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AI-generated image of the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award on top of a bar, next to a cocktail
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

TOTCF Reveals Regional Top 10 Honorees

TOTCF Reveals Regional Top 10 Honorees

by David Klemt

AI-generated image of the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award on top of a bar, next to a cocktail

This is what Shutterstock’s AI think a Spirited Award looks like. At least the spelling is accurate.

Please join us in raising a glass of your favorite beverage—full-, low-, or no-ABV—to the 18th annual Spirited Awards Regional Top 10 Honorees.

Overall, New York City lays claim to the most honorees with a staggering 27. In second place among the American cities is Chicago, with 17 honorees. New Orleans comes in at third with 13 honorees dotted throughout the city.

That brings us to Canada. There’s a tie between Montréal, Québec, and Toronto, Ontario, for first place. Each city boasts 15 Regional Top 10 Honorees. Vancouver follows with 11 honorees. Appearing in two categories is Dartmouth, Nova Scotia’s Dear Friend Bar. There are also two honorees in Québec City, Québec.

As you can see, a handful of cities throughout North America are doing very well in terms of the bar scene. Internationally, London is home to 17 honorees, Singapore claims 15, and Mexico City boasts 12 honorees.

You’ll find the entire list of honorees below, starting with America. What can I say? I just have to be different. Cheers!

American Honorees

Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Best US Bar Team: US Central

  • Anna’s (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Best Intentions (Chicago, Illinois)
  • DrinkWell (Austin, Texas)
  • Grey Ghost (Detroit, Michigan)
  • Jewel of the South (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Meteor (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
  • Nickel City (Austin, Texas)
  • Sportsman’s Club (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Three Dots and a Dash (Chicago, Illinois)

Best US Bar Team: US East

  • Allegory DC (Washington, DC)
  • Bar Belly (New York, New York)
  • Bar Goto (New York, New York)
  • Martiny’s (New York, New York)
  • Milady’s (New York, New York)
  • Mister Paradise (New York, New York)
  • Old Glory (Nashville, Tennessee)
  • Overstory (New York, New York)
  • Proof (Charleston, South Carolina)
  • Service Bar (Washington, DC)

Best US Bar Team: US West

  • Accomplice Bar (Los Angeles, California)
  • Century Grand (Phoenix, Arizona)
  • Employees Only Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California)
  • Highball Cocktail Bar (Phoenix, Arizona)
  • Navy Strength (Seattle, Washington)
  • Pacific Cocktail Haven (San Francisco, California)
  • Strong Water Anaheim (Anaheim, California)
  • Thunderbolt (Los Angeles, California)
  • True Laurel (San Francisco, California)
  • Yacht Club (Denver, Colorado)

Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Del Maguey Mezcal

Best US Cocktail Bar: US Central*

  • Adiõs Bar (Birmingham, Alabama)
  • Bar Tonique (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Best Intentions (Chicago, Illinois)
  • DrinkWell (Austin, Texas)
  • Here Nor There (Austin, Texas)
  • Julep (Houston, Texas)
  • Kiesling (Detroit, Michigan)
  • Meadowlark (Chicago, Illinois)
  • MONEYGUN (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Sparrow (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Standby (Detroit, Michigan)

Best US Cocktail Bar: US East

  • Bar Belly (New York, New York)
  • Bar Goto (New York, New York)
  • barmini by José Andrés (Washington, DC)
  • Dear Irving Gramercy (New York, New York)
  • Double Chicken Please (New York, New York)
  • Martiny’s (New York, New York)
  • Milady’s (New York, New York)
  • Mister Paradise (New York, New York)
  • Overstory (New York, New York)
  • Service Bar (Washington, DC)

Best US Cocktail Bar: US West

  • Baby Gee (Long Beach, California)
  • Capri Club (Los Angeles, California)
  • Foreign National (Seattle, Washington)
  • Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
  • Highball Cocktail Bar (Phoenix, Arizona)
  • The Doctor’s Office (Seattle, Washington)
  • Thunderbolt (Los Angeles, California)
  • Trick Dog (San Francisco, California)
  • True Laurel (San Francisco, California)
  • Yacht Club (Denver, Colorado)

Best US Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose

Best US Hotel Bar: US Central

  • Catbird at Thompson Dallas Hotel (Dallas, Texas)
  • Chandelier Bar at Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Dovetail Bar at The Schaeffer Hotel (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Lazy Bird at The Hoxton (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Midnight Rambler at The Joule (Dallas, Texas)
  • Milk Room at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Otoko x Watertrade at South Congress Hotel (Austin, Texas)
  • The Elysian Bar at Hotel Peter and Paul (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • The Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt New Orleans (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Vol. 39 at The Kimpton Gray Hotel (Chicago, Illinois)

Best US Hotel Bar: US East

  • 27 Restaurant at Freehand Miami (Miami Beach, Florida)
  • Allegory DC (Washington, DC)
  • Champagne Bar at Four Seasons at The Surf Club (Miami, Florida)
  • Dear Irving on Hudson at Aliz Hotel (New York, New York)
  • Frannie & The Fox at Emeline (Charleston, South Carolina)
  • Lobby Bar at The Hotel Chelsea (New York, New York)
  • MATADOR BAR at The Miami Beach EDITION (Miami Beach, Florida)
  • Nubeluz at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad (New York, New York)
  • Raines Law Room at The William (New York, New York)
  • White Limozeen at The Graduate Nashville (Nashville, Tennessee)

Best US Hotel Bar: US West

  • Ardor at The West Hollywood EDITION (West Hollywood, California)
  • Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott (Phoenix, Arizona)
  • Mountaineering Club at Graduate Seattle Hotel (Seattle, Washington)
  • Pacific Standard at KEX Portland (Portland, Oregon)
  • Pint + Jigger at the Ala Moana Hotel (Honolulu, Hawaii)
  • Rise Over Run at the LINE Hotel (San Francisco, California)
  • Rudolph’s Bar & Tea at Freehand LA (Los Angeles, California)
  • The Manor Bar at  Rosewood Miramar Beach (Montecito, California)
  • The Maybourne Bar at The Maybourne Hotel Beverly Hills (Beverly Hills, California)
  • The Ski Lodge at Superfrico at The Cosmopolitan (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Best US Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Best US Restaurant Bar: US Central*

  • Bar Pigalle (Detroit, Michigan)
  • Brennan’s Restaurant (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Coquette (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Daisies (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Espiritu Mezcaleria (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Grey Ghost (Detroit, Michigan)
  • Kumiko (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Maple & Ash (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Rose Mary (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Spoon and Stable (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
  • The Loyalist (Chicago, Illinois)

Best US Restaurant Bar: US East

  • Amazonia (Washington DC)
  • Blossom Bar (Brookline, Massachusetts)
  • Bresca (Washington, DC)
  • Cosme (New York, New York)
  • COTE Korean Steakhouse (New York, New York)
  • Crown Shy (New York, New York)
  • Gramercy Tavern (New York, New York)
  • Jaguar Sun (Miami, Florida)
  • Macchialina (Miami, Florida)
  • The Grey (Savannah, Georgia)

