The 18th annual Spirited Awards® celebrates global excellence in the drinks industry and recognizes professionals, organizations, and establishments shaping the cocktail community
NEW ORLEANS, LA (May 29, 2024) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is honored to announce the Top 10 Nominees for the 18th annual Spirited Awards®. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards® has 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 22nd year in New Orleans, July 21-26, 2024.
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.
“Once again we are in awe of the impeccable global talent coming out of our industry, and this year’s Spirited Awards shortlist is no exception,” said Charlotte Voisey, Spirited Awards Overall and International Chair. “We are so impressed by these nominees, their hard work and dedication to creating innovative and exceptional cocktails, and to improving the industry on a global level to provide extraordinary experiences and unmatched hospitality.”
In that spirit, the Foundation is proud to announce the Top 10 Nominees, broken into International, U.S., Media & Writing, and Global categories.
2024 Spirited Awards® Top 10 Nominees (in alphabetical order):
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES
International Bartender of the Year presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Lorenzo Antinori — Bar Leone, Hong Kong, China
Gina Barbachano — Hanky Panky, Mexico City, Mexico
Kate Boushel — Atwater Cocktail Club, Milky Way Cocktail Bar, Bon Délire, Montreal, QC, Canada
Giulia Cuccurullo — Artesian, The Langham, London
Aaron Diaz — Carnaval, Lima, Peru
Uno Jang — Jigger & Pony, Singapore
Julian Short — Sin + Tax, Johannesburg, South Africa
Eric van Beek — Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City, Mexico
Luke Whearty — BYRDI, Melbourne, Australia
Matt Whiley — Re, Sydney, Australia
Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Simone Caporale
Ryan Chetiyawardana
Giacomo Giannotti
Tato Giovannoni
Shingo Gokan
Indra Kantono
Iain McPherson
Danil Nevsky
Jean Trinh
Christina Veira
Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Jenna Ba — Tanqueray
Jordan Bushell — Hennessy
Claudia Cabrera — Fratelli Branca
Jesse Estes —Tequila Ocho
Caitlin Hill — Rémy Cointreau
Daniyel Jones — House of Angostura
Ally Martin — Hendrick’s Gin
Dave Mitton — Lot 40 / J.P. Wiser’s
Tim Philips-Johansson — Johnnie Walker
Charmaine Ann Thio — Hendrick’s Gin
Best International Bar Team presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Atwater Cocktail Club — Montreal, QC, Canada
Caretaker’s Cottage — Melbourne, Australia
Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico
Hanky Panky — Mexico City, Mexico
Hope & Sesame Guangzhou — Guangzhou, China
Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
La Factoría — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland
Satan’s Whiskers — London, UK
Tayēr + Elementary — London, UK
Best International Cocktail Bar presented by PATRÓN Tequila
— London, UK
ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena des Indias, Colombia
BYRDI — Melbourne, Australia
Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico
Kwãnt — London, UK
Maybe Sammy — Sydney, Australia
Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland
Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain
Satan’s Whiskers — London, UK
ZEST — Seoul, South Korea
Best International Hotel Bar presented by Fords Gin
ARGO at the Four Seasons — Hong Kong, China
Bar Trigona at the Four Seasons Hotel — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand
Charles H. at the Four Seasons Hotel — Seoul, South Korea
DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong — Hong Kong, China
Dean & Nancy on 22 at the A by Adina Hotel — Sydney, Australia
Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons Hotel — Mexico City, Mexico
Library Bar at the Fairmont Royal York — Toronto, ON, Canada
Seed Library at One Hundred Shoreditch Hotel — London, UK
Side Hustle at The NoMad Hotel London — London, UK
Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Gin Mare
ARCA Tulum — Tulum, Mexico
Bar Kismet — Halifax, NS, Canada
Burnt Ends Bar — Singapore
Carico Milano — Milan, Italy
Casa Prunes — Mexico City, Mexico
CoChinChina— Buenos Aires, Argentina
COYA Dubai — Dubai, UAE
Danico — Paris, France
Published on Main — Vancouver, BC, Canada
Zuma Dubai — Dubai, UAE
Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Bar Leone — Hong Kong, China
Bar Nouveau — Paris, France
Bar Us — Bangkok, Thailand
Bijou Drinkery Room — Mexico City, Mexico
Cat Bite Club — Singapore
Dram — London, UK
El Primo Sanchez — Sydney, Australia
Equal Parts — London, UK
FURA — Singapore
Tokyo Confidential — Tokyo, Japan
U.S. CATEGORIES
U.S. Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard
Erika Flowers — Compère Lapin, New Orleans, LA
Nicole Giampino — Platform 18/Century Grand, Phoenix, AZ
McLain Hedges — Yacht Club, Denver, CO
Christine Kim — Service Bar, Washington, D.C.
Libby Lingua — Highball, Phoenix, AZ
Caer Maiko Ferguson — Drinkwell, Austin, TX
Kapri Robinson — Allegory, Washington, D.C.
