News

Spirited Awards names finalists in writing categories

21 June 2019 By Melita Kiely

After an extended judging deadline due to a “record number” of nominations, Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC) has named the 10 finalists in the writing categories of the 2019 Spirited Awards.

The Spirited Awards writing top 10 finalists have been announced

The New Orleans-based cocktail festival revealed the nominations for each category – with the exception of writing sectors – earlier this month, after receiving twice the number of nominations compared to 2018.

Each finalist was chosen by international judging committees that were made up of more than 175 cocktail and spirits professionals.

Paul Clarke, writing and media chair for the Spirited Awards, said: “The Spirited Awards judges received a surprising number of exceptional submissions this year.

“From newspapers to podcasts, to magazines and online media, the Spirited Awards give us an opportunity to celebrate some of the most creative, insightful and perceptive voices working today in drinks journalism.”

The top four finalists will be revealed on 24 June, with the awards ceremony due to take place during the TOTC festival on 20 July.

See below for the 10 finalists in each writing category in the 2019 Spirited Awards.

Best Cocktail and Spirits publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Class magazine
Cocktail Wonk
CocktailSafe.org
Collectif 1806 Magazine
Difford’s Guide
Drinkmagazine.asia
Neat Pour
Scotchwhisky.com
SevenFifty Daily
Thirsty

Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Wayne Curtis, Imbibe Magazine, The Daily Beast, Garden & Gun
Dan Q. Dao, Liquor.com, Food & Wine, Vice
Camper English, Alcademics.com, CocktailSafe.org
Aaron Goldfarb, Esquire, Punch, VinePair
Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast, Wall Street Journal, Punch
Matt Pietrek, Cocktail Wonk
Kathleen Purvis, Imbibe Magazine, Garden & Gun
Clay Risen, The New York Times
Robert Simonson, The New York Times, Imbibe Magazine, Punch
Hamish Smith, Class magazine

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

Batched & Bottled: Cocktails to Make Ahead by Max and Noel Venning
Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions by Alex Day, David Kaplan, and Nick Fauchald
I’m Just Here for the Drinks: A Guide to Spirits, Drinking and More Than 100 Extraordinary Cocktails by Sother Teague
Kitchen Cocktails: Recipes of the London Cocktail Club by JJ Goodman
Northern Hospitality with The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club: A Celebration of Cocktails, Cooking, and Coming Together by Andrew Volk and Briana Volk
The Art & Craft of Coffee Cocktails: Over 80 Recipes for Mixing Coffee and Liquor by Jason Clark
The Aviary Cocktail Book by Allen Hemberger, Grant Achatz, and Nick Kokonas
The Dead Rabbit Mixology & Mayhem: The Story of John Morrissey and the World’s Best Cocktail Menu by Jack McGarry, Jillian Vose, and Sean Muldoon

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

A Drinkable Feast: A Cocktail Companion to 1920s Paris by Philip Greene
Drinking Like Ladies: 75 Modern Cocktails from the World’s Leading Female Bartenders by Kirsten Amann and Misty Kalkofen
From Barley to Blarney: A Whiskey Lover’s Guide to Ireland by Jack McGarry, Sean Muldoon, and Tim Herlihy
Hacking Whiskey: Smoking, Blending, Fat Washing, and Other Whiskey Experiments by Aaron Goldfarb
Pisco Patrimonio by Adam L. Weintraub
Sakepedia: A Non-Traditional Guide to Japan’s Traditional Beverage by Jeff Cioletti
Spirit of the North: Cocktail Recipes and Stories from Scandinavia by Selma Slabiak
The Bourbon Bible by Eric Abram Zandona
The Gin Dictionary by David T. Smith
The Vermouth of Turin by Fulvio Piccinino