Best US Restaurant Bar: US West

  • Accomplice Bar (Los Angeles, California)
  • Bar Cecil (Palm Springs, California)
  • Cleaver — Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails (Las Vegas, Nevada)
  • L’Oursin (Seattle, Washington)
  • Lolo (San Francisco, California
  • Palomar (Portland, Oregon)
  • République (Los Angeles, California)
  • Strong Water Anaheim (Anaheim, California)
  • Valentine (Phoenix, Arizona)
  • Viridian (Oakland, California)

Best New US Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Best New US Cocktail Bar: US Central

  • Cobra (Columbus, Ohio)
  • daydreamer (Austin, Texas)
  • Equipment Room (Austin, Texas)
  • Good Night John Boy (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Jolie (New Orleans, Louisiana)
  • Lemon (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Murray’s Tavern (Austin, Texas)
  • Saint Valentine (Dallas, Texas)
  • The Eastman (Rochester, Michigan)
  • Wild Child (Kansas City, Missouri)

Best New US Cocktail Bar: US East

  • Bartley Dunne’s (New York, New York)
  • Curean (Greenville, South Carolina)
  • Equal Measure (Boston, Massachusetts)
  • Jac’s On Bond (New York, New York)
  • Medium Cool (Miami Beach, Florida)
  • Papi Portland (Portland, Maine)
  • Paradise Lost (New York, New York)
  • Pretty Decent (Louisville, Kentucky)
  • Superbueno (New York, New York)
  • The Portrait Bar at The Fifth Avenue Hotel (New York, New York)

Best New US Cocktail Bar: US West

  • Aphotic (San Francisco, California)
  • Bar Next Door (Los Angeles, California)
  • Cavaña at LUMA Hotel (San Francisco, California)
  • Dark Room (Seattle, Washington)
  • Dirty Pretty (Portland, Oregon)
  • Donna’s (Los Angeles, California)
  • FYPM (Phoenix, Arizona)
  • Hey Kiddo (Denver, Colorado)
  • Ok Yeah (Denver, Colorado)
  • STOA (San Francisco, California)

International Honorees

Best International Bar Team presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Best International Bar Team: Asia Pacific (APAC)

  • ARGO at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)
  • ATLAS (Singapore)
  • Caretaker’s Cottage (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
  • Dean & Nancy on 22 at the A by Adina Hotel (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
  • Double Deuce Lounge (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
  • Hope & Sesame Guangzhou (Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China)
  • Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)
  • Native (Singapore)
  • Night Hawk (Singapore)
  • Nutmeg & Clove (Singapore)

Best International Bar Team: Canada*

  • Atwater Cocktail Club (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Botanist at Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Civil Liberties (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Cry Baby Gallery (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Dear Friend Bar (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  • Laowai (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Library Bar at Fairmont Royal York (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Published on Main (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • The Cloakroom Bar (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • The Coldroom (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • The Keefer Bar (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

Best International Bar Team: Europe

  • 1930 Cocktail Bar (Milan, Italy)
  • Bar 1661 (Dublin, Ireland)
  • Cinquanta Spirito Italiano (Pagani, Italy)
  • Mirror Cocktail Bar at Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel (Bratislava, Slovakia)
  • Panda & Sons (Edinburgh, Scotland, UK)
  • Paradiso (Barcelona, Spain)
  • Satan’s Whiskers (London, England, UK)
  • Tayēr + Elementary (London, England, UK)
  • The Cambridge Public House (Paris, Île-de-France, France)
  • The Clumsies (Athens, Greece)

Best International Bar Team: Latin America & Caribbean (LATAM&C)

  • Café de Nadie (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • CoChinChina (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • El Gallo Altanero (Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico)
  • Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Hanky Panky (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • La Factoría (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
  • La Uat (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • Rayo Cocktail Bar (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Tres Monos (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • Zapote Bar at Rosewood Mayakoba (Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico)

Best International Bar Team: Middle East & Africa (MEA)

  • COYA Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • fable (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)
  • Front/Back Accra (Accra, Ghana)
  • Lost + Found Drinkery (Nicosia, Cyprus)
  • LPM Restaurant & Bar Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • Mimi Kakushi (Dubai, UAE)
  • Salmon Guru Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • Sin + Tax (Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa)
  • The Drinkery (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)
  • Zuma Dubai (Dubai, UAE)

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patrón Tequila

Best International Cocktail Bar: Asia Pacific (APAC)

  • Above Board (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
  • BYRDI (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
  • Caretaker’s Cottage (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
  • COA (Hong Kong, China)
  • Hope & Sesame Guangzhou (Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China)
  • Maybe Sammy (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
  • Nutmeg & Clove (Singapore)
  • The Bellwood (Tokyo, Honshu, Japan)
  • The Cocktail Club (Jakarta, Javo, Indonesia)
  • ZEST (Seoul, South Korea)

Best International Cocktail Bar: Canada*

  • Atwater Cocktail Club (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Bar Mordecai (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Bar Pompette (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Civil Liberties (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Cocktail Bar (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Dear Friend Bar (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  • Laowai (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Milky Way Cocktail Bar (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • The Cloakroom Bar (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • The Keefer Bar (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • The Raven Room (Whistler, British Columbia, Canada)

Best International Cocktail Bar: Europe

  • 🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name (London, UK)
  • Drink Kong (Rome, Lazio, Italy)
  • HIMKOK (Oslo, Østlandet, Norway)
  • Kwãnt (London, UK)
  • Line Athens (Athens, Greece)
  • Panda & Sons (Edinburgh, Scotland, UK)
  • Paradiso (Barcelona, Spain)
  • Röda Huset (Stockholm, Södermanland and Uppland, Sweden)
  • Satan’s Whiskers (London, England, UK)
  • Three Sheets Bar (London, England, UK)

Best International Cocktail Bar: Latin America & Caribbean (LATAM&C)*

  • ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena des Indias, Bolívar, Colombia)
  • Bon Vivants (Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas)
  • Carnaval Bar (Lima, Peru)
  • El Barón Cafe & Cocktail Bar (Cartagena des Indias, Bolívar, Colombia)
  • Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • La Factoría (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
  • La Uat (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • Oh No! Lulu (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • Rayo Cocktail Bar (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • The Liquor Store (São Paulo, Brazil)
  • Tres Monos (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Best International Cocktail Bar: Middle East & Africa (MEA)

  • CAUSE | EFFECT Cocktail Kitchen (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)
  • Dead End Paradise (Beirut, Lebanon)
  • Front/Back Accra (Accra, Ghana)
  • Galaxy Bar (Dubai, UAE)
  • Honeycomb Hi-Fi (Dubai, UAE)
  • Salmon Guru Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • Shinkō (Cairo, Egypt)
  • Sin + Tax (Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa)
  • The Drinkery (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)
  • The House of Machines (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Ford’s Gin