Isabel “Izzy” Tulloch — Milady’s, New York, NY
Masa Urushido — Katana Kitten, New York, NY
Takuma Watanabe — Martiny’s, New York, NY
Best U.S. Bar Mentor presented Jameson Irish Whiskey
Anu Apte
Jason Asher
Steva Casey
Laura Cullen
Touré Folkes
Kate Gerwin
Alex Jump
Anne Louise Marquis
Nectaly Mendoza
Amanda Gunderson and Travis Nass
Best U.S. Brand Ambassador presented Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Tad Carducci — Gruppo Montenegro
Cameron George — Ardbeg
A-K Hada — Bacardí Rums
Benny Hurwitz — Campari American Whiskeys
Stephen Kurpinsky — Mr Black Spirits
Anna Mains — Monkey Shoulder
Mary Palac — Campari Mexican Spirits
Aleka Ross — Hotaling & Co
Cesar Sandoval —Casa Lumbre Spirits
Natasha Sofia — Mijenta Tequila
Best U.S. Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons
Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, D.C.
Best Intentions — Chicago, IL
Century Grand — Phoenix, AZ
Jewel of the South — New Orleans, LA
Martiny’s — New York, NY
Milady’s — New York, NY
Nickel City — Austin, TX
Pacific Cocktail Haven — San Francisco, CA
Service Bar — Washington, D.C.
Yacht Club — Denver, CO
Best U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Del Maguey Mezcal
Bar Goto — New York, NY
Best Intentions — Chicago, IL
Double Chicken Please — New York, NY
Happy Accidents — Albuquerque, NM
Martiny’s — New York, NY
Overstory — New York, NY
Service Bar — Washington, D.C.
Thunderbolt — Los Angeles, CA
Trick Dog — San Francisco, CA
Yacht Club — Denver, CO
Best U.S. Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose
Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, D.C.
Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Surf Club — Miami, FL
Chandelier Bar at the Four Seasons New Orleans — New Orleans, LA
Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel — New York, NY
Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott — Phoenix, AZ
Milk Room at the Chicago Athletic Hotel — Chicago, IL
Nubeluz at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad — New York, NY
Pacific Standard at the KEX Portland — Portland, OR
Raines Law Room at the William — New York, NY
The Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt New Orleans — New Orleans, LA
Best U.S. Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Accomplice Bar — Los Angeles, CA
Amazonia — Washington D.C.
Bresca — Washington, DC
Cleaver – Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails — Las Vegas, NV
Crown Shy — New York, NY
Gramercy Tavern — New York, NY
Grey Ghost — Detroit, MI
Jaguar Sun — Miami, FL
Kumiko — Chicago, IL
Palomar — Portland, OR
Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Cobra — Columbus, OH
Equal Measure — Boston, MA
FYPM — Phoenix, AZ
Jolie — New Orleans, LA
Medium Cool Cocktail Lounge — Miami Beach, FL
Murray’s Tavern — Austin, TX
Paradise Lost — New York, NY
Pretty Decent — Louisville, KY
Superbueno — New York, NY
Wild Child — Kansas City, MO
WRITING & MEDIA CATEGORIES
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Boothby
Candra Drinks
CLASS magazine
Club Oenologique
Difford’s Guide
Guest Check
InsideHook
SevenFifty Daily
The Cocktail Lovers
The Spirits Business
Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Bartender At Large
Freepour
Like•a•ble Cocktails by Kaitlyn
no proof with Joshua Gandee
Perspectives by Campari Academy
Radio Imbibe
Served Up the Podcast
Shōshin Art Club
The Blackbird Podcast by Josh Lindley of Bartender Atlas
The Modern Bar Cart Podcast
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
“A New Spirit Confronts the Consequences of Colonialism,” by Adaorah Oduah, for Punch
“Facing Rum’s Problematic Past Is Allowing Producers to Embrace the Spirit’s Future,” by Christine Sismondo, for Imbibe
“Family Matters: The Mezcal Boom and the Lives of the Families who Make It,” by Noah Arenstein, for Imbibe
“Indigenous Women Working in Mezcal Are Ready to Be Recognized for Their Work,” by Shayna Conde, for Wine Enthusiast
“Meet the People Keeping Queer Bars Safe,” by Rax Will, for Punch
“Mexican Spirits, Philly Energy,” by Craig LaBan, for the Philadelphia Inquirer
“Sotol and the Making of the Next Big Drink,” by Rachel Monroe, for the New Yorker
“The Ghostly Outline of a Shadow — Tracing the Footsteps of Whiskey Near-Legend of Jokichi Takamine,” by Kara Newman, for Good Beer Hunting
“The Martini Whisperer,” by Robert Simonson, for Grub Street
“Why Has the Modern Cocktail Movement Ignored the LGBTQ+ Community?” by Brad Japhe, for VinePair
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
How to Make Better Cocktails: Cocktail Techniques, Pro-Tips and Recipes by Sebastian Hamilton-Mudge, Natalia Garcia Bourke and Andy Shannon
Mr Lyan’s Cocktails at Home: Good Things to Drink with Friends by Ryan Chetiyawardana
Saved by the Bellini & Other 90s-Inspired Cocktails by John deBary
Signature Cocktails by Amanda Schuster
Slow Drinks: A Field Guide to Foraging and Fermenting Seasonal Sodas, Botanical Cocktails, Homemade Wines, and More by Danny Childs
