The 16th Annual Spirited Awards celebrate excellence in the drinks industry and recognize professionals, organizations, and establishments during the 2022 Spirited Awards Ceremony
NEW ORLEANS, LA (June 21, 2022) — 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, ChinaKeith Motsi — Charles H. Seoul at the Four Seasons Hotel, Seoul, South KoreaRemy Savage — A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London, UKMatt Whiley — RE, Sydney, Australia
Best International Bar Mentor presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
Monica BergRenato “Tato” GiovannoniLauren MoteAgostino “Ago” Perrone
Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
Martin Hudak — Mr Black SpiritsDaniyel Jones — House of AngosturaRicardo Nava — Bacardí Latin AmericaNicola Riske — The Macallan
Best International Bar Team presented by House of Angostura
ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena, ColombiaMAYBE SAMMY — Sydney, AustraliaThe Clumsies — Athens, GreeceTwo Schmucks — Barcelona, Spain
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Tequila Fortaleza
MAYBE SAMMY — Sydney, AustraliaSatan’s Whiskers — London, UKTayēr + Elementary — London, UKTwo Schmucks — Barcelona, Spain
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier
Charles H. Seoul at the Four Seasons Hotel — Seoul, South KoreaFifty Mils at the Four Seasons Hotel — Mexico City, MexicoLyaness at Sea Containers London — London, UKThe American Bar at The Stafford London — London, UK
Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo
Danico — Paris, FranceLe Mary Celeste — Paris, FrancePujol — Mexico City, MexicoSexy Fish — London, UK
Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Stranger & Sons
A Bar with Shapes for a Name — London, UKARGO at the Four Seasons Hotel — Hong Kong, ChinaSCHOFIELD’S Bar — Manchester, UKSIPS — Barcelona, Spain
U.S. CATEGORIES
U.S. Bartender of the Year presented by Del Maguey
Josh Davis — 16th Street Bar, Chicago, ILChris Hannah — Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LAMasahiro “Masa” Urushido — Katana Kitten, New York, NYChristine Wiseman — BarLab Hospitality Group, Miami, FL
Best U.S. Bar Mentor presented by BarSmarts
Meaghan DormanSean KenyonNectaly MendozaJeffrey Morgenthaler
Best U.S. Brand Ambassador presented by Libbey Glass
Chris Cabrera — Bacardí USATad Carducci — Gruppo MontenegroVance Henderson — Hendrick’s GinLynn House — Heaven Hill
Best U.S. Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
Half Step — Austin, TXJewel of the South — New Orleans, LAKatana Kitten — New York, NYThe Roosevelt Room — Austin, TX
Best U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka
Bar Goto — New York, NYKatana Kitten — New York, NYThe Roosevelt Room — Austin, TXThunderbolt — Los Angeles, CA
Best U.S. Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose
Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel — New York, NYHey Love at The Jupiter — Portland, ORLittle Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott — Phoenix, AZSilver Lyan at the Riggs Washington DC — Washington, DC
Best U.S. Restaurant Bar presented by Maison Ferrand
Café La Trova — Miami, FLCleaver – Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails — Las Vegas, NVJewel of the South — New Orleans, LAKumiko — Chicago, IL
Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Aviation Gin
Double Chicken Please — New York, NYHappy Accidents — Albuquerque, NMTemple Bar — New York, NYYacht Club — Denver, CO
WRITING & MEDIA CATEGORIES
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Diageo Bar Academy
CLASS magazineDiscard the ZineVinePair Whisky Magazine
Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Radio ImbibeShōshin Art Club The Cocktail Lovers PodcastThe 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 KaplanThe Cocktail Seminars by Brian D. HoeflingThe Japanese Art of the Cocktail by Masahiro Urushido and Michael AnstendigThe 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 RisenDrunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward SlingerlandGirly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol by Mallory O’MearaThe 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 WhiskyCitadelle Gin Jardin d’étéLyre’s Non-Alcoholic – Italian Orange Nixta Licor de Elote
World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Little Red Door — Paris, FranceLyaness at Sea Containers London — London, UKSwift Soho — London, UKTayēr + Elementary — London, UK
World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory
In Situ Mezcaleria — Oaxaca City, MexicoJack Rose Dining Saloon — Washington, DCSexy Fish — London, UKSwift 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. For more information, please visit www.talesofthecocktail.org
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.
