Top 10 Nominees for the 13th Annual Spirited Awards

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is pleased to announce the Top 10 nominees for the 13th annual Spirited Awards®. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® have become spirited awardsone 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. The 2019 Top 10 nominees were selected through an extensive evaluation of a record number of nominations, totaling twice as many submissions received in 2018 alone.

“The Spirited Awards® are the equivalent of the Oscars for the cocktail and spirits community. As a Foundation, we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on national and international talent who continue to set the bar higher and higher each year,” said Neal Bodenheimer, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “We extend our congratulations to all of this year’s nominees.”

American and International judging committees, comprised of over 175 of the most respected minds in the cocktail and spirits industry, were charged with evaluating and selecting the Top 10 nominees for categories in their respective regions. Each nominee was reviewed in great detail to ensure criteria of the category was met at which point it is presented by ballot to the committee judges.

“Each year, the Top 10 nominees of the Spirited Awards® help recognize the richness of the cocktail culture in the USA and around the world. Thanks to all our judges who helped reveal new excellence as well as more established bars and bartenders and more. Congratulations to all our deserved nominees,” said International Spirited Awards® Chair Jacob Briars.

The Top Four finalists for each category will be announced on June 24, 2019. Top Four finalists will be invited to attend the live ceremony in New Orleans where winners will be awarded the coveted Riedel Crystal Trophy.

The Spirited Awards® will be hosted at the iconic Orpheum Theatre in New Orleans on Saturday, July 20th from 7:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. Tickets are now on sale.

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 for $75.

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 Top 10 nominees in each Spirited Awards® category in alphabetical order. **Note: Where a category includes more than 10 nominees, the votes were tied in those instances.

AMERICAN CATEGORIES

American Bartender of the Year presented by Amaro Montenegro

Julio Cabrera – Café La Trova, Miami, FL

Kevin Diedrich – Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA

Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez – Ghost Donkey, New York, NY

Julia Momose – Kumiko, Chicago, IL

Mary Palac – Paper Plane, San Jose, CA

Ezra Star – Drink, Boston, MA

Sother Teague – Amor y Amargo, New York City, NY

Masa Urushido – Katana Kitten, New York City, NY

Jillian Vose – The Dead Rabbit, New York City, NY

Christine Wiseman – The Broken Shaker, Los Angeles, CA

Best American Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Camille Austin, Montelobos Mezcal

Megan Breier, Beam Suntory

Kiowa Bryan, Spiribam Fine R(h)um Specialists

Jennifer Contraveos, Bacardi Limited

Tim Cooper, Fords Gin

Sebastien Derbomez, Hendrick’s Gin

Earlecia Richelle Gibb, St~Germain

Lacy Hawkins, The Bon Vivants

Vance Henderson, Monkey Shoulder

Johnnie Mundell, Beam Suntory

Trevor Schneider, Reyka Vodka

Natasha Sofia, Davos Brands

Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Amor Y Amargo – New York, NY

barmini by José Andrés – Washington, D.C.

Broken Shaker at Freehand LA – Los Angeles, CA

Clover Club – Brooklyn, NY

Dante – New York, NY

Herbs and Rye – Las Vegas, NV

Leyenda – Brooklyn, NY

Lost Lake – Chicago, IL

Nickel City – Austin, TX

Polite Provisions – San Diego, CA

Best American Cocktail Bar presented by Select Aperitivo Montenegro

Amor Y Amargo – New York, NY

Attaboy – New York, NY

barmini by José Andrés – Washington, D.C.

Best Intentions – Chicago, IL

Drink – Boston, MA

Julep – Houston, TX

Leyenda – Brooklyn, NY

Navy Strength – Seattle, WA

Pouring Ribbons – New York, NY

Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Grey Goose Vodka

Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour – Phoenix, AZ

Half Step – Austin, TX

Harvard and Stone – Los Angeles, CA

Herbs and Rye – Las Vegas, NV

Jack Rose Dining Saloon – Washington, D.C.

