The 17th annual Spirited Awards celebrates global excellence in the drinks industry and recognizes professionals, organizations, and establishments shaping the cocktail community
NEW ORLEANS, LA (June 1, 2023) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Top 10 Nominees for the 17th 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. In partnership with Forbes, the Spirited Awards® official media partner, TOTCF will honor recipients during the Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference, which is celebrating its 21st-year in New Orleans, July 23-28, 2023.
The Spirited Awards are comprised of industry accolades, both domestic and international, writing and media awards, and overall awards that transcend regionality, including World’s Best Cocktail Bar and World’s Best Cocktail Menu.
“The Tales Spirited Awards shortlist shows that in spite of ongoing challenges, our industry is in incredible health, with bars and bartenders continuing to create extraordinary guest experiences and elevate their craft in so many ways,” said International Chair Jacob Briars. “I think it is also heartening to see the wide range of nominees from so many different towns and cities across the US and around the world. Great cocktails can now be found anywhere, and that is a wonderful opportunity for cocktail lovers across the globe.”
In that spirit, the Foundation is proud to announce the Top 10 Nominees, broken into U.S., International, Media & Writing, and Global categories.
2023 Spirited Awards® Top 10 Nominees (in alphabetical order):
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
International Bartender of the Year presented by The Busker
Gina Barbachano — Hanky Panky, Mexico City, Mexico
Giorgio Bargiani — The Connaught Bar, London, UK
Aaron Diaz — Carnaval, Lima, Peru
Kate Boushel — Atwater Cocktail Club / Milky Way Cocktail Bar, Montréal, QC, Canada
Giacomo Giannotti — Paradiso, Barcelona, Spain
Martin Hudak — Maybe Sammy, Sydney, Australia
Uno Jang — Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel, Singapore
Alessandro Palazzi — DUKES at Dukes Hotel, London, UK
Daniel Schofield — SCHOFIELD’S BAR, Manchester, UK
Luke Whearty — BYRDI, Melbourne, Australia
Best International Bar Mentor* presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Lorenzo Antinori
Simone Caporale
Evelyn Chick
Shingo Gokan
Trevor Kallies
Jose Luis Leon
Dre Masso
Iain McPherson
Danil Nevsky
Agostino Perrone
Christina Veira
*denotes 11 nominees due to a tie
Best International Brand Ambassador* presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Jenna Ba — Diageo
Jordan Bushell — Hennessy Cognac
Dickie Cullimore — Bacardi Rum
Caitlin Hill — Rémy Cointreau
Daniyel Jones — House of Angostura®
Ally Martin — Hendrick’s Gin
Dave Mitton — Lot 40 / J.P. Wiser’s
Léa Messier — Dandurand Spirits
Tim Philips-Johansson — Johnnie Walker
Nicola Riske — The Macallan
Claudia Cabrera Rodriguez — Fernet Branca
Charmaine Thio — Hendrick’s Gin
*denotes 12 nominees due to a tie
Best International Bar Team presented by Angostura Caribbean Rum
ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena, Colombia
Atwater Cocktail Club — Montreal, QC, Canada
COA — Hong Kong, China
Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico
Hanky Panky — Mexico City, Mexico
Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
La Factoria — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain
Tayēr + Elementary — London, UK
The Clumsies — Athens, Greece
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patrón Tequila
🔶🟥🔵 — London, UK
ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena, Colombia
Atwater Cocktail Club — Montreal, QC, Canada
BYRDI — Melbourne, Australia
COA — Hong Kong, China
MAYBE SAMMY — Sydney, Australia
Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland
Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain
Satan’s Whiskers — London, UK
SIPS — Barcelona, Spain
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier
ARGO at the Four Seasons — Hong Kong, China
BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand
Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel — Vancouver, BC, Canada
Bulgari Bar at the The Bvlgari Resort — Dubai, UAE
Charles H. at the Four Seasons Hotel — Seoul, South Korea
Dean & Nancy on 22 at the A by Adina hotel — Sydney, Australia
Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons Hotel — Mexico City, Mexico
Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