Best International Hotel Bar: Asia Pacific (APAC)

  • ARGO at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)
  • Bar Trigona at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
  • BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)
  • Charles H. at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul (Seoul, South Korea)
  • DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)
  • Dean & Nancy on 22 at the A by Adina Hotel (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
  • Origin Bar at the Shangri-La Hotel (Singapore)
  • The Bamboo Bar at the Mandarin Oriental (Bangkok, Thailand)
  • VIRTÙ at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo Otemachi (Tokyo, Honshu, Japan)
  • Writers Bar at Raffles Singapore Hotel (Singapore)

Best International Hotel Bar: Canada

  • Bar 1608 at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac (Québec City, Québec, Canada)
  • Bar George at Le Mount Stephen Hotel (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Botanist at Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Clive’s Classic Lounge at Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Clockwork Champagne & Cocktails at Fairmont Royal York Hotel (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Library Bar at Fairmont Royal York (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Marcus Lounge and Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Montréal (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Nacarat at Fairmont Queen Elizabeth (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • The Lobby Lounge and RawBar at Fairmont Pacific Rim (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Writers Room Bar at Park Hyatt (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Best International Hotel Bar: Europe*

  • Atrium Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze (Florence, Tuscany, Italy)
  • Avra Bar at Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens (Athens, Greece)
  • Bar Les Ambassadeurs at Hôtel de Crillon (Paris, Île-de-France, France)
  • Mirror Cocktail Bar at Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel (Bratislava, Slovakia)
  • Punch Room at The Madrid EDITION (Madrid, Spain)
  • Seed Library at One Hundred Shoreditch Hotel (London, England, UK)
  • Side Hustle at The NoMad Hotel London (London, England, UK)
  • Super Lyan at Kimpton De Witt (Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands)
  • The Court at Palazzo Manfredi (Rome, Lazio, Italy)
  • The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel (London, England, UK)
  • Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese at Corinthia London (London, England, UK)

Best International Hotel Bar: Latin America & Caribbean (LATAM&C)

  • BEKEB at Hotel Casa Hoyos (San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico)
  • Carlotta Reforma at The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Fifty Mils at  Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Hotel B at Relais & Châteaux (Lima, Peru)
  • King Cole Bar at The St. Regis Mexico City (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • La Botica at Las Ventanas al Paraiso (Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico)
  • Library by the Sea at Kimpton Seafire Resort (Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands)
  • NKIRU Bar at 45 by Director Hotel (Santiago, Chile)
  • Rabo di Galo at Rosewood São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil)
  • Zapote Bar at Rosewood Mayakoba (Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico)

Best International Hotel Bar: Middle East & Africa (MEA)*

  • Blind Tiger at Jumeirah Al Naseem (Dubai, UAE)
  • Electric Pawn Shop at the Dubai Hotel (Dubai, UAE)
  • Flashback Speakeasy Bar & Lounge at Paramount Hotel Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • Gigi Rooftop Restaurant & Bar at the Gorgeous George Hotel (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)
  • HERO at Trademark Hotel (Nairobi, Kenya)
  • Jiko Restaurant at Tribe Hotel (Nairobi, Kenya)
  • Library Bar at The Abu Dhabi EDITION (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
  • Monkey Bar at 25hours Hotel (Dubai, UAE)
  • Smoke & Mirrors at SLS Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • The Bulgari Bar at the The Bulgari Resort Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • The Leopard Bar at the Twelve Apostles Hotel (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Gin Mare

Best International Restaurant Bar: Asia Pacific (APAC)

  • Alba Bar & Deli (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
  • Burnt Ends (Singapore)
  • Caffe Fernet (Singapore)
  • Gimlet at Cavendish House (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
  • Neon Pigeon (Singapore)
  • PANTJA (Jakarta, Javo, Indonesia)
  • Ralph’s Bar (Chengdu, Sichuan, China)
  • SG Low (Tokyo, Honshu, Japan)
  • Sugarhall (Singapore)
  • Vender Bar (Taichung City, Taiwan)

Best International Restaurant Bar: Canada

  • Bar Kismet (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  • Honō Izakaya (Québec City, Québec, Canada)
  • Le Majestique (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Major Tom (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
  • Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provision (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Published on Main (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Quetzal (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Restaurant Pompette (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Rouge Gorge (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • SUYO (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

Best International Restaurant Bar: Europe

  • Angelita (Madrid, Spain)
  • Bar Lupo (Zürich, Switzerland)
  • Carico Milano (Milan, Lombardy, Italy)
  • Danico (Paris, Île-de-France, France)
  • Galileo (Barcelona, Spain)
  • Gucci Giardino 25 (Florence, Tuscany, Italy)
  • Hakkasan (London, England, UK)
  • Le Mary Celeste (Paris, Île-de-France, France)
  • Locale Firenze (Florence, Tuscany, Italy)
  • Sins of Sal (Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands)

Best International Restaurant Bar: Latin America & Caribbean (LATAM&C)

  • ARCA Tulum (Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico)
  • Aruba Day Drink Bar (Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico)
  • Bar Carmen Medellín (Medellín, Aburrá Valley, Colombia)
  • Casa Prunes (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • CoChinChina (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • Jardín Tragos y Pasteles (Bogotá, Colombia)
  • Lady Bee (Lima, Peru)
  • Mamba Negra (Medellín, Aburrá Valley, Colombia)
  • Niño Gordo (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • Tan Tan (São Paulo, Brazil)

Best International Restaurant Bar: Middle East & Africa (MEA)

  • Amelia Restaurant & Lounge (Dubai, UAE)
  • Asoka (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)
  • Bôndai Restaurant & Bar (Accra, Ghana)
  • COYA Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • Funky Monkey (Diani Beach, Kwale County, Kenya)
  • LPM Restaurant & Bar Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • Mimi Kakushi (Dubai, UAE)
  • Roka Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • Upper Union (Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa)
  • Zuma Dubai (Dubai, UAE)

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Best New International Cocktail Bar: Asia Pacific (APAC)

  • Apollo Inn (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
  • Bar Leone (Hong Kong, China)
  • Bar Us (Bangkok, Thailand)
  • Cat Bite Club (Singapore)
  • El Primo Sanchez (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
  • Fura (Singapore)
  • Puffy Bois Pizza (Singapore)
  • The Savory Project (Hong Kong, China)
  • The Waratah (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)
  • Tokyo Confidential (Tokyo, Honshu, Japan)

Best New International Cocktail Bar: Canada

  • Bar Bello (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Bar Bisou Bisou (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Bar Dominion (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Bon Délire (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Charlie’s Watch Repair (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
  • Electric Bill Bar (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Humboldt Bar at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)
  • LE TIGRE (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Must be the Place (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
  • Overpressure Club (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Best New International Cocktail Bar: Europe*

