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The Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards ® ceremony, though different this year, pursued its goal of compensating the best in the hospitality industry.

The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards® are celebrating their 14th anniversary this year. As every year, they celebrate beverage professionals, products and establishments from all facets of the global alcoholic beverage and cocktail community. The award categories highlight a range of talent from bartenders, journalists and brand ambassadors to brands and media. They ensure that every aspect of the industry is well represented and recognized for their contributions.

The foundation announced the four finalists in each category yesterday, August 24th. This year the awards took a different direction in part because of the coronavirus situation and to avoid repeating winners and nominees from past editions so as to give an opportunity to every actor of the industry.

 

AMERICAN CATEGORIES

Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Winner announced on September 21

Café La Trova — Miami, FL
Jewel of the South — New Orleans, LA
Nickel City — Austin, TX
Pacific Cocktail Haven — San Francisco, CA
Best American Bar Mentor presented by BarSmarts

Winner announced at the Spirited Awards Ceremony on September 24

Bridget Albert
Alex Day
Lynn House
Don Lee

 

American Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard

Winner announced at the Spirited Awards Ceremony on September 24

Kevin Diedrich — Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA
Mary Palac — Paper Plane, San Jose, CA
Masahiro Urushido — Katana Kitten, New York, NY
Christine Wiseman — Broken Shaker, Los Angeles, CA

 

Best American Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Winner announced on September 21

Tad Carducci — Amaro Montenegro
Vance Henderson — Hendrick’s Gin
Robin Nance — Beam Suntory
Dominic Venegas — Pernod Ricard USA

 

Best American Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard

Winner announced on September 21

Best Intentions — Chicago, IL
Katana Kitten — New York, NY
Pacific Cocktail Haven — San Francisco, CA
Raised by Wolves — San Diego, CA

 

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Winner announced on September 21

ABV — San Francisco, CA
Anvil Bar & Refuge — Houston, TX
Café La Trova — Miami, FL
Nickel City — Austin, TX

 

Best American Hotel Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Winner announced on September 21

Death & Co at the Ramble Hotel — Denver, CO
Libertine Social at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino — Las Vegas, NV
Mr. COCO at the Palms Casino Resort — Las Vegas, NV
The Spare Room at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel — Los Angeles, CA

 

Best American Restaurant Bar presented by Woodford Reserve

Winner announced on September 21

Cleaver — Las Vegas, NV
Jewel of the South — New Orleans, LA
Jimmy’s — Aspen, CO
The Silver Dollar — Louisville, KY

 

Best New American Cocktail Bar presented by Elijah Craig

Winner announced on September 21

Bar Goto Niban — Brooklyn, NY
Century Grand — Phoenix, AZ
Silver Lyan — Washington, D.C.
Thunderbolt — Los Angeles, CA

 

INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES

Best International Bar Team presented by House of Angostura

Winner announced on September 21

La Factoría — San Juan, Puerto Rico
MAYBE SAMMY — Sydney, Australia
The Clumsies — Athens, Greece
The Connaught Bar — London, UK
Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

 

Winner announced at the Spirited Awards Ceremony on September 24

Simone Caporale
Alex Kratena
Lauren Mote
Agostino Perrone

 

International Bartender of the Year presented by Martini & Rossi

Winner announced at the Spirited Awards Ceremony on September 24

Bannie Kang — MU, Taipei, Taiwan
Kelsey Ramage — Supernova Ballroom, Toronto, Canada
Rémy Savage — Le Syndicat, Paris, France
Kaitlyn Stewart — Royal Dinette, Vancouver, Canada

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Winner announced on September 21

Camille Austin — Casa Lumbre Spirits
Martin Hudák — Mr Black Spirits
Daniyel Jones — The House of Angostura
Dave Mitton — Lot No. 40 & J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky

 

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Tequila Fortaleza

Winner announced on September 21

Floreria Atlántico — Buenos Aires, Argentina
MAYBE SAMMY — Sydney, Australia
Native — Singapore
Swift — London, UK

 

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Beam Suntory

Winner announced on September 21

La Factoría — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Licorería Limantour — Mexico City, Mexico
Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland
The Baxter Inn — Sydney, Australia

 

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Winner announced on September 21

Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons Hotel — Mexico City, Mexico
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

Winner announced on September 21

ámaZ — Lima, Peru
Le Mary Celeste — Paris, France
Sexy Fish — London, UK
Sober Company — Shanghai, China

 

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Perrier

Winner announced on September 21

BYRDI — Melbourne, Australia
Kwānt — London, UK
Tayēr + Elementary — London, UK
Tres Monos — Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

WRITING & MEDIA CATEGORIES

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Winner announced on September 21

DRiNK Magazine Asia
Half Full
The Spirits Business
VinePair

 

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Winner announced on September 21

“Mixopedia: Under Foot” by Wayne Curtis for Imbibe
“JaNee: Where is She Now” by Aaron Goldfarb for PUNCH
“Can There Be Terroir in Spirits?” by Kara Newman for Wine Enthusiast
“The Case for Drinking Scotch in Tiki Cocktails” by Becky Paskin for The Daily Beast

 

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Winner announced on September 21

Cocktails with a Twist by Kara Newman

The NoMad Cocktail Book by Leo Robitschek

The Martini Cocktail: A Meditation on the World’s Greatest Drink, with Recipes by Robert Simonson

Minimalist Tiki: A Cocktail Wonk Look at Classic Libations and the Modern Tiki Vanguard by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Winner announced on September 21

Drunk in China: Baijiu and the World’s Oldest Drinking Culture by Derek Sandhaus

Last Call: Bartenders on Their Final Drink and the Wisdom and Rituals of Closing Time by Brad Thomas Parsons

Understanding Spirits: Explaining Style and Quality by Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)

Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World by Derek Brown and Robert Yule

Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Winner announced on September 21

Difford’s Guide
Happy Hour History
The Speakeasy
WhiskyCast

 

GLOBAL CATEGORIES

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Winner announced on September 21

Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Las Milpas
Heaven Hill 7 Year Bottled-in-Bond
Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice
Tequila Fortaleza Winter Blend 2019

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Perrier

Winner announced on September 21

ATLAS Bar — Singapore
Little Red Door — Paris, France
Raised by Wolves — San Diego, CA
Tayēr + Elementary — London, UK

 

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory

Winner announced on September 21

Amor y Amargo – New York, NY
Raised by Wolves — San Diego, CA
Sexy Fish — London, UK
The Office — Chicago, IL

 

 

The dates of the event are as follows:

  • September 21, 9:30 AM CST: Winners selected during Tales of the Cocktail® 2020
  • September 24th 3:00 PM CST: RAISE A GLASS: Spirited 2020 Awards Pre-Show
  • September 24th 4:00 PM CST: 14th Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony

 

You can view any part of the Spirited Awards for FREE during #TOTC2020. Just enter the Tales of the Cocktail event platform. Registration opens on August 31st.

 

Don’t drink and drive. Enjoy responsibly.

 

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