Side Hustle at The NoMad Hotel London — London, UK
The Donovan Bar at the Brown’s Hotel — London, UK
Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Analogue Initiative — Singapore
ARCA Restaurant & Bar — Tulum, Mexico
Bar Kismet — Halifax, NS, Canada
COCHINCHINA — Buenos Aires, Argentina
Continental Deli Bar Bistro — Sydney, Australia
COYA Dubai — Dubai, UAE
Danico — Paris, France
Le Mary Celeste — Paris, France
No Sleep Club — Singapore
Zuma Dubai — Dubai, UAE
Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Bar Planet — Sydney, Australia
Caretaker’s Cottage — Melbourne, Australia
CATA Agave Bar – Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Ergo Cocktail Bar & Restaurant — Dubai, UAE
Gucci Giardino 25 — Florence, Italy
Last Word — Singapore
Line Athens — Athens, Greece
Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar — Bangkok, Thailand
Night Hawk — Singapore
Seed Library at One Hundred Shoreditch hotel — London, UK
U.S. CATEGORIES
U.S. Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard USA
Chris Elford — Navy Strength / Here Today Brewery & Kitchen, Seattle, WA
Abigail Gullo — loa at the International House hotel, New Orleans, LA
Caer Maiko Ferguson — DrinkWell / Daijoubu, Austin, TX
Shauna O’Neil — Sweet Liberty, Miami, FL
Jessi Pollak — Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis, MN
Kapri Robinson — Allegory at the Eaton Hotel, Washington, DC
Christian Suzuki-Orellana — Wildhawk, San Francisco, CA
Masahiro Urushido — Katanna Kitten, New York, NY
Takuma Watanabe — Martiny’s, New York, NY
Christine Wiseman — Marygold’s Brasserie / Broken Shaker, Miami, FL
Best U.S. Bar Mentor* presented BarSmarts
Bridget Albert
Anu Apte
Colin Asare-Appiah
Jason Asher
Julio Cabrera
Alex Day
Touré Folkes
Kate Gerwin
Anne Louise Marquis
Nectaly Mendoza
Jeffrey Morgenthaler
Chris Patino
*denotes 12 nominees due to a tie
Best U.S. Brand Ambassador presented Libbey
Kiowa Bryan — Spiribam
Chris Cabrera — Bacardi USA
Tad Carducci — Gruppo Montenegro
Cameron George — Ardbeg Single Malts
A-K Hada — Bacardi Rum
Vance Henderson — Hendrick’s Gin
Benny Hurwitz — Wild Turkey
Anna Mains — Monkey Shoulder
Jenna Murray — The Glenlivet
Mary Palac — Campari Mexican Spirits
Best U.S. Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, DC
Attaboy Nashville — Nashville, TN
Century Grand — Phoenix, AZ
Happy Accidents — Albuquerque, NM
Nickel City — Austin, TX
Overstory — New York, NY
Pacific Cocktail Haven — San Francisco, CA
Service Bar — Washington, DC
The Roosevelt Room — Austin, TX
Yacht Club — Denver, CO
Best U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka
Bar Goto — New York, NY
Bitter & Twisted — Phoenix, AZ
Century Grand — Phoenix, AZ
Double Chicken Please — New York, NY
Manolito — New Orleans, LA
Nickel City — Austin, TX
Overstory — New York, NY
Service Bar — Washington, DC
Thunderbolt — Los Angeles, CA
Yacht Club — Denver, CO
Best U.S. Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose
Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, DC
Bar Marilou at the Maison de la Luz — New Orleans, LA
Champagne Bar at The Surf Club Miami — Miami, FL
Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel — New York, NY
Hey Love at The Jupiter — Portland, OR
Libertine Social at the Mandalay Bay — Las Vegas, NV
Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott — Phoenix, AZ
Midnight Rambler at The Joule — Dallas, TX
Raines Law Room at the William — New York, NY
White Limozeen at The Graduate — Nashville, TN
Best U.S. Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo
Arnaud’s French 75 Bar — New Orleans, LA
Bicyclette Bistro — Los Angeles, CA
Bresca — Washington, DC
Café La Trova — Miami, FL
Cleaver – Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails — Las Vegas, NV
Crown Shy — New York, NY
Jaguar Sun — Miami, FL
Kumiko — Chicago, IL
Manhatta — New York, NY
Palomar — Portland, OR
Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Amazonia — Washington DC
Chez Zou — New York, NY
Khla — Phoenix, AZ
Martiny’s — New York, NY
Marygold’s Brasserie at the Arlo Wynwood — Miami, FL
Milady’s — New York, NY
Pacific Standard at the KEX Portland — Portland, OR
Refuge — Houston, TX
The Butterscotch Den — Sacramento, CA
UnderTow — Gilbert, AZ
WRITING & MEDIA CATEGORIES
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Boothby
CLASS Magazine
Difford’s Guide
Drinks International
Guest Check by SPILL
Liquor.com
Punch
The Cocktail Lovers Magazine
The Mix With Robert Simonson
The Spirits Business
Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Agave Road Trip
Black and Brown Podcast
Freepour
Japan Distilled Podcast
Perspectives by Campari Academy
Radio Imbibe
Shōshin Art Club
The Modern Bar Cart Podcast
The Sipping Point
The Speakeasy Podcast
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
“A Rum Deal” by Dave Broom for Club Oenologique
“How Americans ruined tequila — and the true believers saving it” by Lilah Raptopoulos, for Financial Times
“How the Four Seasons Became an Incubator for Asia’s Best Bars” by Jake Emen, for VinePair
“The Drinks Industry Has an Ageism Problem” by Betsy Andrews, for SevenFifty Daily
“The Good, the Bad & the Artificial: How Big Data & Tech Are Infiltrating the Alcohol Industry” by Jake Emen, for VinePair
“The Great Mezcal Heist” by Emma Janzen, for Eater
“The Secrets to the Best Dry Martini You’ll Ever Have” by David Wondrich, for The Daily Beast
“This Is What Decolonizing a Spirit Looks Like” by Adaorah Oduah, for Punch
“Untold Story” by Yolanda Evans, for Imbibe
“What is a Bar Without a Backbar?” by Danny Chau, for Punch
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
A Bartender’s Guide to the World by Lauren Mote & James O. Fraioli
Black Mixcellence: A Comprehensive Guide to Black Mixology by Tamika Hall with Colin Asare-Appiah
Drink Lightly by Natasha David
Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails with 60 Recipes by Derek Brown
Modern Classic Cocktails by Robert Simonson
Mueble Bar by François Monti
The Bartender’s Manifesto by Toby Maloney with Emma Janzen
THE COCKTAIL CABINET: The art, science and pleasure of mixing the perfect drink by Zoe Burgess
The Cocktail Edit: Everything You Need to Know About How to Make All the Drinks that Matter by Alice Lascelles
The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails – Elevated and Expanded, edited by Steven Reddicliffe
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
A SENSE OF PLACE: A journey around Scotland’s whisky by Dave Broom
Brand Mysticism: Cultivate Creativity & Intoxicate Your Audience by Aaron Goldfarb and Steven Grasse
Dicktales (or Thankyou and Sluggings) by Dick Bradsell
Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails by Camper English
Drink Like a Local New York: A Field Guide to New York’s Best Bars by Amanda Schuster
Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake by Nancy Matsumoto and Michael Tremblay
Gurú. Manual (multisensorial) de Coctelería by Diego Cabrera
Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region’s Essential Spirit by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith
The Art of Whisky by Ernie Button
Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
GLOBAL CATEGORIES
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic
Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal
Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin California Orange Citrus
Hendrick’s Neptunia
Martini & Rossi Floreale Non Alcoholic Aperitivo
Martini & Rossi Vibrante Non Alcoholic Aperitivo
Mijenta Añejo Gran Reserva
Nocheluna Sotol
PATRÓN El Alto Tequila
Saint Benevolence Aged Rum Clairin
The Fords Gin Co. Sloe Gin
World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, DC
ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena, Colombia
Bitter and Twisted — Phoenix, AZ
Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel — Vancouver, BC, Canada
Double Chicken Please — New York, NY
Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico
Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
Licorería Limantour — Mexico City, Mexico
Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland
Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain
World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Baba Au Rum — Athens, Greece
Barro Negro — Athens, Greece
In Situ Mezcalería — Oaxaca, Mexico
KOL Mezcaleria — London, UK
Origin Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel — Singapore
Raised by Wolves — San Diego, CA
Salón de Agave at Casa Prunes — Mexico City, Mexico
Sexy Fish London — London, UK
Swift Soho — London, UK
The Office — Chicago, IL
Spirited Awards® 2023
Spirited Awards Top 4 Finalists and the recipients for the Helen David Lifetime Achievement, Visionary & International/U.S. Timeless Awards will be named on June 21, 2023. All winners will be celebrated on July 27, 2023 at the 17th Annual Spirited Awards Ceremony at the Fillmore New Orleans. Spirited Awards Ceremony tickets will be available via the TOTCF website on June 8, 2023.