  • Abstract Bistrot (Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France)
  • Bar Llama (Madrid, Spain)
  • Bar Nouveau (Paris, Île-de-France, France)
  • Dram Bar (London, England, UK)
  • Equal Parts (London, England, UK)
  • Groovy Fluids (Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands)
  • Rumore (Milan, Lombardy, Italy)
  • Savoy Brasserie & Bar at Mandarin Oriental Savoy (Zürich, Switzerland)
  • The Honey Moon (Paris, Île-de-France, France)
  • Twice Shy (London, England, UK)
  • Vesper Bar at The Dorchester (London, England, UK)
  • Viajante87 (London, England, UK)
  • Wacky Wombat (London, England, UK)

Best New International Cocktail Bar: Latin America & Caribbean (LATAM&C)

  • 1929 Cocktail Bar (Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico)
  • Alofah Tiki Bar (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Bijou Drinkery Room (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Booze The Bar Room (Lima, Peru)
  • Cielo Bar (La Paz, Pedro Domingo Murillo, Bolivia)
  • Cocktail & Bites (Bayamón, Puerto Rico)
  • Hoja Santa (Aguascalientes, Mexico)
  • SOFÁ – un bar (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • The Dilly Club (Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas)
  • The M Bar at Nobu Hotel Los Cabos (Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico)

Best New International Cocktail Bar: Middle East & Africa (MEA)

  • 7 Tales at Grosvenor House (Dubai, UAE)
  • Kōzo Kigali (Kigali, Rwanda)
  • Ling Ling at Atlantis The Royal (Dubai, UAE)
  • Mii-Yao (Beirut, Lebanon)
  • Moonshine (Dubai, UAE)
  • No.19 Accra (Accra, Ghana)
  • SOON Izakaya (Dubai, UAE)
  • Soul Kitchen Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • The Smiths (Lagos, Nigeria)
  • Uchi DIFC (Dubai, UAE)

 

Note: An asterisk denotes a category with more than 10 honorees due to a tie.

Image: Shutterstock. Disclaimer: This image was generated by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform.

KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

TOTCF Unveils National Policy Initiative

TOTCF Unveils National Policy Initiative

by David Klemt

Tales of the Cocktail 2023 Singapore x Tales Residency

Yesterday, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announced the launch of their Policy Initiative, intended to update outdated labor standards and pay.

Along with advocating for both bartenders and servers, the initiative seeks to raise the subminimum wage to $2.13.

This news comes on the heels of the completion of an in-depth survey. The TOTCF surveyed more than 510 bartenders and other hospitality industry professionals about pay and other compensation.

In particular, more than half of bar workers want employers to provide health insurance. On the restaurant side, servers want to say increases in pay.

There’s much more, of course. Please visit this link to discover the finer details of the TOTCF Policy Initiative. Additionally, you’ll find TOTCF’s press release in its entirety below.

INTRODUCING THE TALES OF THE COCKTAIL FOUNDATION® POLICY INITIATIVE

TOTCF introduces a national initiative aimed at policy change in support of the hospitality community with first priority centered on improving labor standards for bar professionals

NEW ORLEANS, LA (February 13, 2024) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation® (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the launch of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Policy Initiative, a multi-faceted effort designed to amplify and advocate for improved benefits and resources for hospitality professionals in the United States. The TOTCF Policy Initiative – which includes a robust nationwide survey and research project, coupled with support from the initiative’s advocacy committee members and partners – will catalyze an extensive campaign to create policy reform and positive change within the food and beverage community.

“Supporting an industry that has been historically underserved – from lack of industry research, common resources to educate and inform, and funding for coalitions – is crucial in breaking the cycles that have made it difficult to build a lifelong career in hospitality,” said Tales of the Cocktail Foundation CEO Eileen Wayner.

Intended to shift antiquated and subpar labor standards through industry support of positive policy action, the TOTCF Policy Initiative’s objectives include providing resources for employees and employers on labor standards and protections, conducting research and supporting efforts toward effective policy changes, information on healthcare access and benefits, sexual harassment training, and youth worker engagement – all with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. The TOTCF Policy Initiative, along with its Bar Professional Policy Network Hub, will assist with the organization of grassroots development and advocacy efforts in industry professionals’ local communities, providing opportunities for advocates to be directly involved in policy and reform in their own communities.

“Given our unique position within the industry, we want to offer platforms and resources for productive conversations between policymakers, industry executives, bar owners and operators, and bar professionals, to ensure existing and future policy changes are reflective and inclusive,” said Tammera Catchings, Government Affairs Manager for Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “For TOTCF, the process begins with supportive research data and intricate data analysis of bar industry professionals and their work.”

The Policy Initiative is centered around improving labor standards for hospitality professionals around the country and supporting increased protections that will help ensure bartending and serving are viable, long-term careers. One of the first priorities of the TOTCF Policy Initiative is to support efforts to increase the subminimum wage of $2.13 for bartenders and servers. Since 1990, employment in the hospitality industry has grown over 85%, while overall private-sector employment grew by only 24%. With more than one in ten U.S. workers employed in the hospitality industry, increasing the wage floor and improving labor standards would significantly improve the well-being of millions of Americans and their families and help reduce long-standing race and gender-based wage inequities.

Launched in spring 2022, Phase One of the Policy Initiative consisted of a robust research project, which culminated with an industry-specific data collection completed by more than 500 bartenders and servers nationwide, targeting topics such as job quality, compensation, tip culture, health benefits, and more. This research, which was analyzed by Dynata, the nation’s largest first-party data company, resulted in a compilation of data that highlights key trends in the hospitality community. By effectively utilizing the survey data to start a progressive dialog amongst hospitality executives, politicians, and advocates, the TOTCF Policy Initiative will encourage significant changes in the economic and labor standards for all bartenders and servers in the country. Research results will be published as analyzed on the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Policy website in April 2024. In Phase Two of the initiative to support positive policy reform, TOTCF is partnering with Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management to conduct further research and analysis into industry labor standards, culminating in research publication at the end of 2024.

