NEW ORLEANS, LA (May 29, 2024) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is thrilled to announce the Top 10 Nominees for the 18th annual Spirited Awards®. Established in 2007, the Spirited Awards® have become one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades, honoring beverage professionals, products, and establishments across the global spirits and cocktail community. In partnership with Forbes, the official media partner, TOTCF will celebrate the winners during the 22nd annual Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference in New Orleans, from July 21-26, 2024.
Award Categories
The Spirited Awards® encompass various categories, including domestic and international industry accolades, writing and media awards, and overall awards such as World’s Best Cocktail Bar and World’s Best Cocktail Menu.
Charlotte Voisey, Spirited Awards Overall and International Chair, commented, “Once again, we are in awe of the impeccable global talent in our industry. This year’s Spirited Awards shortlist highlights the dedication and creativity of professionals who are elevating the cocktail experience worldwide.”
Top 10 Nominees for 2024 Spirited Awards®
International Categories
- International Bartender of the Year: Lorenzo Antinori (Hong Kong), Gina Barbachano (Mexico City), Kate Boushel (Montreal), Giulia Cuccurullo (London), Aaron Diaz (Lima), Uno Jang (Singapore), Julian Short (Johannesburg), Eric van Beek (Mexico City), Luke Whearty (Melbourne), Matt Whiley (Sydney).
- Best International Bar Mentor: Simone Caporale, Ryan Chetiyawardana, Giacomo Giannotti, Tato Giovannoni, Shingo Gokan, Indra Kantono, Iain McPherson, Danil Nevsky, Jean Trinh, Christina Veira.
- Best International Brand Ambassador: 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: Atwater Cocktail Club (Montreal), Caretaker’s Cottage (Melbourne), Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City), Hanky Panky (Mexico City), Hope & Sesame Guangzhou (Guangzhou), Jigger & Pony (Singapore), La Factoría (San Juan), Panda & Sons (Edinburgh), Satan’s Whiskers (London), Tayēr + Elementary (London).
- Best International Cocktail Bar: 🔶🟥🔵 (London), ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena), BYRDI (Melbourne), Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City), Kwãnt (London), Maybe Sammy (Sydney), Panda & Sons (Edinburgh), Paradiso (Barcelona), Satan’s Whiskers (London), ZEST (Seoul).
- Best International Hotel Bar: ARGO at the Four Seasons (Hong Kong), Bar Trigona at the Four Seasons Hotel (Kuala Lumpur), BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok (Bangkok), Charles H. at the Four Seasons Hotel (Seoul), DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong (Hong Kong), Dean & Nancy on 22 at the A by Adina Hotel (Sydney), Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons Hotel (Mexico City), Library Bar at the Fairmont Royal York (Toronto), Seed Library at One Hundred Shoreditch Hotel (London), Side Hustle at The NoMad Hotel (London).
- Best International Restaurant Bar: ARCA Tulum (Tulum), Bar Kismet (Halifax), Burnt Ends Bar (Singapore), Carico Milano (Milan), Casa Prunes (Mexico City), CoChinChina (Buenos Aires), COYA Dubai (Dubai), Danico (Paris), Published on Main (Vancouver), Zuma Dubai (Dubai).
- Best New International Cocktail Bar: Bar Leone (Hong Kong), Bar Nouveau (Paris), Bar Us (Bangkok), Bijou Drinkery Room (Mexico City), Cat Bite Club (Singapore), Dram (London), El Primo Sanchez (Sydney), Equal Parts (London), FURA (Singapore), Tokyo Confidential (Tokyo).
U.S. Categories
- U.S. Bartender of the Year: Erika Flowers (New Orleans), Nicole Giampino (Phoenix), McLain Hedges (Denver), Christine Kim (Washington, D.C.), Libby Lingua (Phoenix), Caer Maiko Ferguson (Austin), Kapri Robinson (Washington, D.C.), Isabel “Izzy” Tulloch (New York), Masa Urushido (New York), Takuma Watanabe (New York).
- Best U.S. Bar Mentor: 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: 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: Allegory at the Eaton Hotel (Washington, D.C.), Best Intentions (Chicago), Century Grand (Phoenix), Jewel of the South (New Orleans), Martiny’s (New York), Milady’s (New York), Nickel City (Austin), Pacific Cocktail Haven (San Francisco), Service Bar (Washington, D.C.), Yacht Club (Denver).
- Best U.S. Cocktail Bar: Bar Goto (New York), Best Intentions (Chicago), Double Chicken Please (New York), Happy Accidents (Albuquerque), Martiny’s (New York), Overstory (New York), Service Bar (Washington, D.C.), Thunderbolt (Los Angeles), Trick Dog (San Francisco), Yacht Club (Denver).
