Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to share this year’s Spirited Awards
Digital Playbill and Top Four Finalists for the 16th annual Spirited Awards®, as the foundation continues to recognize the depth of talent across our global spirits community. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® have become one 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. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF will honor recipients through the lens of the conference’s 2022 theme: Progress, during Tales of the Cocktail’s®
(TOTC) in-person celebration in New Orleans from July 25-29, 2022.
In an effort to continue celebrating the strides and achievements of the drinks industry, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is proud to announce the winners of the Pioneer Award, Timeless U.S. Award, Timeless International Award, along with the Top Four Finalists
of each select category. The award categories spotlight a range of talent from bartenders, journalists, and brand ambassadors, to brands and media, to ensure each aspect of the industry is well represented and recognized for its contributions.
“It is with a degree of relief that we are able to once again celebrate all of the awards this year after the disruption of the pandemic,” says Charlotte Voisey, Spirited Awards Overall Chair. “And while it may not truly be over for everyone, and the industry has indelibly been changed by the pandemic, I believe it is a significant step forward to gather together again and celebrate those bars around the world that continue to thrive. Once more I am floored by the strength and creativity of bars and bartenders everywhere.”
In that spirit, the Foundation shares the Top Four Finalists, broken into International, U.S., Media & Writing, and Global categories.
2022 Spirited Awards® Top 4 Finalists (in alphabetical order):
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
International Bartender of the Year presented by Patrón Tequila
Lorenzo Antinori — ARGO at the Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong, China
Keith Motsi — Charles H. Seoul at the Four Seasons Hotel, Seoul, South Korea
Remy Savage — 🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London, UK
Matt Whiley — RE, Sydney, Australia
Best International Bar Mentor presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
Monica Berg
Renato “Tato” Giovannoni
Lauren Mote
Agostino “Ago” Perrone
Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
Martin Hudak — Mr Black Spirits
Daniyel Jones — House of Angostura
Ricardo Nava — Bacardí Latin America
Nicola Riske — The Macallan
Best International Bar Team presented by House of Angostura
ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena, Colombia
MAYBE SAMMY — Sydney, Australia
The Clumsies — Athens, Greece
Two Schmucks — Barcelona, Spain
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Tequila Fortaleza
MAYBE SAMMY — Sydney, Australia
Satan’s Whiskers — London, UK
Tayēr + Elementary — London, UK
Two Schmucks — Barcelona, Spain
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier
Charles H. Seoul at the Four Seasons Hotel — Seoul, South Korea
Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons Hotel — Mexico City, Mexico
Lyaness at Sea Containers London — London, UK
The American Bar at The Stafford London — London, UK
Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo
Danico — Paris, France
Le Mary Celeste — Paris, France
Pujol — Mexico City, Mexico
Sexy Fish — London, UK
Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Stranger & Sons
🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name — London, UK
ARGO at the Four Seasons Hotel — Hong Kong, China
SCHOFIELD’S Bar — Manchester, UK
SIPS — Barcelona, Spain
U.S. CATEGORIES
U.S. Bartender of the Year presented by Del Maguey
Josh Davis — 16th Street Bar, Chicago, IL
Chris Hannah — Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA
Masahiro “Masa” Urushido — Katana Kitten, New York, NY
Christine Wiseman — BarLab Hospitality Group, Miami, FL
Best U.S. Bar Mentor presented by BarSmarts
Meaghan Dorman
Sean Kenyon
Nectaly Mendoza
Jeffrey Morgenthaler
Best U.S. Brand Ambassador presented by Libbey Glass
Chris Cabrera — Bacardí USA
Tad Carducci — Gruppo Montenegro
Vance Henderson — Hendrick’s Gin
Lynn House — Heaven Hill
Best U.S. Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
Half Step — Austin, TX
Jewel of the South — New Orleans, LA
Katana Kitten — New York, NY
The Roosevelt Room — Austin, TX
Best U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka
Bar Goto — New York, NY
Katana Kitten — New York, NY
The Roosevelt Room — Austin, TX
Thunderbolt — Los Angeles, CA
Best U.S. Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose
Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel — New York, NY
Hey Love at The Jupiter — Portland, OR
Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott — Phoenix, AZ
Silver Lyan at the Riggs Washington DC — Washington, DC
Best U.S. Restaurant Bar presented by Maison Ferrand
Café La Trova — Miami, FL
Cleaver – Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails — Las Vegas, NV
Jewel of the South — New Orleans, LA
Kumiko — Chicago, IL
Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Aviation Gin
Double Chicken Please — New York, NY
Happy Accidents — Albuquerque, NM
Temple Bar — New York, NY
Yacht Club — Denver, CO
WRITING & MEDIA CATEGORIES
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Diageo Bar Academy
CLASS magazine
Discard the Zine
VinePair
Whisky Magazine
Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Radio Imbibe
Shōshin Art Club
The Cocktail Lovers Podcast
The Speakeasy Podcast
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Diageo Bar Academy
“Get Real: The bar world looks beyond feel-good measures on sustainability and climate
change” by Max Falkowitz, for Imbibe Magazine
“Has the Coronavirus Pandemic Destroyed American Bar Culture?” by Jeffrey Morgenthaler,
for Daily Beast
“Meet the Eco-Packaging Innovations Transforming the Drinks Industry” by Betsy Andrews,
for SevenFifty Daily
“The Greatest Drinking Contest in History” by David Wondrich, for Daily Beast
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
Death & Co: Welcome Home by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, and David Kaplan
The Cocktail Seminars by Brian D. Hoefling
The Japanese Art of the Cocktail by Masahiro Urushido and Michael Anstendig
The Way of the Cocktail: Japanese Traditions, Techniques, and Recipes by Julia Momosé
with Emma Janzen
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey by Clay Risen
Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward Slingerland
Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol by Mallory O’Meara
The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails edited by David Wondrich with Noah Rothbaum
GLOBAL CATEGORIES
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Abasolo Ancestral Corn Whisky
Citadelle Gin Jardin d’été
Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic – Italian Orange
Nixta Licor de Elote
World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Little Red Door — Paris, France
Lyaness at Sea Containers London — London, UK
Swift Soho — London, UK
Tayēr + Elementary — London, UK
World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory
In Situ Mezcaleria — Oaxaca City, Mexico
Jack Rose Dining Saloon — Washington, DC
Sexy Fish — London, UK
Swift Soho — London, UK
Pioneer Award Presented by The Blend
Amanda Gunderson
Timeless International Award presented by Jägermeister
Harry’s New York Bar — Paris, France
Timeless U.S. Award presented by Johnnie Walker
Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel — New York, NY
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons
The recipient of the 2022 Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the 2022 Spirited Awards
2022 Spirited Awards® Digital Playbill
In conjunction with the Top Four Finalists in each category, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is excited to share the release of the official Digital Playbill which further outlines finalist highlights, insights on the judging process from Spirited Awards Co-Chairs, and a comprehensive look at this year’s generous sponsors.
The 16th Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony
The 16th annual Spirited Awards Ceremony Ceremony will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans on Thursday, July 28. The ceremony will be available for global viewing on the Tales of the Cocktail 2022 digital platform. For those who would like to attend the
Official Viewing Party, tickets are now available via the TOTC website.