TOTCF Policy Initiative Committee Members

TOTCF is pleased to share the collective of industry professionals who are dedicated to advancing and overseeing the Policy Initiative: 
  • Zen Castro: New Orleans, LA – Espiritu Mezcaleria Restaurant, Bartender; BeachBum Berry’s Latitude 29, Bar Back
  • Jayanthi Daniel: Los Angeles, CA – Restaurant Workers Community Foundation, Executive Director 
  • Lauren Darnell: New Orleans, LA – Made IN New Orleans, Executive Director
  • Amanda Gunderson: Los Angeles, CA – Another Round Another Rally, Co-Founder
  • Kaiden Hope: New York, NY – Beam Suntory, Multicultural Portfolio Associate
  • Alex Jump: Denver, CO – Focus on Health, Co-Founder and Director of Operations
  • Jesse Maguire: New York, NY – Beam Suntory, U.S. Trade Engagement Manager 
  • Lynnette Marrero: New York, NY – American Bartender, Mixologist, and Philanthropist 
  • Robin Nance: Albany, IN – Strategic Branding Expert
  • John Reyna: Dallas, TX – Texas Hospitality and Non-profit Law Center, Managing Attorney

Government Affairs Manager

  • Tammera Catchings, J.D., M.S.: Ridgeland, MS – Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
To learn more about the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Policy Initiative and get involved, join the Bar Professional Policy Network. You can learn more about The Foundation via the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization that educates, advances, and supports the global hospitality industry and creates lasting impact in our host communities. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is the global leader in spirits education and a platform to tackle issues facing the industry. The pillars of the Foundation are to Educate, Advance, and Support the hospitality industry through programs that benefit individuals and organizations in the community and to make a lasting impact in communities that host our events. This year, TOTCF hosts its 22nd Tales of the Cocktail® (TOTC) conference in New Orleans from July 21-26, 2024, and celebrates the theme Inspire.

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Cheers to the Spirited Awards Winners!

Cheers to the 2023 Spirited Awards Winners!

by David Klemt

Bartender presenting cocktail

A toast to the nominees and winners!

Cheers to each of the winning bars, teams, and individuals taking home awards from the 17th annual Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail 2023 in New Orleans!

Spirits educator, advocate, and bartender’s bartender Tiffanie Barriere earned the well-deserved Tales Visionary Award. Master Distiller Desmond Payne, MBE, took home the Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award.

Compellingly, a number of so-called secondary and tertiary markets are taking awards back to their home cities. These include Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Portland. Nothing against primary markets like New York City and Los Angeles, but it’s wonderful to see other cities grab the spotlight and shine, make their marks, and let everyone know, “We’ve arrived—don’t sleep on us!”

Unfortunately, Canada didn’t take home any international awards from Tales this year, nor did Las Vegas. Next year, hopefully.

Barcelona, however, can boast that it’s the home of the Spirited Award winner for the World’s Best Bar.

As far as our little experiment with artificial intelligence attempting to predict Spirited Awards winners, the chatbot we selected didn’t do very well. That said, it did accurately guess six out of the 24 awards we presented to the bot for a 25-percent success rate: Best US Brand Ambassador; International Bartender of the Year; Best International Bar Mentor; Best International Restaurant Bar; Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series; and Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing.

Raise a glass and toast this year’s Spirited Awards winners. Cheers!

US Categories

US Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard USA

Christine Wiseman, Marygold’s Brasserie / Broken Shaker (Miami, Florida)

Best US Bar Mentor presented BarSmarts

Chris Patino

Best US Brand Ambassador presented Libbey

Vance Henderson (Hendrick’s Gin)*

Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka

Century Grand (Phoenix, Arizona)

Best US Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose

Hey Love at The Jupiter (Portland, Oregon)

Best US Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo

Café La Trova (Miami, Florida)

Best New US Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Martiny’s (New York, New York)

Timeless US Award

Tiki-Ti (Los Angeles, California)

International Categories

International Bartender of the Year presented by The Busker

Giorgio Bargiani, Connaught Bar (London, England, United Kingdom)*

Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Agostino Perrone*

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Nicola Riske (The Macallan)

Best International Bar Team presented by Angostura Caribbean Rum

ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patr​​ón Tequila

SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Analogue Initiative (Singapore)*

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Line Athens (Athens, Greece)

Timeless International Award

Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel (Singapore)

Global Categories

Tales Visionary Award

Tiffanie Barriere

Helen David Lifetime Achievement Award

Desmond Payne, MBE

World’s Best Bar

SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

Martini & Rossi Floreale Non Alcoholic Aperitivo

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy

Double Chicken Please (New York, New York)

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

Raised by Wolves (San Diego, California)

Writing & Media Categories

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

Punch

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

The Speakeasy Podcast*

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

“The Great Mezcal Heist” by Emma Janzen, for Eater*

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

The Bartender’s Manifesto by Toby Maloney with Emma Janzen

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

Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region’s Essential Spirit by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith

Congratulations to each of the venues, teams, and individual winners! Cheers!

Bar Hacks Guests

The following Spirited Awards presenters, winners, and TOTC team have appeared on the Bar Hacks podcast. Give these episodes a listen to learn more about these amazing people!

Vance Henderson (episode 20)

Episode 48, Episode 65, and the Hurricane Ida Emergency Episode with Eileen Wayner

Lynn House (episode 52)

Kellie Thorn and Lola Thomas (episode 72)

Roberta Mariani (episode 84)

* Denotes an accurate prediction by DeepAI‘s AI Chat chatbot.

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KRG Hospitality. Bar Consultant. Nightclub. Lounge. Mixology. Cocktails.

Cocktail with orange peel garnish resting on glossy white bar top
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Tales Reveals Top 4 Awards Finalists

Tales Reveals Top 4 2023 Spirited Awards Finalists

by David Klemt

Cocktail with orange peel garnish resting on glossy white bar top

We’re one month away from the 17th annual Spirited Awards ceremony and the top four nominees in each category have been revealed.

Over the course of the past few months, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation have been hard at work to narrow the field. They first announced this year’s honorees. Not long ago, they announced the top ten nominees.

Now, we know the top four nominees in the running for each of the Spirited Awards. You can check them out below, with each award organized into one of four main categories: US, International, Global, and Writing & Media.

Congrats to the finalists! We’ll know the winners in just a month.

Cheers!

US Categories

US Bartender of the Year presented by Pernod Ricard USA

  • Caer Maiko Ferguson, DrinkWell / Daijoubu (Austin, Texas)
  • Kapri Robinson, Allegory at the Eaton Hotel (Washington, DC)
  • Masahiro Urushido, Katana Kitten (New York, New York)
  • Christine Wiseman, Marygold’s Brasserie / Broken Shaker (Miami, Florida)

Best US Bar Mentor presented BarSmarts

  • Anu Apte
  • Colin Asare-Appiah
  • Nectaly Mendoza
  • Chris Patino

Best US Brand Ambassador presented Libbey

  • Kiowa Bryan (Spiribam)
  • Chris Cabrera (Bacardi USA)
  • Cameron George (Ardbeg Single Malts)
  • Vance Henderson (Hendrick’s Gin)

Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

  • Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
  • Nickel City (Austin, Texas)
  • Pacific Cocktail Haven (San Francisco, California)
  • Yacht Club (Denver, Colorado)

Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka

  • Century Grand (Phoenix, Arizona)
  • Double Chicken Please (New York, New York)
  • Overstory (New York, New York)
  • Service Bar (Washington, DC)

Best US Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose

  • Allegory at the Eaton Hotel (Washington, DC)
  • Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel (New York, New York)
  • Hey Love at The Jupiter (Portland, Oregon)
  • Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott (Phoenix, Arizona)