Nickel City – Austin, TX

Occidental – Denver, CO

Sportsman’s Club – Chicago, IL

The Dead Rabbit – New York, NY

The Roosevelt Room – Austin, TX

Best American Hotel Bar presented by Altos Tequila

Broken Shaker at Freehand LA – Los Angeles, CA

Compére Lapin at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery – New Orleans, LA

Libertine Social at the Mandalay Bay – Las Vegas, NV

Midnight Rambler at the Joule – Dallas, TX

Sable Kitchen & Bar at the Palomar Hotel – Chicago, IL

The Living Room at The Dewberry Hotel – Charleston, SC

The Hawthorne at the Hotel Commonwealth – Boston, MA

The NoMad Rooftop Bar at the NoMad Hotel – Los Angeles, CA

The Normandie Club at the Hotel Normandie – Los Angeles, CA

The Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel – New Orleans, LA

The Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel – Los Angeles, CA

Best American Restaurant Bar presented by Woodford Reserve

Bar Agricole – San Francisco, CA

Better Luck Tomorrow – Houston, TX

Dante – New York, NY

Empire State South – Atlanta, GA

Gramercy Tavern – New York, NY

Kimball House – Decatur, GA

Nopa – San Francisco, CA

Otium – Los Angeles, CA

The Baldwin Bar – Woburn, MA

The Rieger – Kansas City, MO

The Silver Dollar – Louisville, KY

Best New American Cocktail Bar presented by Elijah Craig Bourbon

Cafe La Trova – Miami, FL

Cleaver- Butchered Meats, Seafood and Classic Cocktails– Las Vegas, NV

Death & Co. – Denver, CO

Existing Conditions – New York, NY

Jaguar Sun – Miami, FL

Katana Kitten – New York, NY

Mr. Coco – Las Vegas, NV

Pearl Diver – Nashville, TN

Raised by Wolves – San Diego, CA

The Polynesian – New York, NY

INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES

International Bartender of the Year presented by BACARDÍ RUM

Moe Aljaff – Two Schmucks, Barcelona, Spain

Lorenzo Antinori – Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong

Monica Berg – Tayer and Elementary, London, UK

Marcis Dzelzainis – Sager and Wilde and Fare Canteen, London, UK

Philippa “Pippa” Guy – The American Bar at The Savoy, London, UK

Vasilis Kyritsis – The Clumsies, Athens, Greece

Tess Posthumus – Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Kelsey Ramage – PrettyUgly Bar, Toronto, Canada

Remy Savage – The Artesian at The Langham, London, UK

Matt Whiley – Scout, Sydney, Australia

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Georgie Bell, Bacardi Limited

Dickie Cullimore, Bacardi Limited

Gareth Evans, Absolut Elyx Martin Hudak, Mr Black

Daniyel Jones, The House of Angostura

Roberta Mariani, MARTINI & ROSSI

Joe McCanta, Grey Goose

Luca Missaglia, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto

Lauren Mote, Diageo Reserve Global Cocktailian

CoCo Prochorowski, Hendrick’s Gin

Meimi Sanchez, Havana Club

Best International Bar Team presented by The House of Angostura

Artesian Bar at The Langham – London, UK

Black Pearl – Melbourne, Australia

Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons – Mexico City, Mexico

Happiness Forgets – London, UK

HIMKOK – Oslo, Norway

La Factoría – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Licorería Limantour – Mexico City, Mexico

Lost + Found Drinkery – Nicosia, Cyprus

Connaught Bar at The Connaught – London, UK

The Old Man – Hong Kong

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand

Atlas Bar – Singapore

Candelaria – Paris, France

Le Syndicat – Paris, France

Native – Singapore

Satan’s Whiskers – London, UK

Swift – London, UK

Tales & Spirits – Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Old Man – Hong Kong

