Feature

Tales of the Cocktail reveals 2018 Spirited Awards shortlist

25 June 2018 By Nicola Carruthers

Following “intense deliberation”, Tales of the Cocktail has revealed the top four finalists in each category of its 12^th annual Spirited Awards.

Tales of the Cocktail announces the final four finalists in each category of its annual Spirited Awards

Last week, the top 10 nominees for each of the 25 categories in the 2018 Spirited Awards were announced.

Divided into American, International, Writing, and Global sections, the competition has been judged by a panel of over 140 industry experts.

“These finalists are representative of the best and brightest in our industry and it’s incredible to see their accomplishments recognised,” said Neal Bodenheimer, board member of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.

“We look forward to welcoming them to New Orleans and celebrating their contributions to the industry.”

The recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award will also be announced soon.

The World’s Best Bar title will be awarded to one of the bar category winners: Best American and International Cocktail Bar, Best American and International Restaurant Bar, Best American and International Hotel Bar and Best American and International High Volume Bar.

The 2018 Spirited Awards will take place on 21 July at 7pm (CT) at the Orpheum Theatre in New Orleans.

Click through the following pages to discover the top four finalists in each category of the 2018 Spirited Awards.

American categories

American Bartender of the Year presented by Bacardi USA

Kevin Diedrich (Pacific Cocktail Haven , San Francisco)

Marcovaldo Dionysos (ABV, San Francisco)

Yael Vengroff (Spare Room , LA)

Jillian Vose (The Dead Rabbit, NY)

Best American Brand Ambassador

Tim Cooper (86 Co. )

Lynn House (Heaven Hill )

Anne Louise Marquis (Campari America)

Robin Nance (Beam Suntory )

Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Columbia Room (Washington DC)

Drink (Boston, MA )

Herbs & Rye (Las Vegas, NV)

Sweet Liberty (Miami, FL )

Best American Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard

Anvil (Houston, TX)

Bar Goto (New York City, NY )

Lost Lake (Chicago, IL )

PDT (New York City, NY)

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by William Grant & Sons

Drink (Boston, MA )

Harvard and Stone (Los Angeles, CA)

Polite Provisions (San Diego, CA)

The NoMad Bar (New York City, NY)

Best American Hotel Bar presented by Bacardi USA

Compère Lapin at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery (New Orleans, LA)

Midnight Rambler (Dallas, TX )

The Broken Shaker Miami (Miami, FL)

The Spare Room (Los Angeles, CA)

Best American Restaurant Bar presented by Woodford Reserve

Clyde Common (Portland, OR)

Gramercy Tavern (New York City, NY)

Nopa (San Francisco, CA)

Silver Dollar (Louisville, KY)

Best New American Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand USA

Attaboy Nashville (Nashville, TN )

Broken Shaker LA (Los Angeles, CA)

Navy Strength (Seattle, WA )

The Aviary NYC (New York City, NY )

International categories

International Bartender of the Year presented by Bacardi USA

Roman Foltan (Atlas, Singapore)
Tess Posthumus (Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, Amsterdam)
Remy Savage (Artesian, London)
Joe Schofield (Tippling Club, Singapore)

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by G.H. Mumm

Ian Burrell (Global rum ambassador)

Dickie Cullimore (Bacardi)
Joe McCanta Grey Goose)
Nicola Riske (Macallan & Edrington Malts)

Best International Bar Team presented by The House of Angostura

Licoreria Limantour (Mexico City)

The American Bar, The Savoy (London, UK)

The Clumsies (Athens, Greece)
The Connaught Bar (London, UK)

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard

Atlas (Singapore)

Happiness Forgets (London, UK)
Le Syndicat (Paris, France)
Licoreria Limantour (Mexico City)

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar

The Baxter Inn (Sydney, AU)

Callooh Callay (London, UK)
La Factoria (San Juan)

The Clumsies (Athens, Greece)

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Japan Shochu and Sake Maker Association

Fifty Mils (Mexico City)
Manhattan Bar at Regent (Singapore)
Punch Room at London Edition (London, UK)
The American Bar, The Savoy (London, UK)

Best International Restaurant Bar

Danico (Paris, France)
Hawksmoor Spitalfields (London, UK)

Sager & Wilde (London, UK)

Sexy Fish (London, UK)

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand USA

Coupette (London, UK)
Scout (London, UK)
The Mint Gun Club (London, UK)
Two Schmucks (Barcelona, Spain)

Writing categories

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication

1806 Magazine
Neat Pour
The Daily Beast Half Full Section

Whisky Advocate

Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer presented by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

M. Carrie Allan, The Washington Post, The Humane Society of the United States, and more

Matt Pietrek, Cocktail Wonk

Noah Rothbaum, The Daily Beast

Robert Simonson, The New York Times

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Gra’it Grappa

Gin Tonica by David T. Smith

One-Bottle Cocktail by Maggie Hoffman
Meehan’s Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan
3 Ingredient Cocktails by Robert Simonson

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits

Beachbum Berry’s Sippin Safari by Jeff Berry
By the Smoke and the Smell by Thad Vogler
Mezcal by Emma Janzen
The Way of Whisky: A Journey Around Japanese Whisky by Dave Broom, Photography by Kohei Take

Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series

Bartender At Large
Life Behind Bars

The Speakeasy
WhiskyCast