Best US Restaurant Bar presented by Amaro Montenegro and Select Aperitivo

  • Café La Trova (Miami, Florida)
  • Cleaver Butchered Meats & Seafood (Las Vegas, Nevada)
  • Kumiko (Chicago, Illinois)
  • Palomar (Portland, Oregon)

Best New US Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

  • Chez Zou (New York, New York)
  • Martiny’s (New York, New York)
  • Milady’s (New York, New York)
  • Pacific Standard at the KEX Portland (Portland, Oregon)

International Categories

International Bartender of the Year presented by The Busker

  • Gina Barbachano, Hanky Panky (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Giorgio Bargiani, Connaught Bar (London, England, United Kingdom)
  • Daniel Schofield, SCHOFIELD’S BAR (Manchester, England, United Kingdom)
  • Luke Whearty, BYRDI (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)

Best International Bar Mentor presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

  • Simone Caporale
  • Danil Nevsky
  • Agostino Perrone
  • Christina Veira

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

  • Caitlin Hill (Rémy Cointreau)
  • Daniyel Jones (House of Angostura)
  • Dave Mitton (Lot 40 / J.P. Wiser’s)
  • Nicola Riske (The Macallan)

Best International Bar Team presented by Angostura Caribbean Rum

  • ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
  • Atwater Cocktail Club (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)
  • Paradiso (Barcelona, Spain)

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Patr​​ón Tequila

  • 🔶🟥🔵 (London, UK)
  • ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
  • Atwater Cocktail Club (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

  • ARGO at the Four Seasons (Hong Kong)
  • BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand)
  • Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

  • Analogue Initiative (Singapore)
  • ARCA Restaurant & Bar (Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico)
  • Bar Kismet (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  • Danico (Paris, France)

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Diageo Bar Academy

  • Last Word (Singapore)
  • Line Athens (Athens, Greece)
  • Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar (Bangkok, Thailand)
  • Night Hawk (Singapore)

Global Categories

Best New Spirit or Cocktail Ingredient presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

  • Martini & Rossi Floreale Non Alcoholic Aperitivo
  • PATRÓN El Alto Tequila
  • Saint Benevolence Aged Rum Clairin
  • The Fords Gin Co. Sloe Gin

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy

  • ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
  • Double Chicken Please (New York, New York)
  • Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Panda & Sons (Edinburgh, Scotland)

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

  • Baba Au Rum (Athens, Greece)
  • In Situ Mezcalería (Oaxaca, Mexico)
  • Raised by Wolves (San Diego, California)
  • Swift Soho (London, England, United Kingdom)

Writing & Media Categories

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

  • CLASS Magazine
  • Difford’s Guide
  • Punch
  • The Cocktail Lovers Magazine

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

  • Black and Brown Podcast
  • Radio Imbibe
  • Shōshin Art Club
  • The Speakeasy Podcast

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

  • “The Drinks Industry Has an Ageism Problem” by Betsy Andrews, for SevenFifty Daily
  • “The Great Mezcal Heist” by Emma Janzen, for Eater
  • “The Secrets to the Best Dry Martini You’ll Ever Have” by David Wondrich, for The Daily Beast
  • “This Is What Decolonizing a Spirit Looks Like” by Adaorah Oduah, for Punch

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

  • Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails with 60 Recipes by Derek Brown
  • Modern Classic Cocktails by Robert Simonson
  • The Bartender’s Manifesto by Toby Maloney with Emma Janzen
  • The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails – Elevated and Expanded, edited by Steven Reddicliffe

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

  • A SENSE OF PLACE: A Journey Around Scotland’s Whisky by Dave Broom
  • Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails by Camper English
  • Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region’s Essential Spirit by Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith
  • Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

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Top 10 2022 Spirited Award Finalists

Top 10 2022 Spirited Award Finalists

by David Klemt

Bartender presenting cocktail

With just six weeks to go until the 20th anniversary of Tales of the Cocktail, the foundation announces their Spirited Award finalists.

Unsurprisingly, a number of the nominees can also be found on the North America’s 50 Best Bars list.

However, the Spirited Awards honor more than bars. The awards span four categories: US, International, Global, and Writing & Media.

Along with bar nominees, you’ll find mentors, bar teams, brand ambassadors, spirits, cocktail ingredients, books, articles, podcasts, videos, and publications in the list below.

Congratulations to the Spirited Awards’ top ten nominees! We’ll see you in New Orleans.

Cheers!

US Categories

US Bartender of the Year presented by Del Maguey

  • Josh Davis (16th Street Bar, Chicago, IL)
  • Chris Elford (Trade Winds Tavern, Navy Strength, Rob Roy, Here Today Brewing, Seattle, WA)
  • Chris Hannah (Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA)
  • Caer Maiko Ferguson (DrinkWell, Austin, TX)
  • Chris McMillian (Revel Bar & Cafe, New Orleans, LA)
  • Shauna O’Neil (Sweet Liberty, Miami, FL)
  • Kapri Robinson (Allegory, Washington, DC)
  • Christian Suzuki-Orellana (Wildhawk, San Francisco, CA)
  • Masahiro “Masa” Urushido (Katana Kitten, New York, NY)
  • Christine Wiseman (BarLab Hospitality Group, Miami, FL)

Best US Bar Mentor presented by BarSmarts

  • Colin Asare-Appiah
  • Julio Cabrera
  • Kevin Diedrich
  • Meaghan Dorman
  • Alba Huerta
  • Alex Jump
  • Sean Kenyon
  • ms franky marshall
  • Nectaly Mendoza
  • Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Best US Brand Ambassador presented by Libbey Glass

  • Kiowa Bryan (Spiribam)
  • Chris Cabrera (Bacardí USA)
  • Tad Carducci (Gruppo Montenegro)
  • Cameron George (Ardbeg)
  • Vance Henderson (Hendrick’s Gin)
  • Lynn House (Heaven Hill)
  • Jenna Murray (The Glenlivet)
  • Natasha Sofia Velez (Davos Brands)
  • Ryan Wainwright (Bombay Sapphire)
  • Daniel Warrilow (Campari America)

Best US Bar Team presented by William Grant & Sons

  • Attaboy (New York, NY)
  • Cleaver: Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails (Las Vegas, NV)
  • Half Step (Austin, TX)
  • Jaguar Sun (Miami, FL)
  • Jewel of the South (New Orleans, LA)
  • Katana Kitten (New York, NY)
  • The Long Island Bar (Brooklyn, NY)
  • The Roosevelt Room (Austin, TX)
  • The Snug (Sacramento, CA)
  • Thunderbolt (Los Angeles, CA)

Best US Cocktail Bar presented by Absolut Vodka

  • Bar Goto (New York, NY)
  • Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 (New Orleans, LA)
  • Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour (Phoenix, AZ)
  • DrinkWell (Austin, TX)
  • Julep (Houston, TX)
  • Katana Kitten (New York, NY)
  • Occidental (Denver, CO)
  • Pearl Diver (Nashville, TN)
  • The Roosevelt Room (Austin, TX)
  • Thunderbolt (Los Angeles, CA)

