The Connaught Bar wins World’s Best Bar at TOTC

London’s The Connaught Bar has been named World’s Best Bar at the 10th annual Spirited Awards, the grand finale of this year’s Tales of the Cocktail festival.

The Connaught Bar in London secured the coveted World’s Best Bar award

Drawing from the largest nomination pool in the history of the show, the Spirited Awards announced its winners on Saturday 23 July at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans.

The winners were voted on by a panel of more than 100 industry experts, led by Simon Ford, chair; Jackson Cannon, US judging committee chairman; Jacob Briars, international judging committee chairman; and David Wondrich, writing committee chairman.

London hotel venue The Connaught Bar walked away with the coveted World’s Best Bar award in a category where four of the total eight nominees – Callooh Callay, Happiness Forgets, and Hawksmoor Spitalfields – hailed from the capital city.

The winner was determined scoring by the most votes in the following categories: Best High Volume Cocktail Bar, Best Hotel Bar, Best Restaurant Bar, Best Cocktail Bar or World’s Best Cocktail Menu.

“Every year these awards get harder and harder to win as the talent in our industry continues to grow.” said Ann Tuennerman, Founder of Tales of the Cocktail. “I want to thank our judges who were up for the tallest of tasks in deciding the best among all the incredible and deserving nominees.”

As with last year’s awards, the UK dominated other key International categories, including and not limited to World’s Best Cocktail Menu, won by Dandelyan, and Best New International Cocktail Bar, awarded to Oriole.

In addition to this year’s judged award winners, Georgette Moger-Petraske, Sasha Petraske’s wife, accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on Sasha’s behalf.

In 2017, Ford will be stepping down as chair of the Spirited Awards and Charlotte Voisey, director of brand advocacy for William Grant & Sons USA, will take over.

“With this being my last year as chairman, it was a very special Spirited Awards for me. And, of course, the industry did not disappoint with such strong nominees in every category,” said Ford. “Congratulations to the winners. You absolutely earned this honour.”

“I am personally thrilled for all of this year’s winners. Recognition from peers is a special thing,” said Voisey. “I am excited for the Spirited Awards to continue to grow along with our industry into the next decade.”

Click through the following pages to view the other Spirited Awards 2016 winners.

American Categories

Herbs & Rye in Las Vegas won Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar

Best American Bar Team

ABV (San Francisco)

Best American Cocktail Bar

Smuggler’s Cove (San Francisco)

American Bartender of the Year

Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Clyde Common (Portland)

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar

Herbs & Rye (Las Vegas)

Best American Brand Ambassador

Colin Asare-appiah (Bacardi)

Best American Hotel Bar

The Elephant Bar at The NoMad (New York City)

Best American Restaurant Bar

Saxon + Parole (New York City)

Best New American Cocktail Bar

Sweet Liberty (Miami Beach)

International Categories

Happiness Forgets in London won Best International Cocktail Bar

Best International Bar Team

American Bar at the Savoy (London, United Kingdom)

Best International Brand Ambassador

Max Warner (Chivas)

International Bartender of the Year

Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar High Five (Tokyo, Japan)

Best International Cocktail Bar

Happiness Forgets (London, United Kingdom)

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar

Callooh Callay (London, United Kingdom)

Best International Restaurant Bar

Hawksmoor Spitalfields (London, United Kingdom)

Best International Hotel Bar

The Connaught Bar at The Connaught (London, United Kingdom)

Best New International Cocktail Bar

Oriole (London, United Kingdom)

Writing

The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual: Secret Recipes and Barroom Tales from Two Belfast Boys Who Conquered the Cocktail World won Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication

Cocktail Lovers

Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer

Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book

The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual: Secret Recipes and Barroom Tales from Two Belfast Boys Who Conquered the Cocktail World by Sean Muldoon, Jack McGarry, and Ben Schaffer

Best New Spirits Books

Divided Spirits – Tequila, Mezcal and the Politics of Production by Sarah Bowen

Global Categories

Dandelyan in London won World’s Best Cocktail Menu

Best Bar Mentor

Angus Winchester

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient

Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum (Barbados)

World’s Best Cocktail Menu

Dandelyan (London, United Kingdom)

World’s Best Spirits Selection

Tommy’s (San Francisco, United States)