Spirited Awards Directory
Tales of the Cocktail is excited to share the Spirited Awards® Directory in partnership with marquee sponsor Diageo Bar Academy with support from Angostura, Bacardi Limited, CAMPARI, Elijah Craig, Hendricks Gin, Tequila Fortaleza, and The Blend. Giving discerning imbibers a comprehensive compendium of all 900+ Spirited Awards winners and nominees from the past 15 years, the Directory is an interactive, global map created to easily guide guests to officially recognized Spirited Awards establishments.
This resource will be updated year over year, making it an easy-to-use tool to plan which bars to visit at home or when traveling. Use the Spirited Awards® Directory today to explore award-winning bars, including 183 bars added this year.
The Spirited Awards Chairs and Co-Chairs
Below is a list of Spirited Awards® Chairs, responsible for overseeing the judging process this year:
Spirited Awards Overall ChairCharlotte VoiseySpirited Awards International ChairJacob BriarsAsia Pacific Co-ChairsLorenzo AntinoriPankaj BalachandranHayley MorisonCharmaine ThioCanada Co-ChairsEvelyn ChickSabrine DhaliwalEurope Co-ChairsGuiseppe GalloNicola RiskeLatin America & Caribbean Co-ChairsCamille AustinJean TrinhTato GiovanniniMiddle East & Africa Co-ChairsCassandra EichhoffRichard IrwinU.S. Central Co-ChairsBridget AlbertSteva CaseyU.S. East Co-ChairsLaura CullenAndy SeymourU.S. West Co-ChairsKiowa BryanMary PalacWriting & Media Co-ChairsFrançois MontiPaul ClarkeMatthew RowleySandrae LawrenceTimeless Co-ChairChristine SismondoColin Asare-Appiah
Spirited Awards® judges are a collection of respected bartenders, bar owners, educators, and writers from across the globe entrusted with this critical calling. Drawing on their years of experience and their knowledge of the current work being done locally, nationally, and internationally, together the judges can evaluate nominees from far and wide to ensure that the Spirited Awards® represents the breadth and diversity of the global drinks industry.
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards® Committee is dedicated to valuing the inclusion of the communities we serve by ensuring that our judging panel reflects their incredible diversity in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, and sexuality. Recognizing that inclusion is key to a well-represented committee, TOTCF strives to ensure that we have an equitable representation of gender across the judging panel. The Spirited Awards® are not based on popular vote and all nominations will be evaluated by their respective judging committees.
To learn more about the Spirited Awards Committee and awards criteria, please visit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards page.
A Note on Sponsors
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation would like to thank all of its Spirited Awards sponsors. Title Partners: Diageo Bar Academy, Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic, Pernod Ricard (Absolut Vodka, BarSmarts, and Del Maguey); Presenting Partners: Bacardi (Grey Goose and Patron), Beam Suntory and The Blend, William Grant & Sons; Supporting Partners: Aviation Gin, Gruppo Montenegro, House of Angostura, Jägermeister, Johnnie Walker, Libbey Glass, Maison Ferrand, Perrier, Stranger & Sons, Tequila Fortaleza; Official Barware: Bull in China; Official Champagne: G.H. Mumm. Tales of the Cocktail 2022 Official Partners include Official Glassware: Libbey Glass, Official Water: Perrier, and Official Mixer: Q Mixers.
Please follow along for additional information on the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, please visit the website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
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About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation:
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization that educates, advances, and supports the global hospitality industry and creates a lasting impact in our host communities. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is the global leader in spirits education and a platform to tackle issues facing the industry. The pillars of the Foundation are to Educate, Advance, and Support the hospitality industry through programs that benefit individuals and organizations in the community and to make a lasting impact in communities that host our events.
About Forbes:
Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 150 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 44 licensed local editions in 77 countries. Forbes Media’s brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements.
Media Inquiries:
Foxglove Communications
Gia Vecchio, [email protected], 917.280.5043
Hunter Smith, [email protected], 803.397.8878
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