Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC) has revealed the top 10 nominees for each category in its Spirited Awards 2020, with The Spirits Business making the top 10 Best Cocktail and Spirits Publication longlist.

The Spirited Awards ceremony is usually held during the annual New Orleans cocktail festival

Last month, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation revealed the top 10 regional finalists in its 14^th annual Spirited Awards following a record number of submissions.

Founded in 2007, the Spirited Awards seeks to put the spotlight on a range of industry talent from bartenders, journalists, and brand ambassadors, to brands and media.

The annual New Orleans festival is preparing to host this year’s event, set to take place from 21-26 July, in a digital format due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation hopes that by the time of the festival, it will be allowed to host smaller, in-person events in accordance with safety regulations and local guidance.

“It is paramount that we keep our community intact in whatever ways we can right now,” said Caroline Rosen, president of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.

“The hospitality industry has been decimated throughout this pandemic, but we are a strong, resilient group. The ability to honour our peers is of the utmost importance and we’re so proud of this year’s class of nominees.”

Chaired by Charlotte Voisey, the Spirited Awards judging panel comprises: Jacob Briars, Bridget Albert, Shaun Traxler, Kiowa Bryan, Mary Palac, Laura Cullen, Andy Seymour, Guiseppe Gallo, Claire Warner, Evelyn Chick, Lauren Mote, Richard Irwin, Stephanie Simbo, Camille Austin, Tato Giovannini, Hayley Morrison and Micaela Piccolo.

The writing and media categories were judged by Paul Clarke, Sandrea Lawrence, Francois Monti and Matthew Rowley.

The top four finalists in each category will be revealed on 1 June. The Spirited Awards ceremony is due to be held digitally on 25 July, when a number of awards will also be presented including the Helen David Lifetime Achievement award, a Philanthropy award, World’s Best Bar, and the Timeless American and Timeless International Award.

Click through the following pages to discover the top 10 finalists in each category of the 2020 Spirited Awards.

American categories

Silver Lyan in Washington

Best American Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Café La Trova – Miami, FL

Existing Conditions – New York, NY

Jewel of the South – New Orleans, LA

Lost Lake – Chicago, IL

Navy Strength – Seattle, WA

Nickel City – Austin, TX

Pacific Cocktail Haven – San Francisco, CA

Paper Plane – San Jose, CA

Sweet Liberty – Miami, FL

The Roosevelt Room – Austin, TX

Williams & Graham – Denver, CO

*Includes 11 nominees due to a tie

Best American Bar Mentor presented by Bar Smarts

Tony Abou-Ganim

Bridget Albert

Erick Casto

Laura Cullen

Alex Day

Anu Elford

Lynn House

Don Lee

Paul McGee

Nectaly Mendoza

American Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard

Kevin Diedrich – Pacific Cocktail Haven, San Francisco, CA

Marco Dionysos – ABV, San Francisco, CA

Ricky Gomez – Palomar, Portland, OR

Chris Hannah – Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA

Alex Jump – Death & Co, Denver, CO

Julia Momose – Kumiko, Chicago, IL

Mary Palac – Paper Plane, San Jose, CA

Ezra Star – Drink, Boston, MA

Masahiro Urushido – Katana Kitten, New York, NY

Christine Wiseman – Broken Shaker, Los Angeles, CA

Best American Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Kiowa Bryan – Spiribam Fine Rhum Specialists

Tad Carducci – Amaro Montenegro

Tracie Franklin – Glenfiddich

Vance Henderson – Hendrick’s Gin

Misty Kalkofen – Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal

Robin Nance – Beam Suntory

Trevor Schneider – Reyka Vodka

Willy Shine – Mast-Jägermeister US

Dominic Venegas – Pernod Ricard USA

Daniel Warrilow – Campari America’s Italian portfolio

Best American Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard

Bar Goto — New York, NY

Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 — New Orleans, LA

Best Intentions — Chicago, IL

Drink — Boston, MA

Katana Kitten — New York, NY

Pacific Cocktail Haven — San Francisco, CA

Pearl Diver — Nashville, TN

Raised by Wolves — San Diego, CA

Rob Roy — Seattle, WA

Trick Dog — San Francisco, CA

Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Grey Goose

ABV — San Francisco, CA

Anvil — Houston, TX

Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour — Phoenix, AZ

Café La Trova — Miami, FL

Ghost Donkey — New York, NY

Nickel City — Austin, TX

Sweet Liberty — Miami, FL

The Dead Rabbit — New York, NY

The Nomad Bar — New York, NY

The Roosevelt Room — Austin, TX

Best American Hotel Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Broken Shaker at Freehand Hotel — Los Angeles, CA

Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel — New York, NY

Death & Co at the Ramble Hotel — Denver, CO

Elephant Bar at the Nomad Hotel — New York, NY

Hey Love at The Jupiter — Portland, OR

Le Sirenuse Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club — Miami, FL

Libertine Social at the Mandalay Bay — Las Vegas, NV

Mr Coco at the Palms Casino Resort — Las Vegas, NV

Proof on Main at 21c Museum Hotel — Louisville, KY

The Spare Room at The Hollywood Roosevelt — Los Angeles, CA

Best American Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Bad Hunter — Chicago, IL

Better Luck Tomorrow — Houston, TX

Cleaver — Las Vegas, NV

Eleven Madison Park — New York, NY

Gramercy Tavern — New York, NY

Grey Ghost — Detroit, MI

Jewel of the South — New Orleans, LA

Jimmy’s — Aspen, CO

Otium — Los Angeles, CA

The Silver Dollar — Louisville, KY

Best New American Cocktail Bar presented by Heaven Hill

Bar Goto Niban — Brooklyn, NY

Bar Marilou — New Orleans, LA

Belle Époque — New Orleans, LA

Boat Drinks — St. Augustine, FL

Century Grand — Phoenix, AZ

Crown Shy — New York, NY

Elda — San Francisco, CA

Scotch Lodge — Portland, OR

Silver Lyan — Washington, DC

Thunderbolt — Los Angeles, CA

International categories

Swift bar in London’s Soho area

Best International Bar Team presented by House of Angostura 

Alquímico — Cartagena, Colombia

El Copitas Bar — St. Petersburg, Russia

La Factoría — San Juan, Puerto Rico

Lyaness at Sea Containers London — London, UK

Manhattan at Regent Singapore — Singapore

Maybe Sammy — Sydney, Australia

Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain

Sober Company — Shanghai, China

The Clumsies — Athens, Greece

The Connaught Bar — London, UK

Two Schmucks — Barcelona, Spain

*Includes 11 nominees due to a tie

Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Simone Caporale

Aaron Diaz Olivos

Renato Giovannoni

Shingo Gokan

Alex Kratena

Chris Lowder

Dre Masso

Lauren Mote

Agostino Perrone

Carina Soto Velasquez

International Bartender of the Year presented by Martini & Rossi

Claudia Cabrera — Kaito de Valle, Mexico City, Mexico

Andrea Gualdi — Maybe Sammy, Sydney, Australia

Bannie Kang — Mu, Taipei, Taiwan

José Luis León — Ritual H Bars, Mexico City, Mexico

Kelsey Ramage —  Supernova Ballroom, Toronto, Canada

Remy Savage — Le Syndicat, Paris, France

Marcio Silva — Guilhotina Bar, São Paulo, Brazil

Kaitlyn Stewart — Royal Dinette, Vancouver, Canada

Luke Whearty — Byrdi, Melbourne, Australia

Matt Whiley — Scout London & Sydney, UK

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Camille Austin — Casa Lumbre

Dickie Cullimore — Bacardi

Diego Ferrari — Matusalem Rum

Paulo Figueiredo — Ketel One

Audrey Hands — Havana Club

Martin Hudak — Mr Black Spirits

Daniyel Jones — The House of Angostura

Dave Mitton — Lot No 40 and JP Wiser’s Canadian whisky

Luca Missaglia — Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto

Nicola Riske — The Macallan and Edrington malts

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Tequila Fortaleza

Carnaval — Lima, Peru

Floreria Atlántico — Buenos Aires, Argentina

Maybe Sammy — Sydney, Australia

Native — Singapore

Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain

Speak Low — Shanghai, China

Swift — London, UK

The Old Man — Hong Kong, China

Three Sheets — London, UK

Two Schmucks — Barcelona, Spain

Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar presented by Beam Suntory

Alquímico — Cartagena, Colombia

Employees Only — Singapore

Freni e Frizioni — Rome, Italy

Himkok — Oslo, Norway

La Factoría — San Juan, Puerto Rico

Licorería Limantour — Mexico City, Mexico

Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland

The Baxter Inn — Sydney, Australia

The Clumsies — Athens, Greece

Trailer Happiness — London, UK

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation 

Artesian at The Langham — London, UK

Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons hotel — Mexico City, Mexico

Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore

Lyaness at Sea Containers London — London, UK

Punch Room at the London Edition — London, UK

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood hotel — London, UK

The American Bar at The Savoy hotel — London, UK

The Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental — Bangkok, Thailand

