The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) has announced the top four international, US, world and writing and media finalists for the 19th annual Spirited Awards.

Since its launch in 2007, the Spirited Awards has grown into one of the most esteemed honours in the global drinks industry, recognising the individuals, venues, products, media, and leaders who continue to shape and inspire the cocktail community worldwide.

Presented in partnership with Forbes, the official media partner of the Spirited Awards, this year’s celebration will take place on 24 July during the Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC) conference, held in New Orleans from 20-25 July 2025.

Spanning a wide array of categories, the Spirited Awards spotlight excellence across the entire hospitality ecosystem – from bartenders and brand ambassadors to visionary operators and industry icons – ensuring each facet of the craft is acknowledged for its unique contribution.

For the first time this year, The Spirits Business Podcast was named a top 10 nominee in the Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series category, while The Spirits Business magazine was named a Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication top 10 nominee for its third consecutive year.

“I’ve always admired the Spirited Awards for the way they champion those at the core of our industry,” said Ryan Chetiyawardana, international chair of the Spirited Awards. “Not just the pioneers and innovators driving us forward, but also the community-builders helping shape a better future for hospitality.”

“We’re proud to announce this year’s top four finalists, as well as the remarkable recipients of the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award, the Timeless US and International Awards, and the Tales Visionary Award. These individuals exemplify the excellence, care, and purpose that make our industry a powerful force for good. That spirit is what I’ve always cherished about the Spirited Awards, and I’m excited to celebrate their achievements as we mark the 19th edition of this ceremony.”

Tickets for the Spirited Awards ceremony in New Orleans are now available to purchase from the event website.

Guests are invited to join fellow professionals, past winners, and global thought leaders for an evening dedicated to honouring the very best in the world of cocktails.

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Spirited Awards 2025 top four finalists:

Writing and media categories:

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication

• Class magazine
• Drinks International
• Full Pour
• SevenFifty Daily

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing

• “Charting a New Course — In Louisiana’s Sugarcane Country, a New Spirit Emerges from Complicated Conditions” by Christine Sismondo, for Good Beer Hunting
• “In War-Torn Ukraine, Nightlife Offers a Fleeting Escape” by Adam Robb, for Wine Enthusiast
• “The Hidden Hospitality Hazards When You’re Too Big for the Bar” by Brad Thomas Parsons, for VinePair
• “This Martini Costs $22. Here’s Exactly Why.” by Robert Simonson, for The Wall Street Journal

Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Cheech & Chong

• Like•a•ble Cocktails by Kaitlyn
• Radio Imbibe
• The Shaft by Josh Lindley of Bartender Atlas
• VinePair’s Cocktail College

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Branca USA

• Bubbles: A Guide to Carbonated Cocktails by Bart Miedeksza and Valentino Girotto
• Cocktail Theory – A Sensory Approach to Transcendent Drinks by Dr Kevin Peterson
• The Bartender’s Pantry: A Beverage Handbook for the Universal Bar by Jim Meehan and Bart Sasso with Emma Janzen
• The Martini: The Ultimate Guide to a Cocktail Icon by Alice Lascelles

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits

• A Most Noble Water: Revisiting the Origins of English Gin by Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown
• Dusty Booze: In Search of Vintage Spirits by Aaron Goldfarb
• Malort: The Redemption of a Revered and Reviled Spirit by Josh Noel
• The Cocktail Parlor: How Women Brought the Cocktail Home by Nicola Nice

International categories:

International Bartender of the Year

• Lorenzo Antinori — Bar Leone, Hong Kong
• Giulia Cuccurullo — Artesian, The Langham, London, UK
• Miguel Mora — Alquímico, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
• Luke Whearty — Byrdi, Melbourne, Australia

Best International Bar Mentor

• Kate Boushel
• Iain McPherson
• Anna Sebastian
• Jean Trinh

Best International Brand Ambassador

• Claudia Cabrera — Fratelli Branca
• Jesse Estes — Tequila Ocho
• Caitlin Hill — Rémy Cointreau
• Dré Masso — Altos Tequila and Nusa Caña Rum

Best International Bar Team

• Bar Leone — Hong Kong, China
• Caretaker’s Cottage — Melbourne, Australia
• Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland
• Satan’s Whiskers — London, UK

Best International Cocktail Bar

• Bar Leone — Hong Kong, China
• Caretaker’s Cottage — Melbourne, Australia
• Handshake Speakeasy — Mexico City, Mexico
• Satan’s Whiskers — London, UK

Best International Hotel Bar

• Argo at the Four Seasons Hotel — Hong Kong, China
• Charles H at the Four Seasons Hotel — Seoul, South Korea
• Side Hustle at The NoMad Hotel London — London, UK
• Virtù at the Four Seasons Tokyo Otemachi — Tokyo, Japan

Best International Restaurant Bar

• Arca Tulum — Tulum, Mexico
• Fura — Singapore
• Le Mary Celeste — Paris, France
• Moebius Milano — Milan, Italy

Best New International Cocktail Bar

• Bar Mauro — Mexico City, Mexico
• Devil’s Cut — Madrid, Spain
• Dry Wave Cocktail Studio — Bangkok, Thailand
• Three Sheets Soho — London, UK

US categories:

US Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard

• Christine Kim — Service Bar, Washington, DC
• McLain Hedges — Yacht Club, Denver, CO
• Libby Lingua — Highball, Phoenix, AZ
• Takuma Watanabe — Martiny’s/L’Americana/Midnight Blue, New York, NY

Best US Bar Mentor presented by Pernod Ricard

• Colin Asare-Appiah
• Meaghan Dorman
• Touré Folkes
• Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Best US Brand Ambassador

• Sullivan Doh — D’Ussé
• Benny Hurwitz — Campari American whiskeys
• Mary Palac — Campari Mexican spirits
• Natasha Sofia — Mijenta Tequila

Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

• Allegory at the Eaton Hotel — Washington, DC
• Best Intentions — Chicago, IL
• Service Bar — Washington, DC
• Yacht Club — Denver, CO

Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Pernod Ricard

• Best Intentions — Chicago, IL
• Overstory — New York, NY
• Trick Dog — San Francisco, CA
• True Laurel — San Francisco, CA

Best US Hotel Bar

• Champagne Bar at The Surf Club at The Four Seasons — Miami, FL
• Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel — New York, NY
• Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott — Phoenix, AZ
• Pacific Standard at the KEX Portland — Portland, OR

Best US Restaurant Bar

• Arnaud’s French 75 Bar — New Orleans, LA
• Kumiko — Chicago, IL
• Mírate — Los Angeles, CA
• Palomar — Portland, OR

Best New US Cocktail Bar

• Bar Snack — New York, NY
• Clemente Bar — New York, NY
• Sip & Guzzle — New York, NY
• ViceVersa — Miami, FL

Global categories:

World’s Best Cocktail Menu

• Bar 1661 — Dublin, Ireland
• Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel — Singapore
• Maybe Sammy — Sydney, Australia
• Panda & Sons — Edinburgh, Scotland

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Flor de Cana

• Cat Bite Club — Singapore
• Eleven Madison Park — New York, NY
• Salón de Agave — Mexico City, Mexico
• Tlecān — Mexico City, Mexico

Award recipients:

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award presented by William Grant & Sons

• Ian Burrell

Tales Visionary Award presented by Johnnie Walker

• Lynnette Marrero

Timeless International Award

• Bar Cock — Madrid, Spain

Timeless US Award

• The Bar at Keens Steakhouse — New York, NY

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