Strong, Sweet & Bitter by Cara Devine
The Book of Cocktail Ratios: The Surprising Simplicity of Classic Cocktails by Michael Ruhlman
The Ice Book: Cool Cubes, Clear Spheres, and Other Chill Cocktail Crafts by Camper English
TROPICAL STANDARD: Cocktail Techniques and Reinvented Recipes by Garret Richard & Ben Schaffer
Wild Drinks: The New Old World of Small-Batch Brews, Ferments and Infusions by Sharon Flynn
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
A Field Guide to Tequila by Clayton Szczech
A Passion for Whisky: How the tiny Scottish island of Islay creates malts that captivate the world by Ian Wisniewsk
Hospitality DNA by Dave Nitzel and Dave Domzalski
How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life by Mandy Naglich
ICE: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks–a Cool History of a Hot Commodity by Amy Brady
Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice: A Cocktail Recipe Book Cocktails from Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin
The Absinthe Frappé by Marielle Songy
The Encyclopedia of Cocktails by Robert Simonson
The Essential Tequila & Mezcal Companion by Tess Rose Lampert
The Maison Premiere Almanac Cocktails, Oysters, Absinthe, and Other Essential Nutrients for the Sensualist, Aesthete, and Flaneur: A Cocktail Recipe Book by Joshua Boissy, Krystof Zizka, Jordan Mackay, William Eilliott
GLOBAL CATEGORIES
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo
Don Fulano 20th Anniversary Añejo
Ferrand Dry Curaçao Yuzu Late Harvest
J. Rieger & Co. Monogram Whiskey 2023 Kansas City Whiskey – Solera Reserve
Joseph Cartron Bergamote
La Escondida Sotol Blanco
Powers Irish Rye
Ten To One Rum Black History Month Artist Edition
Worthy Park 109
YUZUCO Yuzu Super Juice
World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy
Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, D.C.
ALQUÍMICO — Cartagena des Indias, Colombia
Angelita — Madrid, Spain
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour — Phoenix, AZ
Danico — Paris, France
Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico
Hope & Sesame — Guangzhou, China
Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
Maybe Sammy — Sydney, Australia
Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain
World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Baba Au Rum — Athens, Greece
Eleven Madison Park — New York, NY
KOL Mezcaleria — London, UK
Multnomah Whisk{e}y Library — Portland, OR
Origin Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel — Singapore
Rumba — Seattle, WA
Salón de Agave at Casa Prunes — Mexico City, Mexico
Sexy Fish — London, UK
The Baxter Inn — Sydney, Australia
Tlecān — Mexico City, Mexico
Spirited Awards® 2024
Spirited Awards Top 4 Finalists and the recipients for the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons, Visionary Award presented by Johnnie Walker, & International/U.S. Timeless Awards presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation will be named on June 17. All winners will be celebrated on July 25 at the 18th Annual Spirited Awards® Ceremony at the Fillmore New Orleans. Spirited Awards® Ceremony tickets will be available via the TOTCF website on June 17.
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
Asia Pacific Co-Chairs
Sam Bygrave
Andrew Ho
Symphony Loo
Charmaine Thio
Canada Co-Chairs
Kate Boushel
Jonathan Smolensky
Europe Co-Chairs
Stephanie Jordan
Roberta Mariani
Latin America & Caribbean Co-Chairs
Carlos Aguinsky
Georgina Barbachano García
Middle East & Africa Co-Chairs
Stephen “KOJO” Aidoo
Caitlin Hill
Nana Sechere
U.S. Central Co-Chairs
Joshua Gandee
Lynn M. House
U.S. East Co-Chairs
Jackson Cannon
Jaymee Mandeville
U.S. West Co-Chairs
Jason Asher
Erin Schaeferle
Timeless Co-Chairs
Jared Brown
Anistatia Miller
Writing & Media Co-Chairs
Ryan Chetiyawardana
Emma Janzen
Sandrae Lawrence
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 the foundation serves, 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 pleased to share the Spirited Awards® Directory Giving discerning imbibers a comprehensive compendium of all Spirited Awards® winners and nominees from the past 18 years. This resource is updated annually, making it a go-to guide for planning the perfect drinking and dining itinerary. Access Spirited Awards® Directory 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: Del Maguey Mezcal, Diageo Bar Academy, Fords Gin, G. H. Mumm Champagne, Gin Mare, Grey Goose, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Johnnie Walker, Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic, PATRÓN Tequila, Pernod Ricard, and William Grant & Sons.
To 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 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 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 42 licensed local editions in 68 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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