New Orleans on-trade festival Tales of the Cocktail has announced the shortlist for its 13th annual Spirited Awards.

Tales of the Cocktail has announced the final four in each category of its annual Spirited Awards

After a “record year” of submissions, the top ten entries in each category were announced earlier this month. The longlists have now been whittled down to four entries in each category.

Split between American, International and Global bartending categories as well as awards for writing and media, the Spirited Awards were created to recognise “the best and brightest in the cocktail and spirits industries”.

Charlotte Voisey, Spirited Awards chairperson, said: “The depth and breadth of quality in our industry continues to grow and reflect the hard work and dedication of so many bar professionals around the world.

“We are delighted to be able to celebrate that through the Spirited Awards year after year. Many congratulations to all of our top four nominees this year, we look forward to recognising you all and to announcing the winners in New Orleans 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 Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award, Philanthropy Award, Timeless American Award, and Timeless International Award will be announced during the awards ceremony, which will take place at the Orpheum Theatre in New Orleans on 20 July.

Click through the following pages to discover the top four finalists in each category of the 2019 Spirited Awards.

American categories

 

American Bartender of the Year presented by Amaro Montenegro

Julio Cabrera (Cafe La Trova, Miami)

Kevin Diedrich (Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco)

Masa Urushido (Katana Kitten, New York)

Jillian Vose (The Dead Rabbit, New York)

 

Best American Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Megan Breier (Beam Suntory)

Kiowa Bryan (Spiribam Fine R(h)um Specialists)

Tim Cooper (Fords Gin)

Trevor Schneider (Reyka Vodka)

 

Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Clover Club (Brooklyn, NY)

Herbs and Rye (Las Vegas, NV)

Lost Lake (Chicago, IL)

Nickel City (Austin, TX)

 

Best American Cocktail Bar presented by Select Aperitivo

Amor Y Amargo (New York, NY)

Attaboy (New York, NY)

Drink (Boston, MA)

Trick Dog (San Francisco, CA)

 

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Grey Goose Vodka

Half Step (Austin, TX)

Herbs and Rye (Las Vegas, NV)

Nickel City (Austin, TX)

The Dead Rabbit (New York, NY)

 

Best American Hotel Bar presented by Altos Tequila

Broken Shaker at Freehand LA (Los Angeles, CA)

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

Libertine Social at Mandalay Bay (Las Vegas, NV)

Midnight Rambler at the Joule (Dallas, TX)

 

Best American Restaurant Bar presented by Woodford Reserve

Better Luck Tomorrow (Houston, TX)

Dante (New York, NY)

Gramercy Tavern (New York, NY)

The Silver Dollar (Louisville, KY)

 

Best New American Cocktail Bar presented by Elijah Craig Bourbon

Cafe La Trova (Miami, FL)

Death & Co (Denver, CO)

Existing Conditions (New York, NY)

Katana Kitten (New York, NY)

International categories

International Bartender of the Year presented by Bacardi Rum

Moe Aljaff (Two Schmucks, Barcelona)

Monica Berg (Tayer and Elementary, London)

Philippa “Pippa” Guy (The American Bar at The Savoy, London)

Matt Whiley (Scout, Sydney)

 

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Dickie Cullimore (Bacardi Rum)

Gareth Evans (Absolut Elyx)

Joe McCanta (Grey Goose)

Lauren Mote (Diageo Reserve Global Cocktailian)

 

Best International Bar Team presented by The House of Angostura

Black Pearl (Melbourne, Australia)

Connaught Bar at The Connaught (London, UK)

Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons (Mexico City, Mexico)

Licorería Limantour (Mexico City, Mexico)

 

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Maison Ferrand

Atlas Bar (Singapore)

Le Syndicat (Paris, France)

Native (Singapore)

Three Sheets (London, UK)

 

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Beam Suntory

Baba Au Rum (Athens, Greece)

Callooh Callay (London, UK)

Himkok (Oslo, Norway)

Schumann’s Bar (Munich, Germany)

 

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

Artesian Bar at The Langham (London, UK)

Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons (Mexico City, Mexico)

Manhattan at Regent Singapore (Singapore)

Punch Room at The London Edition (London, UK)

 

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Danico (Paris, France)

Hawksmoor Spitalfields (London, UK)

Le Mary Céleste (Paris, France)

Tippling Club (Singapore)

 

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Homeboy Bar (London, UK)

Lyaness (London, UK)

Maybe Sammy (Sydney, Australia)

Punch Room at The Barcelona Edition (Barcelona, Spain)

Global Categories

 

Best Bar Mentor presented by Barsmarts

Ago Perrone

Colin Asare-Appiah

Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero

Nectaly Mendoza

 

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Tabasco Brand

Bertoux Brandy

Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Boca del Cerro

Fords Gin Officers’ Reserve

Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry Rum

 

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Wine & Spirit Education Trust

BlackTail (New York, NY)

Dante (New York, NY)

Mace (New York, NY)

Trick Dog (San Francisco, CA)

 

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory

Amor Y Amargo (New York, NY)

Atlas Bar (Singapore)

Raised By Wolves (San Diego, CA)

The Office (Chicago, IL)

Writing and media categories

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Cocktail Wonk
Neat Pour
Scotchwhisky.com
SevenFifty Daily

 

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Aaron Goldfarb, Esquire, Punch, VinePair
Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast, Wall Street Journal, Punch
Robert Simonson, The New York Times, Imbibe Magazine, Punch
Wayne Curtis, Imbibe Magazine, The Daily Beast, Garden & Gun

 

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions by Alex Day, David Kaplan, and Nick Fauchald
Northern Hospitality with The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club: A Celebration of Cocktails, Cooking, and Coming Together by Andrew Volk and Briana Volk
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

 

Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Bartender at Large
Bourbon Up with Fred Minnick
Cocktails For You
Whisky Cast