
Bamboo Bar at the Mandarin Oriental- Bangkok
Charles H at the Four Seasons- Seoul
Dukes Bar at Dukes – London
Fifty Mils at Four Seasons Hotel- Mexico City
Lobster Bar at Island Shangri-La- Hong Kong
Manhattan Bar at Regent – Singapore
Punch Room at London Edition – London
Scarfes Bar at Rosewood – London
The American Bar at The Savoy – London
The Lobby Bar at The London EDITION
Best International Restaurant Bar
Blind Pig – London
Cub – London
Danico – Paris
Hawksmoor Spitalfields – London
Maybe Frank – Sydney
Sager & Wilde – London
Sexy Fish – London
Sober Company – Shanghai
The Clove Club – London
Tjoget/Linje Tio – Stockholm
Zuma Dubai – Dubai
Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand USA
Botanist – Vancouver, Canada
Coupette – London
Flying Dutchmen Cocktails – Amsterdam
Les Grands Verres – Paris
MOOTEE – Johannesburg
Scout – London
The Mint Gun Club – London
The Old Man – Hong Kong
The Strangers Club – Panamá
Two Schmucks – Barcelona
Waeska Bar at the Mandrake – London
Writing Categories
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
1806 Magazine
Difford’s Guide
Fine Drinking Magazine
Liquor.com
Neat Pour
Rumporter Magazine
The Daily Beast Half Full Section
The Spirits Business
VinePair
Whisky Advocate
Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer presented by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
M. Carrie Allan, The Washington Post and more
Simon Difford, Difford’s Guide
Aaron Goldfarb, PUNCH
Pableaux Johnson, New York Times, Imbibe, and more
Matt Pietrek, Cocktail Wonk
Clay Risen, New York Times
Noah Rothbaum, The Daily Beast
Robert Simonson, The New York Times
Hamish Smith, Class Magazine, Drinks International
Max Watman, The Daily Beast
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Gra’it Grappa
Cocktail Chameleon by Mark Addison
FEVER-TREE The Art of Mixing Simple Long Drinks & Cocktails From The World’s Leading Bars by Charles Rolls and Tim Warrillow
Gin Tonica by David T. Smith
L’Heure du Cocktail / The Cocktail Hour by Marcel Requien & Lucien Farnoux-Reynaud
One-Bottle Cocktail by Maggie Hoffman
Meehan’s Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan
The Imbible by Micah LeMon
3 Ingredient Cocktails by Robert Simonson
The Cocktail Competition Handbook by Andy Ives
The Cocktail Guy’ by Rich Woods
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits
Barrel Strength Bourbon: The Explosive Growth of America’s Whiskey by Carla Harris Carlton
Beachbum Berry’s Sippin Safari by Jeff Berry
By the Smoke and the Smell by Thad Vogler
Distillery Cats by Brad Thomas Parsons
Masters of Craft: Old Jobs in the New Urban Economy by Richard E. Ocejo
Mezcal by Emma Janzen
Rum Curious: The Indispensable Tasting Guide to the World’s Spirit by Fred Minnick
STRAIGHT UP The insiders’ guide to the world’s most interesting bars and drinking experiences by Joel Harrison & Neil Ridley
The Curious Bartender’s Rum Revolution by Joel Harrison
The Way of Whisky: A Journey Around Japanese Whisky by Dave Broom, Photography by Kohei Take
Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series
Bar None Podcast
BarChick Media Ltd.
Bartender At Large
Cocktails For You
Difford’s Guide
Gin Foundry
Life Behind Bars
Liquor.com
Shift Drink podcast with Ed Rudisell and Arthur Black
The Speakeasy
WhiskyCast
Global Categories
Best Bar Mentor presented by Barsmarts
Tony Abou-Ganim, The Modern Mixologist
Bridget Albert, Southern Wine and Spirits
Ryan Chetiyawardana, Mr Lyan
Alex Kratena, Pour
Francesco Lafranconi, Bar consultant
Christopher Lowder, Proof & Company, China
Dre Masso, Mentor
Nectaly Mendoza, Herbs & Rye
Mike Ryan, Kimpton Hotels
Andy Seymour, Liquid Productions, INC
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
Creme de Banane, Tempus Fugit Spirits
Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Jabali
J. Rieger & Co. Monogram Whiskey 2018 Sherry Bota
Laird’s Straight Applejack 86
MARTINI Riserva Speciale Bitter
Old Duff Single Malt Genever
Paranubes Oaxacan Rum
Privateer Rum Pot Stilled Overproof Rum- Tres Aromatique
Tequila Siembra Valles Blanco Ancestral
The Bitter Truth Bogart’s Bitters
World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Peroni
American Bar, The Savoy – Every Moment Tells a Story – London
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour – Phoenix, AZ
BlackTail – New York City, NY
Canon – Seattle, WA
Charles H, Four Seasons Hotel – Seoul
Dandelyan – London
Dante – New York City, NY
MACE bar – New York City, NY
The Aviary – Chicago, IL
Tippling Club – Singapore
World’s Best Spirits Selection
Amor y Amargo – New York, NY
ATLAS – Singapore
Mabel – Paris, France
Old Crow – Zürich, Switzerland
Rumba – Seattle, WA
Sexy Fish – London
Sweet Liberty – Miami, FL
The Baxter Inn – Sydney, Australia
The Office – Chicago, Illinois
Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA
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 presented by William Grant & Sons
The recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced soon.
The Spirited Awards are not based on popular vote and all nominations will be evaluated by their respective judging committees.
Tales of the Cocktail will be hosted in New Orleans from July 17th to 22nd, 2018, and the Spirited Awards will occur on July 21st, 2018. View the past Spirited Awards winners.