Best US Hotel Bar presented by Grey Goose

  • Bar Marilou at Maison de la Luz (New Orleans, LA)
  • Champagne Bar at The Surf Club Miami (Miami, FL)
  • Dear Irving on Hudson at the Aliz Hotel (New York, NY)
  • Hey Love at The Jupiter (Portland, OR)
  • King Cole Bar at The St. Regis New York (New York, NY)
  • Libertine Social at the Mandalay Bay (Las Vegas, NV)
  • Little Rituals at the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott (Phoenix, AZ)
  • Midnight Rambler at the Joule (Dallas, TX)
  • Mountaineering Club at the Graduate Seattle Hotel (Seattle, WA)
  • Silver Lyan at the Riggs Washington DC (Washington, DC)

Best US Restaurant Bar presented by Maison Ferrand

  • Café La Trova (Miami, FL
  • Cleaver: Butchered Meats, Seafood & Classic Cocktails (Las Vegas, NV)
  • Crown Shy (New York, NY)
  • Gramercy Tavern (New York, NY)
  • Jewel of the South (New Orleans, LA)
  • Kimball House (Decatur, GA)
  • Kumiko (Chicago, IL)
  • L’Oursin (Seattle, WA)
  • Republique (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Spoon and Stable (Minneapolis, MN)

Best New US Cocktail Bar presented by Aviation Gin

  • Double Chicken Please (New York, NY)
  • Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, NM)
  • Kona’s Street Market (San Francisco, CA)
  • Law Bird (Columbus, OH)
  • Overstory (New York, NY)
  • Palmetto (Oakland, CA)
  • Temple Bar (New York, NY)
  • Tiki Tatsu-Ya (Austin, TX)
  • Trade Winds Tavern (Seattle, WA)
  • Yacht Club (Denver, CO)

International Categories

International Bartender of the Year presented by Patrón

  • Moe Aljaff (Two Schmucks, Barcelona, Spain)
  • Lorenzo Antinori (ARGO / Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts, Hong Kong, China)
  • Giorgio Bargiani (The Connaught Bar, London, UK)
  • Kate Boushel (Atwater Cocktail Club / Milky Way Cocktail Bar, Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • James Grant (Little HK, Edmonton, Canada)
  • Keith Motsi (Charles H. Seoul at the Four Seasons Hotel, Seoul, South Korea)
  • Rémy Savage (🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London, UK)
  • Daniel Schofield (SCHOFIELD’S BAR, Manchester, UK)
  • Ezra Star (Mostly Harmless, Hong Kong, China)
  • Luke Whearty (BYRDI, Melbourne, Australia)
  • Matt Whiley (RE, Sydney, Australia)

Best International Bar Mentor presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

  • Monica Berg
  • Arijit Bose
  • Simone Caporale
  • Renato “Tato” Giovannoni
  • Tim Etherington Judge
  • Trevor Kallies
  • Dre Masso
  • Lauren Mote
  • Danil Nevsky
  • Agostino Perrone
  • Christina Veira
  • Camille Vidal

*Includes 12 nominees due to a tie

Best International Brand Ambassador presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

  • Jenna Ba (Diageo)
  • Claudia Cabrera (Fratelli Branca)
  • Irene Díaz (Ron Diplomático)
  • Martin Hudák (Mr. Black Spirits)
  • Daniyel Jones (House of Angostura)
  • Ally Martin (Hendrick’s Gin)
  • Dave Mitton (Lot No. 40 / JP Wiser’s)
  • Ricardo Nava (Bacardí Latin America)
  • Tim Phillips-Johansson (Johnnie Walker)
  • Nicola Riske (The Macallan)

Best International Bar Team presented by House of Angostura

  • ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
  • Atwater Cocktail Club (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)
  • La Factoría (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
  • MAYBE SAMMY (Sydney, Australia)
  • Salmon Guru (Madrid, Spain)
  • Tayēr + Elementary (London, UK)
  • The Clumsies (Athens, Greece)
  • Tres Monos (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • Two Schmucks (Barcelona, Spain)

Best International Cocktail Bar presented by Tequila Fortaleza

  • ALQUIMICO (Cartagena, Colombia)
  • Atwater Cocktail Club (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
  • Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen & Cape Brandy Bar (Cape Town, South Africa)
  • COA (Hong Kong, China)
  • Florería Atlántico (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
  • MAYBE SAMMY (Sydney, Australia)
  • Paradiso (Barcelona, Spain)
  • Salmon Guru (Madrid, Spain)
  • Satan’s Whiskers (London, UK)
  • Tayēr + Elementary (London, UK)
  • Three Sheets (London, UK)
  • Two Schmucks (Barcelona, Spain)

*Includes 12 nominees due to a tie

Best International Hotel Bar presented by Perrier

  • Bar Trigona at the Four Seasons Hotel (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
  • Botanist at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel (Vancouver, BC, Canada)
  • Bulgari Bar at The Bvlgari Resort (Dubai, UAE)
  • Charles H. Seoul at the Four Seasons Hotel (Seoul, South Korea)
  • Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons Hotel (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Jigger & Pony at the Amara Hotel (Singapore)
  • Lyaness at Sea Containers London (London, UK)
  • MO BAR at the Mandarin Oriental (Singapore)
  • Origin Bar at The Shangri-La Hotel (Singapore)
  • The American Bar at The Stafford London (London, UK)
  • The Donovan Bar at the Brown’s Hotel (London, UK)

*Includes 11 nominees due to a tie

Best International Restaurant Bar presented by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation

  • Bar Kismet (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  • Caffe Fernet (Singapore)
  • Danico (Paris, France)
  • Le Mary Celeste (Paris, France)
  • Locale Firenze (Florence, Italy)
  • LPM Restaurant & Bar (Dubai, UAE)
  • Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Sexy Fish (London, UK)
  • The Continental Deli (Newtown, Australia)
  • Tjoget (Stockholm, Sweden)
  • Zuma Dubai — Dubai, UAE)

*Includes 11 nominees due to a tie

Best New International Cocktail Bar presented by Stranger & Sons

  • 🔶🟥🔵 A Bar with Shapes for a Name (London, UK)
  • Amaro Bar (London, UK)
  • ARGO (Hong Kong, China)
  • Dead End Paradise (Beirut, Lebanon)
  • DEAN & NANCY (Sydney, Australia)
  • RE (Sydney, Australia)
  • Schofield’s Bar (Manchester, UK)
  • Side Hustle at the NoMad (London, UK)
  • SIPS (Barcelona, Spain)
  • Wax On (Berlin, Germany)