Spirited Awards® Judges
Below is a list of Spirited Awards® Chairs, responsible for overseeing the judging process this year:
Spirited Awards Overall Chair
Charlotte Voisey
Spirited Awards International Chair
Jacob Briars
Asia Pacific Co-Chairs
Lorenzo Antinori
Sam Bygrave
Pankaj Balachandran
Charmaine Thio
Canada Co-Chairs
Kate Boushel
Sabrine Dhaliwal
Europe Co-Chairs
Roberta Mariani
Nicola Riske
Latin America & Caribbean Co-Chairs
Carlos Aguinsky
Jean Trinh
Middle East & Africa Co-Chairs
Stephen “Kojo” Aidoo
Cassandra Eichhoff
Caitlin Hill
U.S. Central Co-Chairs
Steva Casey
Lynn M. House
U.S. East Co-Chairs
Jackson Cannon
Laura Cullen
U.S. West Co-Chairs
Jason Asher
Mary Palac
Writing & Media Co-Chairs
François Monti
Matthew Rowley
Sandrae Lawrence
Timeless Co-Chair
Jared Brown
Anistatia Miller
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 are evaluated by their respective judging committees.
Spirited Awards Directory
Tales of the Cocktail is thrilled to share the Spirited Awards® Directory in partnership with Absolut Vodka, Angostura Caribbean Rum, BarSmarts, Diageo Bar Academy, Grey Goose, Amaro Montenegro, Select Aperitivo, Johnnie Walker, Libbey, Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic, Patron Tequila, Perrier, Pernod Ricard, The Busker, and William Grant & Sons. Giving discerning imbibers a comprehensive compendium of all 900+ Spirited Awards winners and nominees from the past 17 years, the Directory is an interactive, global map created to easily guide guests to officially recognized Spirited Awards establishments.
This resource will be updated annually, 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.
A Special Thanks: Spirited Awards® Sponsors
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation would like to thank all of its Spirited Awards sponsors. Title Partners: Diageo Bar Academy, Pernod Ricard; Presenting Partners: Bacardi Limited, William Grant & Sons; Supporting Partners: Angostura Caribbean Rum, Gruppo Montenegro, Johnnie Walker, Libbey, Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic, Perrier, The Busker.
2023 Spirited Awards® Changes and Updates
In an effort to continually evolve alongside the dynamic cocktail community, the Spirited Awards Committee has thoughtfully reviewed the awards program and has implemented a number of changes to the 2023 process. This year’s Spirited Awards have expanded the “World’s Best Spirits Selection” to include a venue’s expertise and focus on a specific spirit or a category of spirits. In addition, to qualify for “Best (International or U.S.) Brand Ambassador,” an individual must have worked in that position for at least 1 year or since January 1, 2022.
For “Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient,” a product must have been launched before January 1, 2022, under one of the following classifications for it to still be eligible for nomination in this category as long as it established distribution in at least three states or countries between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. The following classifications include: Non-Commercial Special Occasion Launch, whereby a product has been made for gifting and/or educational purposes and not released for general sale, and Distillery Release, whereby a product is made available for purchase at the distillery where it is made for the immediate geographical area only.
As an additional change in 2023, the “Pioneer Award” is called the “Visionary Award” and accepted public nominations.
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 its host communities. TOTCF is the global leader in spirits education and a platform that tackles critical issues and topics facing the cocktail community. This year, TOTCF hosts its 21-year anniversary Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference in New Orleans from July 23-28, 2023, and celebrates the theme Vitalize.
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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