Tales of the Cocktail on July 19 presented its eighth annual Spirited Awards in New Orleans. The competition, which honored the world’s best bars, bartenders, brands and drinks writers with awards presented in 24 categories, wrapped up the cocktail industry conference’s 12th annual event.
A big winner of the night was The Dead Rabbit of New York, which won “Best American Cocktail Bar” and “World’s Best Drinks Selection.” The Dead Rabbit, which opened in early 2013, continues its roll: It last year won “World’s Best New Cocktail Bar,” “World’s Best Cocktail Menu” and “International Bartender of the Year” for Jack McGarry.
The only other New York bar to win a Spirited Award in 2014 was the NoMad, which took home the award for Best American Restaurant Bar, while Polite Provisions (San Diego), Trick Dog (San Francisco) and Clyde Common (Portland, OR) were West Coast winners. The award for the Best New American Cocktail Bar went to Chicago Tiki spot Three Dots and A Dash.
See the complete list of Spirited Awards winners in the release below.
2014 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award winners
NEW ORLEANS July 20, 2014 Following the largest nomination pool in the history of the show and a rigorous judging process by the most respected minds in the cocktail industry, the winners have been chosen for the 8th Annual Spirited Awards®. Celebrating and culminating yet another successful Tales of the Cocktail®, on July 19th, cocktail professionals and enthusiasts alike gathered at the Sheraton New Orleans to honor industry leaders at Tales of the Cocktail’s 8th Annual Spirited Awards®. The celebration was proudly presented by Tales of the Cocktail®, 86 Company, American Harvest, Bacardi USA, BarSmarts, Beverage Media Group, Chivas, Crystal Head Vodka, Ferrand Cognac, House of Angostura, Imbibe Magazine, Martini Gran Lusso, Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne, Olmeca Altos Tequila, Tequila Cabeza, William Grant & Son. The black and whitethemed awards show honored twentyfive of the world’s top bartenders, brand ambassadors, bars, spirits, authors and our newly inducted Helen David Lifetime Achievement Awards Recipient, Julio Bermejo.
To embody the ideals in which Tales of the Cocktail® was originally founded, these awards were developed to recognize both national and international honorees across twentyfour categories. Each award recipient received an exclusive Riedel Crystal trophy.
AMERICAN CATEGORIES:
American Bartender of the Year
Sean Kenyon (Denver)
Best American Bar Team
Trick Dog (San Francisco)
Best American Brand Ambassador
Neyah White (Suntory Japanese Whiskies)
Best American Cocktail Bar
The Dead Rabbit (New York)
Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar
Polite Provisions (San Diego)
Best American Hotel Bar
Clyde Common (Portland)
Best American Restaurant Bar
The NoMad (New York)
Best New American Cocktail Bar
Three Dots and A Dash (Chicago)
INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES: International Bartender of the Year
Simone Caporale (London)
Best International Bar Team
Artesian at the Langham (London)
Best International Brand Ambassador
Giuseppe Gallo (Martini)
Best International Cocktail Bar
28 Hong Kong Street (Singapore)
Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar
Schumann’s Bar (Munich)
Best International Hotel Bar
Artesian at the Langham (London)
Best International Restaurant Bar
The Bon Vivant (Edinburgh)
Best New International Cocktail Bar
White Lyan (London)
WRITING: Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication
Imbibe Magazine (United States) Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer
Paul Clarke (United States)
Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book
Beachbum Berry’s Potions of the Caribbean by Jeff Berry
OVERALL CATEGORIES:
Best Bar Mentor
Dushan Zaric
Best New Product
Del Maguey Ibérico mezcal
World’s Best Cocktail Menu
The Aviary (Chicago)
World’s Best Drinks Selection
The Dead Rabbit (New York)
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award
Julio Bermejo (San Francisco)
For more information on past winners of the Spirited Awards®, voting procedures and protocol for judging or category criteria, visit TalesoftheCocktail.com.
About Tales of the Cocktail®
Tales of the Cocktail® is the world’s premier cocktail festival, bringing together the international spirits community for five days of what’s now, what’s new and what’s next in bartending. Held annually in New Orleans, Tales of the Cocktail® has something for bartenders and spirits professionals with opportunities to mix and mingle with the brightest minds in mixology during an alwaysspirited schedule of seminars, dinners, competitions, tasting rooms and new product launches.
About the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society
The New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society (NOCCPS) is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving the unique cocktail culture in New Orleans and around the world. Every year the NOCCPS produces a number events including Tales of the Cocktail®, Tales of the Cocktail® on Tour, and Tales of the Toddy® with proceeds being invested back into the international spirits community through scholarships, training programs and financial aid.
For more information on Tales of the Cocktail®, visit the website at TalesoftheCocktail.com or call 5049480511.
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