Three Sheets – London, UK

Two Schmucks – Barcelona, Spain

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Beam Suntory

Baba Au Rum – Athens, Greece

Black Pearl – Melbourne, Australia

Callooh Callay – London, UK

Central Station Boutique Bar – Beirut, Lebanon

Dirty Dick – Paris, France

HIMKOK – Oslo, Norway

La Factoría – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Oriole Bar – London, UK

Panda & Sons – Edinburgh, Scotland

Schumann’s Bar – Munich, Germany

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

Artesian Bar at The Langham – London, UK

Beaufort Bar at The Savoy – London, UK

Charles H. at the Four Seasons – Seoul, South Korea

Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons – Mexico City, Mexico

Fragrances at The Ritz-Carlton Berlin – Berlin, Germany

Lobby Bar at The London EDITION – London, UK

Manhattan at Regent Singapore – Singapore

Punch Room at The London EDITION – London, UK

Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood Hotel – London, UK

The Bamboo Bar at the Mandarin Oriental – Bangkok, Thailand

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Danico – Paris, France

Hawksmoor Spitalfields – London, UK

Le Mary Céleste – Paris, France

Les Grands Verres – Paris, France

Maybe Frank – Sydney, Australia

Sexy Fish – London, UK

The Bon Vivant – Edinburgh, Scotland

Tippling Club – Singapore

Tjoget – Stockholm, Sweden

Zuma Dubai – Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Aperture – Montpellier, France

Drink Kong – Rome, Italy

Electric Bing Sutt – Beirut, Lebanon

Lyaness – London, UK

MAYBE SAMMY – Sydney, Australia

Punch Room at The Barcelona

EDITION – Barcelona, Spain

Scout at The Dolphin Hotel – Sydney, Australia

The Donovan Bar – London, UK

The SG Club – Tokyo, Japan

Homeboy Bar – London, UK

GLOBAL CATEGORIES

Best Bar Mentor presented by BARSMARTS

Tony Abou-Ganim

Bridget Albert

Colin Asare-Appiah

Jackson Cannon

Dinos Constantinides

Laura Cullen

Iain Griffiths

Nectaly Mendoza

Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero

Ago Perrone

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by TABASCO® Brand

Bacardi Gran Reserva 10

BERTOUX Brandy

Calle 23 Criollo Tequila

Del Maguey Single Village
Mezcal Boca del Cerro

Fords Gin Officers’ Reserve

Future Gin

Plantation Xaymaca Special
Dry Rum

Privateer Rum – New England
Rum, Bottled in Bond

Probitas by Foursquare Rum
Distillery

Westward Whiskey Stout Cask

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Wine & Spirit Education Trust

American Bar at The Savoy – London, UK

Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour – Phoenix, AZ

BlackTail – New York, NY

Clover Club – Brooklyn, NY

Dante – New York, NY

Lyaness – London, UK

Mace – New York, NY

Punch Room – London, UK

The Old Man – Hong Kong

Trick Dog – San Francisco, CA

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory

Amor Y Amargo – New York, NY

Atlas Bar – Singapore

Bar Swift – London, UK

Leyenda – Brooklyn, NY

Raised By Wolves – San Diego, CA

Rumba – Seattle, WA

Sexy Fish – London, UK

The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy – London, UK

The Hawthorne at the Hotel Commonwealth – Boston, MA

The Office – Chicago, IL

WRITING CATEGORIES

Due to a record number of submissions, the Top 10 nominees for 2019 Writing Categories will be announced on Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s website and newsletter on June 20, 2019. The Top 4 finalists will be announced on June 24, 2019.

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

The recipient of the 2019 Timeless American Award will be announced at the 2019 Spirited Awards®.

Timeless International Award

The recipient of the 2019 Timeless International 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 serves as the International Co-Chair and David Wondrich serves as the U.S. Co-Chair. U.S. Committee Members included Carrie Allen, Colin Asare-Appiah, Kara Newman and Garrett Oliver. International Committee Members included Christine Sismondo (Canada), Alice Lascelles (UK), Luca Picchi (Italy) and François Monti (Spain).