The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy hotel — London, UK

The Donovan Bar at Brown’s hotel — London, UK

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Ámaz — Lima, Peru

Bar Kismet — Halifax, Canada

Continental Deli Bar Bistro — Newtown, Australia

Le Mary Celeste — Paris, France

Restaurant Hubert — Sydney, Australia

Sexy Fish — London, UK

Sober Company — Shanghai, China

Sub Astor – São Paulo, Brazil

Tippling Club — Singapore

Zuma Dubai — Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Stranger & Sons

Bar Margaux — Melbourne, Australia

Byrdi — Melbourne, Australia

Café Ocampo — Mexico City, Mexico

Kwānt — London, UK

Mother Cocktail Bar — Toronto, Canada

No Sleep Club — Singapore

Stillife — Montreal, Canada

Supernova Ballroom — Toronto, Canada

Tayēr + Elementary — London, UK

Tres Monos — Buenos Aires, Argentina

Writing and media categories

The Nomad Cocktail Book was penned by Leo Robitschek

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Class Magazine

Cocktail Lovers

Cocktail Wonk

Difford’s Guide

Drink Magazine Asia

Half Full

Liquor.com

The Daily Expo

The Spirits Business

Vinepair

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

M Carrie Allan, ‘Chartreuse liqueur’s popularity has soared. But how do you market the elixir without offending the monks who make it?’ The Washington Post

Céline Bossart, ‘Sexism in the bartending world is real. Here are some ways to handle it” Liquor.com

Wayne Curtis, ‘Mixopedia: under foot’ Imbibe

Philip Duff, ‘Duff said: unwise investments’ Drinks International

Aaron Goldfarb, ‘Janee: where is she now’ Punch

Kara Newman, ‘Can there be terroir in spirits?’ Wine Enthusiast

Becky Paskin, ‘The case for drinking Scotch in tiki cocktails’ The Daily Beast

Matt Pietrek, ‘Can the US Recognise rum regulations?’ Cocktail Wonk

Clay Risen, ‘Yes, African-Americans drink Bourbon. You’d never know it from the marketing’ The New York Times 

Hamish Smith, ‘New Yawk Boyz’ Class Magazine

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

Bar Chef: Handcrafted Cocktails By Christiaan Rollich and Carolynn Carreño

Cocktails with a Twist by Kara Newman

Great Northern Cocktails by Shawn Soole

Miami Cocktails: An Elegant Collection of over 100 Recipes Inspired by the Magic City by Gabriel Urrutia

Minimalist Tiki: A Cocktail Wonk Look at Classic Libations and the Modern Tiki Vanguard by Matt Pietrek

Schofield’s Fine and Classic Cocktails: Celebrated Libations & Other Fancy Drinks by Daniel Schofield and Joe Schofield

Sip: 100 Gin Cocktails with Only Three Ingredients by Sipsmith

The Martini Cocktail: A Meditation on the World’s Greatest Drink, with Recipes by Robert Simonson

The Nomad Cocktail Book by Leo Robitschek

Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails by Shannon Mustipher

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

Amaro Italiano by Matteo Zed

Drunk in China: Baijiu and the World’s Oldest Drinking Culture by Derek Sandhaus

Last Call: Bartenders on Their Final Drink and the Wisdom and Rituals of Closing Time by Brad Thomas Parsons

Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World by Derek Brown and Robert Yule

The Complete Whiskey Course: A Comprehensive Tasting School in Ten Classes by Robin Robinson

The Tequila Dictionary: An A–Z of All Things Tequila, Mezcal and Agave Spirits by Eric Zandona

The World Atlas of Gin: Explore the Gins of More Than 50 Countries by Joel Harrison & Neil Ridley

Understanding Spirits: Explaining Style and Quality by WSET

*Due to a limited number of submissions, this category includes less than 10 nominees

Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Difford’s Guide

Happy Hour History

Life Behind Bars

Living Proof: Conversations for Bartenders

Post Shift Podcast with Shawn Soole

Shift Drink

That Boutique-y Broadcasting Company’s Uncorked: Whisky Sessions

The Speakeasy

What We’re Drinking with Dan Dunn

Whisky Cast

Global categories

Avallen Calvados was founded by Healthy Hospo founder Tim Etherington-Judge and wine and spirits specialist Stephanie Jordan

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Avallen Calvados

Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Las Milpas

Empirical Spirits Ayuuk

Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Cucumber Tonic Water

Heaven Hill 7 Year Bottled in Bond

Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice

Iichiko Saiten Shochu

Mr Black Single Origin Colombia

Schofield’s Dry Vermouth

Tequila Fortaleza Winter Blend 2019

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Perrier

Atlas Bar — Singapore

Dante — New York, NY

Little Red Door — Paris, France

Lyaness at Sea Containers London — London, UK

Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland

Paradiso — Barcelona, Spain

Raised by Wolves — San Diego, CA

Tayēr + Elementary — London, UK

The American Bar at The Savoy Hotel — London, UK

The Connaught Bar — London, UK

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory

Amor Y Amargo – New York, NY

Cantina OK — Sydney, Australia

Coupette — London, UK

Old Lightning — Los Angeles, CA

Raised by Wolves — San Diego, CA

Rumba — Seattle, WA

Sexy Fish — London, UK

Speak Low — Shanghai, China

The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy Hotel — London, UK

The Office — Chicago, IL