Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Announces 12th Annual Spirited Awards® Winners

     Held during Tales of the Cocktail 2018, the Spirited Awards honors the world's top bars, bartenders, writers and cocktail experts.   Following an impressive pool of nominees and months of deliberation from a global panel of renowned judges in the spirits and cocktail industries, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is honored to announce the winners of the 12th Annual Spirited Awards®.

      The 2018 class of winners has been recognized amongst peers and supporters tonight at the awards ceremony hosted at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans during Tales of the Cocktail. In addition to the winners selected by judges, Tales also has awarded the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award to John Lermayer.

     "As someone who has been on the other side of the Spirited Awards and has been nominated over the course of many years, I know how significant it is for an owner, operator, bartender or spirits professional to be recognized by his or her peers," said Neal Bodenheimer, Co-Chair of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. "Congratulations to this year's winners who represent a global group of talent setting the bar incredibly high for our industry."

     The sponsors of the 12th Annual Spirited Awards® are The House of Angostura, Bacardi US, BarSmarts, Cocktail Kingdom, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Pierre Ferrand Cognac, William Grant & Sons, Gra'it Grappa, Italicus, Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, Mandarine Napoleon, Maverick Drinks, G.H. Mumm, Peroni, Pernod Ricard USA, Rutte, VinePair and Woodford Reserve.

2018 Spirited Award® Recipients

American Categories
Best American Bar Team: Presented by William Grant & Sons, Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co., Miami, FL
American Bartender of the Year :Presented by Bacardi USA, Yael Vengroff, The Spare Room, Los Angeles, CA
Best American Brand Ambassador: Presented by VinePair, Anne Louise Marquis, Campari America
Best American Cocktail Bar: Presented by Pernod Ricard USA, Lost Lake, Chicago, IL
Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar: Presented by William Grant & Sons, The NoMad Bar, New York City
Best American Hotel Bar: Presented by Bacardi USA, The Broken Shaker Miami at The Freehand, Miami, FL
Best American Restaurant Bar: Presented by Woodford Reserve, Clyde Common, Portland, OR
Best New American Cocktail Bar: Presented by Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Navy Strength, Seattle, WA

International Categories
Best International Bar Team: Presented by The House of Angostura, The American Bar, The Savoy, London
International Bartender of the Year: Presented by Bacardi USA, Joe Schofield, Tippling Club, Singapore
Best International Brand Ambassador: Presented by G.H. Mumm, Ian Burrell, Global Rum Ambassador
Best International Cocktail Bar: Presented by Pernod Ricard USA, Happiness Forgets, London
Best International High Volume Cocktail Bar: Presented by Rutte, The Clumsies, Athens
Best International Hotel Bar: Presented by Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Associaton, The American Bar, The Savoy, London
Best International Restaurant Bar: Presented by Mandarine Napoléon, Sager & Wilde, London
Best New International Cocktail Bar: Presented by Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Coupette, London

Writing Categories
Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication: Presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, The Daily Beast, Half Full Section
Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer: Presented by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, M. Carrie Allan, The Washington Post, Imbibe, and more
Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book: Presented by Gra'it Grappa, Meehan's Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan
Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits: Presented by Cocktail Kingdom, By the Smoke and the Smell by Thad Vogler
Best Broadcast, Podcast or Online Video Series: Presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, Life Behind Bars

Global Categories
Best Bar Mentor: Presented by BarSmarts, Andy Seymour, Liquid Productions
Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient: Presented by Maverick Drinks, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Jabali
World's Best Cocktail Menu: Presented by Peroni, Dandelyan, London
World's Best Spirit Selection: Presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co., Miami, FL
World's Best Bar: Presented by Italicus, The American Bar at The Savoy, London
Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award: Presented by William Grant & Sons, John Lermayer