The 9th Annual Spirited Awards will recognize the year’s best bars, bartenders, writers and cocktail experts at Tales of the Cocktail 2015.
Following the largest nomination pool in the history of the show and a rigorous judging process by some of the most respected minds in the cocktail industry, Tales of the Cocktail is proud to announce the Top Four Finalists for each category of the 9th Annual Spirited Awards. All award finalists are invited to attend the Spirited Awards ceremony on Saturday, July 18 at the Sheraton New Orleans where the winners will be announced live and will receive the Riedel crystal trophies.
“The Spirited Awards continue to recognize the very best bars, bartenders, ambassadors and more. The standard continues to rise all over the world, both fuelled by Tales and recognized by it,” said Jacob Briars, the Chairman of the International Judging Committee for the Spirited Awards. “I am thrilled to see such wonderful international talent being recognized from around the globe, showing that the modern cocktail age continues to grow and expand. There’s never been a better time to enjoy a cocktail all over the world.”
Since 2007, the Spirited Awards have recognized the year’s best bars, bartenders, writers and experts, becoming the industry’s most prestigious and coveted award. Finalists and winners were voted on by a panel of more than 100 industry experts and led by Simon Ford (Chairman), Jackson Cannon (U.S. Judging Committee Chairman), Jacob Briars (International Judging Committee Chairman), and David Wondrich (Writing Committee Chairman).
The 9th Annual Spirited Awards ceremony is bringing Cuban flavor to New Orleans with a colorful and festive event that will pay homage to the unique sights, sounds and flavors of Cuba. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their best Cuban attire and the night will feature daiquiris and Cuban Jazz while celebrating the industry’s best.
The Spirited Awards are just one part of the exciting 13th Annual Tales of the Cocktail taking place in New Orleans, July 15-19, 2015.
2015 Spirited Awards® Top 4 Finalists
American Categories
Best American Bar Team
ABV (San Francisco)
Dead Rabbit (New York)
Employees Only (New York)
Williams & Graham (Denver)
American Bartender of the Year
Chris Hannah (New Orleans)
Bobby Heugel (Houston)
Ivy Mix (New York)
Jeffrey Morgenthaler (Portland)
Best American Brand Ambassador
Brooke Arthur (House Spirits)
Colin Asare-Appiah (Bacardi)
Jamie Gordon (Absolut Elyx)
Chris Patino (Pernod-Ricard)
Best American Cocktail Bar
Prizefighter (Emeryville)
Smuggler’s Cove (San Francisco)
Trick Dog (San Francisco)
Williams & Graham (Denver)
Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar
Employees Only (New York)
Flatiron Lounge (New York)
Harvard & Stone (Los Angeles)
Honeycut (Los Angeles)
Best American Hotel Bar
Sable Kitchen and Bar (Chicago)
Spare Room (Los Angeles)
The Broken Shaker (Miami Beach)
The Hawthorne (Boston)
Best American Restaurant Bar
Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks (Boston)
Gramercy Tavern (New York)
Nopa (San Francisco)
The Rieger Hotel Grill and Exchange (Kansas City)
Best New American Cocktail Bar
ABV (San Francisco)
Julep (Houston)
Latitude 29 (New Orleans)
The NoMad Bar (New York)
International Categories
Best International Bar Team
28 Hong Kong Street (Singapore)
American Bar at the Savoy Hotel (London)
Black Pearl (Melbourne)
Le Lion Bar de Paris (Hamburg)
International Bartender of the Year
Marian Beke (London)
Ryan Chetiyawardana (London)
Zdenek Kastanek (Singapore)
Hidetsugu Ueno (Tokyo)
Best International Brand Ambassador
Ian Burrell (Global Rum)
Dean Callan (Monkey Shoulder)
George Nemec (Becherovka)
Claire Smith-Warner (Belvedere Vodka)
Best International Cocktail Bar
Artesian (London)
Candelaria (Paris)
Happiness Forgets (London)
White Lyan (London)
Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar
Callooh Callay (London)
Eau de Vie (Melbourne)
The Black Pearl/The Attic (Melbourne)
Trailer Happiness (London)
Best International Hotel Bar
American Bar, The Savoy (London)
Beaufort Bar, The Savoy (London)
The Punch Room, The Edition Hotel (London)
Zetter Townhouse (London)
Best International Restaurant Bar
Blind Pig at Social Eating House (London)
Hawksmoor Spitalfields (London)
Tippling Club (Singapore)
Zuma (Dubai)
Best New International Cocktail Bar
Bar Termini (London)
Dandelyan (London)
Le Syndicat Cocktail Club (Paris)
The Clumsies (Athens)
Writing Categories
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
Difford’s Guide
Liquor.com
PUNCH
The Cocktail Lovers
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer
Dave Broom
Camper English
Jeffrey Morgenthaler
Robert Simonson
Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book
Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails by David Kaplan, Nick Fauchald, and Alex Day
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
The Bar Book by Jeff Morgenthaler
The Old-Fashioned by Robert Simonson
Best New Spirits Book
Sherry by Talia Baiocchi
The Curious Bartender: An Odyssey of Malt Bourbon & Rye Whiskies by Tristan Stephenson
Thinking Drinkers: The Enlightened Imbiber’s Guide to Alcohol by Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham
Whisky: The Manual by Dave Broom
Overall Categories
Best Bar Mentor
Bridget Albert (Chicago)
Francesco Lafranconi (Las Vegas)
Jim Meehan (Portland)
Angus Winchester (London)
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient
Amaro di Angostura
J. Rieger & Co. Kansas City Whiskey
Mister Katz’s Rock and Rye
Suze Bitters
World’s Best Cocktail Menu
Artesian (London)
Beaufort Bar at the Savoy (London)
Dead Rabbit (New York)
Trick Dog (San Francisco)
World’s Best Spirits Selection
Canon (Seattle)
Multnomah Whiskey Library (Portland)
The Baxter Inn (Sydney)
Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant (San Francisco)