- Best U.S. Hotel Bar: Allegory at the Eaton Hotel (Washington, D.C.), Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Surf Club (Miami), Chandelier Bar at the Four Seasons New Orleans (New Orleans), Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel (New York), Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott (Phoenix), Milk Room at the Chicago Athletic Hotel (Chicago), Nubeluz at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad (New York), Pacific Standard at the KEX Portland (Portland), Raines Law Room at the William (New York), The Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt New Orleans (New Orleans).
- Best U.S. Restaurant Bar: Accomplice Bar (Los Angeles), Amazonia (Washington, D.C.), Bresca (Washington, D.C.), Cleaver – Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails (Las Vegas), Crown Shy (New York), Gramercy Tavern (New York), Grey Ghost (Detroit), Jaguar Sun (Miami), Kumiko (Chicago), Palomar (Portland).
- Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar: Cobra (Columbus), Equal Measure (Boston), FYPM (Phoenix), Jolie (New Orleans), Medium Cool Cocktail Lounge (Miami Beach), Murray’s Tavern (Austin), Paradise Lost (New York), Pretty Decent (Louisville), Superbueno (New York), Wild Child (Shawnee).
Writing & Media Categories
- Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication: 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: 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: “A New Spirit Confronts the Consequences of Colonialism” by Adaorah Oduah (Punch), “Facing Rum’s Problematic Past Is Allowing Producers to Embrace the Spirit’s Future” by Christine Sismondo (Imbibe), “Family Matters: The Mezcal Boom and the Lives of the Families who Make It” by Noah Arenstein (Imbibe), “Indigenous Women Working in Mezcal Are Ready to Be Recognized for Their Work” by Shayna Conde (Wine Enthusiast), “Meet the People Keeping Queer Bars Safe” by Rax Will (Punch), “Mexican Spirits, Philly Energy” by Craig LaBan (Philadelphia Inquirer), “Sotol and the Making of the Next Big Drink” by Rachel Monroe (New Yorker), “The Ghostly Outline of a Shadow — Tracing the Footsteps of Whiskey Near-Legend of Jokichi Takamine” by Kara Newman (Good Beer Hunting), “The Martini Whisperer” by Robert Simonson (Grub Street), “Why Has the Modern Cocktail Movement Ignored the LGBTQ+ Community?” by Brad Japhe (VinePair).
- Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book: How to Make Better Cocktails by Sebastian Hamilton-Mudge, Natalia Garcia Bourke, and Andy Shannon; Mr Lyan’s Cocktails at Home by Ryan Chetiyawardana; Saved by the Bellini & Other 90s-Inspired Cocktails by John deBary; Signature Cocktails by Amanda Schuster; Slow Drinks by Danny Childs; Strong, Sweet & Bitter by Cara Devine; The Book of Cocktail Ratios by Michael Ruhlman; The Ice Book by Camper English; TROPICAL STANDARD by Garret Richard & Ben Schaffer; Wild Drinks by Sharon Flynn.
- Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits: A Field Guide to Tequila by Clayton Szczech; A Passion for Whisky by Ian Wisniewsk; Hospitality DNA by Dave Nitzel and Dave Domzalski; How to Taste by Mandy Naglich; ICE by Amy Brady; Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice 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 by Joshua Boissy, Krystof Zizka, Jordan Mackay, William Elliott.
Global Categories
- Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient: 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: Allegory at the Eaton Hotel (Washington, D.C.), ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena), Angelita (Madrid), Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour (Phoenix), Danico (Paris), Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City), Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou), Jigger & Pony (Singapore), Maybe Sammy (Sydney), Paradiso (Barcelona).
- World’s Best Spirits Selection: Baba Au Rum (Athens), Eleven Madison Park (New York), KOL Mezcaleria (London), Multnomah Whisk{e}y Library (Portland), Origin Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel (Singapore), Rumba (Seattle), Salón de Agave at Casa Prunes (Mexico City), Sexy Fish (London), The Baxter Inn (Sydney), Tlecān (Mexico City).
Spirited Awards® 2024
The Top 4 Finalists and the recipients of the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award, Visionary Award, and International/U.S. Timeless Awards will be announced on June 17. Winners will be celebrated on July 25 at the 18th Annual Spirited Awards® Ceremony at the Fillmore New Orleans. Tickets will be available on June 17 via the TOTCF website.
Spirited Awards® Judges
The Spirited Awards® Chairs, responsible for overseeing the judging process, include:
- 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
Judges are respected bartenders, bar owners, educators, and writers from across the globe, ensuring a fair and comprehensive evaluation process.
Spirited Awards® Directory
TOTCF is pleased to offer the Spirited Awards® Directory, a comprehensive guide to all Spirited Awards® winners and nominees from the past 18 years. This annually updated resource is perfect for planning the ultimate drinking and dining experiences. Explore the directory to find award-winning bars.
Special Thanks to Spirited Awards® Sponsors
TOTCF extends gratitude to all Spirited Awards® sponsors, including 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.
For more information, visit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation website and follow on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
