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 
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. 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).
