Success at the Tales of the Cocktail awards

The Flapper-era was resurrected in New Orleans with the Great Gatsby-themed annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards ceremony this month.

Cocktail professionals and enthusiasts gathered at the Hyatt Regency to celebrate the achievements of established industry leaders from across the globe.

Among those being honoured were eighteen of the world’s top bartenders, brand ambassadors and industry authors as well as individual venues and spirits.

The event was presented by Tales of the Cocktail, The 86 Co., Bacardi USA, Beverage Media, Contratto, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, KRUG, Mountain Valley Spring Water, Pernod Ricard USA, Tanqueray, and William Grant & Sons.

Angus Winchester, 2012 Best International Brand Ambassador winner and judging committee member, said: “Being a judge, multiple nominee, presenter and winner of an award, I can tell you the process is even handed, the tension nearly unbearable, the pride immense and the exhilaration awesome.”

Hosted by Simon Ford and Tom Caltabiano, the ceremony was attended by over 1,000 people who were thrown back to the 1920s with music from The Crooners.

Gary Regan, bartender at The Dead Rabbit and judging committee member, said: “Getting an award at Tales of the Cocktail is like having your favourite teacher whisper ‘you done good, kid’ in your ear.  It’s the ultimate accolade in the bar biz.”

Two New York based bars, The Dead Rabbit and The Clover Club, were the stand-out winners of the evening, securing three awards each.

The Dead Rabbit received the World’s Best Cocktail Menu and the World’s Best New Cocktail Bar awards, while one of its bartenders, Jack McGarry, won the award for International Bartender of the Year.

The Clover Club won Best American Cocktail Bar, Best high Volume Cocktail Bar, while The Clover Club’s Julie Reiner was the winner for the Best Bar Mentor category.

Other noted recipients included Charles Joly for American Bartender of the Year, Gary Regan for Best Cocktail Writing, Jacob Briars for Best International Brand Ambassador, and Fords Gin for Best New Product.

The ceremony also paid tribute to the late mixologist Henry Besant with a tribute shot and awarded the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award to Salvatore Calabrese for his many years of success in the cocktail industry.

The 2013 Spirited Award Winners:

American Bartender of the Year
Charles Joly, The Aviary
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Best American Brand Ambassador
Todd Richman, Sidney Frank Portfolio

Best American Cocktail Bar
Clover Club, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Best Bar Mentor
Julie Reiner, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Best Cocktail Writing – Author
Gary Regan

Best Cocktail Writing – Publication
DiffordsGuide.com

Best High Volume Cocktail Bar
Clover Club, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Best International Brand Ambassador
Jacob Briars, Bacardi Portfolio

Best New Book (Cocktail/Bartending)
Drinks by Tony Conigliaro

Best New Product
Fords Gin

Best Restaurant Bar
Saxon + Parole Restaurant, New York, New York, USA

International Bartender of the Year
Jack McGarry, The Dead Rabbit
New York, New York, USA

World’s Best Cocktail Bar
Drink, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

World’s Best Cocktail Menu
The Dead Rabbit, New York, New York, USA

World’s Best Drink Selection
canon:  whiskey and bitters emporium,
Seattle, Washington, USA

World’s Best Hotel Bar
The NoMad Hotel, New York, New York, USA

World’s Best New Cocktail Bar
The Dead Rabbit, New York, New York, USA

The Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award
Salvatore Calabrese