Spirited Awards 2023: Tales of the Cocktail awards announced

The seventeenth presentation of one of the most anticipated awards in the international world of mixing was held in New Orleans (LA): the Spirited Awards® of the NGO (which educates, promotes and supports the global hospitality industry) Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, in partnership with the official media partner Forbes. The foundation, born in 2002 from the idea of cocktail enthusiast Ann Tuennerman, who wanted to organize a trip to discover the best cocktail bars in New Orleans, has grown more and more over the years. In 2011 Tales of the Cocktail launched the international event Tales of the Cocktail Tour, in Vancouver and British Columbia in Canada, before expanding to Argentina and Mexico – in Buenos Aires and Mexico City respectively – while in 2016 the annual conference of New Orleans hosted 15-17 thousand ticketed participants.

Since 2007, Tales of the Cocktail has organized a global event not to be missed, the Spirited Awards: a ceremony in which venues, bartenders and other professionals in the sector both from the United States and worldwide are rewarded. This year's awards were decided by one jury of over 250 industry experts, coordinated by Spirited Awards president Charlotte Voisey. The theme of the 2023 edition was “Vitalize” and those who were rewarded were those who best embodied the characteristics of adaptability and, in particular, liveliness of the sector.

 

THE WINNERS OF THE SPIRITED AWARDS

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

International Bartender of the Year presented by The Busker

• Giorgio Bargiani — Connaught Bar, London, UK

Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Agostino Perrone

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Nicola Riske — The Macallan

Best International Bar Team presented by Angostura Caribbean Rum

• ALQUEOMIC — Cartagena, Colombia

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patr​​ón Tequila

• SIPS — Barcelona, Spain

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

• Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore

Best International Bar Restaurant presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Analogue Initiative — Singapore

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

• Line Athens — Athens, Greece

 

PRIZES USA

Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard USA

• Christine Wiseman — Marygold's Brasserie / Broken Shaker, Miami, FL

Best Bar Mentor presented by BarSmarts

• Chris Patino

Best Brand Ambassador presented by Libbey

• Vance Henderson — Hendrick's Gin

Best Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

• Happy Accidents —Albuquerque, NM

Best Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka

• Century Grand —Phoenix, AZ

Best Hotel Bar presented by Gray Goose

• Hey Love at The Jupiter — Portland, OR

Best Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo

• Café La Trova —Miami, FL

Best Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

• Martiny's —New York, NY

 

WRITING & MEDIA AWARDS

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Punch

Best Online Broadcast, Podcast, or Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• The Speakeasy Podcast

Best Cocktail & Spirits Text presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• “The Great Mezcal Heist” by Emma Janzen, for Eater

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• The Bartender's Manifesto by Toby Maloney with Emma Janzen

Best New Book Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region's Essential Spirit by Matt Pietrek And Carrie Smith

 

 

GLOBAL AWARDS

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Lyre's Non-Alcoholic

• Martini & Rossi Floral Non Alcoholic Aperitif

Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy

• Double Chicken Please —New York, NY

Best Selection of Spirits presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Raised by Wolves —San Diego, CA

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons

• Desmond Payne MBE

Timeless International Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel Singapore — Singapore

Timeless USA Award presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• Tiki-Ti —Los Angeles, CA

Visionary Tales Award presented by Johnnie Walker

• Tiffanie Barriere

Best Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

• SIPS – Barcelona, Spain

 

THE JUDGES OF THE SPIRITED AWARDS

The Tales of the Cocktail jury is made up of expert bartenders, bar owners, educators and writers from around the world and is diverse to ensure an impartial vote.

• President General Spirited Awards
  • Charlotte Voisey
• President of the International Spirited Awards
  • Jacob Briars
• Co-Chairs Asia Pacific
  • Lorenzo Antinori
  • Sam Bygrave
  • Pankaj Balachandran
  • Charmaine Thio
• Co-Presidents Canada
  • Kate Boushel
  • Sabrine Dhaliwal
• Co-presidents Europe
  • Roberta Mariani
  • Nicola Riske
• Co-Presidents Latin America & Caribbean
  • Carlos Aguinsky
  • Jean Trinh
• Co-Chairs Middle East & Africa
  • Stephen “Kojo” Aidoo
  • Cassandra Eichhoff
  • Caitlin Hill
• Co-Presidents Central United States
  • Steve Casey
  • Lynn M. House
• Co-Presidents Eastern United States
  • Jackson Cannon
  • Laura Cullen
• Co-Presidents Western United States
  • Jason Asher
  • Mary Palac
• Co-presidents Writing & Media
  • François Monti
  • Matthew Rowley
  • Sandrae Lawrence
• Timeless co-presidents
  • Jared Brown
  • Anistatia Miller

 

THE DIRECTORY

In addition to announcing the Awards, Tales of the Cocktail made it official Spirited Awards Directory, a special one world map in which they are present all over 900 winners and nominees in this year's edition and the previous sixteen.

The map Spirited Awards® Directory is constantly updated every year and its creation was made possible thanks to the support of: Absolut Vodka, Angostura Caribbean Rum, BarSmarts, Diageo Bar Academy, Gray Goose, Amaro Montenegro, Select Aperitivo, Johnnie Walker, Libbey, Lyre's Non-Alcoholic , Patron Tequila, Perrier, Pernod Ricard, The Busker and William Grant & Sons.

 

THE SPONSORS OF THE SPIRITED AWARDS

Title Partners:

• Diageo Bar Academy
• Pernod Ricard

Presenting Partners:

• Bacardi Limited, William Grant & Sons

Supporting Partners:

• Angostura Caribbean Rum
• Montenegro Group
• Johnnie Walker
• Libbey
• Lyre's Non-Alcoholic
• Perrier
• The Busker

Official Beer of the Spirited Awards:

• Zony Mash Beer Project

Official Spirited Awards Champagne:

• H. Mumm

Official Glassware of the Spirited Awards 2023:

• Libbey

Official Mixer of the Spirited Awards 2023:

• East Imperial

Official Water of the Spirited Awards 2023:

• Perrier