Global Categories

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

  • Abasolo Ancestral Corn Whisky
  • ANGOSTURA® cocoa bitters
  • Citadelle Gin Jardin d’été
  • Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Vida de Muertos
  • Equiano Light Rum
  • Fever-Tree Sparkling Lime & Yuzu
  • Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit
  • Hendrick’s Lunar Gin
  • Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic – Italian Orange
  • Nixta Licor de Elote
  • Lost Irish
  • Ojo de Tigre Mezcal Artesanal
  • SAVOIA Americano

*Includes 13 nominees due to a tie

World’s Best Cocktail Menu presented by Diageo Bar Academy

  • ALQUÍMICO (Cartagena de Indias, Colombia)
  • Dante NYC (New York, NY)
  • Himkok (Oslo, Norway)
  • Little Red Door (Paris, France)
  • Lyaness at Sea Containers London (London, UK)
  • Mace Bar (New York, NY)
  • Paradiso (Barcelona, Spain)
  • Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood London (London, UK)
  • Swift Soho (London, UK)
  • Tayēr + Elementary (London, UK)

World’s Best Spirits Selection presented by Beam Suntory

  • ATLA (New York, NY)
  • Brandy Library (New York, NY)
  • In-Situ Mezcaleria (Oaxaca City, Mexico)
  • Jack Rose Dining Saloon (Washington, DC)
  • Origin Bar at The Shangri-La Hotel (Singapore)
  • Rumba (Seattle, WA)
  • Sexy Fish (London, UK)
  • Swift Soho (London, UK)
  • The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and a Dash (Chicago, IL)
  • The Doctor’s Office (Seattle, WA)

Writing and Media Categories

Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication presented by Diageo Bar Academy

  • CLASS magazine
  • Difford’s Guide
  • Discard the Zine
  • DRiNK Magazine Asia
  • Drinks International
  • Liquor.com
  • The Cocktail Lovers magazine
  • The Spirits Business
  • VinePair
  • Whisky Magazine

Best Broadcast, Podcast, or Online Video Series presented by Diageo Bar Academy

  • A Life In Whisky: The Dennis Malcolm Story (A documentary by Whisky Magazine)
  • Behind the Bar with Cara Devine
  • El Club de los Cantineros (Documentary)
  • Freepour™
  • Happy Hour History
  • Hospitality Forward Podcast by Hanna Lee Communications
  • Radio Imbibe
  • Shōshin Art Club
  • The Cocktail Lovers Podcast
  • The Speakeasy Podcast

Best Cocktail & Spirits Writing presented by Diageo Bar Academy

  • “Get Real: The bar world looks beyond feel-good measures on sustainability and climate change” by Max Falkowitz, for Imbibe Magazine
  • “Getting high from a new supply: a revolutionary flavour extraction method for cocktails is being pioneered in South Africa” by Leah van Deventer, for TheWorlds50Best.com
  • “Has the Coronavirus Pandemic Destroyed American Bar Culture?” by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, for Daily Beast
  • “Making it Through: How a Bar’s Regulars Helped During a Pandemic,” by Rebecca Cate as told to Paul Clarke, Imbibe
  • “Marc Farrell Wants to Change the Way You Think About Rum” by Yolanda Evans, for Food & Wine
  • “Meet the Eco-Packaging Innovations Transforming the Drinks Industry” by Betsy Andrews, for SevenFifty Daily
  • “Mexican Terroir” by Liza Weisstuch, for Whisky Magazine
  • “The Greatest Drinking Contest in History” by David Wondrich, for Daily Beast
  • “The Hard Reset – Creating a New Hospitality Culture” by Anna Sebastian, for CLASS
  • “Turns Out Rye Whiskey Isn’t an American Creation After All” by Lew Bryson, for Daily Beast

Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book presented by Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic

  • Claridge’s The Cocktail Book by Denis Broci and Nathan McCarley-O’Neill
  • COCKTAIL DIVE BAR: Real Drinks, Fake History, and Questionable Advice from New Orleans’s Twelve Mile Limit by T. Cole Newton
  • Death & Co: Welcome Home by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, and David Kaplan
  • Difford’s Guide to Cocktails Sixteenth Edition by Simon Difford
  • Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails by Robert Simonson
  • The Cocktail Seminars by Brian D. Hoefling
  • The Japanese Art of the Cocktail by Masahiro Urushido and Michael Anstendig
  • The Way of the Cocktail: Japanese Traditions, Techniques, and Recipes by Julia Momosé with Emma Janzen
  • Tokyo Cocktails by Nicholas Coldicott
  • Zero Proof: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking by Elva Ramirez

Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits presented by Diageo Bar Academy

  • A Good Drink: In Pursuit of Sustainable Spirits by Shanna Farrell
  • Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey by Clay Risen
  • Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward Slingerland
  • Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol by Mallory O’Meara
  • L’Ora dell’Americano by Mauro Mahjoub & Lucio Tucci
  • Something & Tonic by Nick Kokonas
  • The Big Book of Amaro by Matteo Zed
  • The New Kindred Spirits by F. Paul Pacult
  • The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails edited by David Wondrich with Noah Rothbaum
  • The Spirit of Rye by Carlo DeVito

Image: Jia Jia Shum on Unsplash

Tales of the Cocktail Red Coat apprentices
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

2022 Cocktail Apprentice Program Class

TOTC Announces 2022 Cocktail Apprentice Program Class

by David Klemt

 

Tales of the Cocktail Red Coat apprentices

The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has announced the 32 members of this year’s Cocktail Apprentice Program, also known as CAP.

For 2022, the CAP apprentices come from seven countries, Washington, D.C., fourteen American states, and Puerto Rico. First launched in 2008, CAP has played host to over 400 apprentices.

These bar professionals are thrown into the organized chaos that is Tales of the Cocktail each year. Well, to be fair, the event likely only feels like chaos to Tales attendees. This gathering of hospitality pros is a precision machine behind the scenes.

Of course, CAP apprentices and veterans are one of the keys to Tales’ success. These bar pros work together to prepare cocktails for for Tales seminars. They also make the many tastings possible. CAP Red and Grey Coats also batch the Dame Hall of Fame and Spirited Awards drinks.

As you’ll see while reviewing the lists below, CAP Red Coats work at some of the world’s premier bars, restaurants, hotels, distilleries, portfolios and brands, and hospitality groups. Moreover, they gain an incredible amount of experience and mentorship from industry veteran Grey, Black, and White Coats.

Valuable Experience

This is, of course, great news for attendees. Many will recognize the names and venues below. And, hey, these apprentices keep the good times flowing at Tales.

But there’s another reason this news is important.

Operators should encourage their bar team stars to apply to be TOTC CAP apprentices each year. The program is open to bartenders, barbacks, and bar managers.

Considering who they’ll meet, work with, and learn from, operators can think of CAP as an investment in their bar team.

In addition to returning to work with a wealth of knowledge and new industry contacts, they’ll be eligible to apply for the Cocktail Apprentice Scholarship Program. Since 2022 CAP Red Coats can apply when applications open next year, it’s reasonable to assume that 2023 Red Coats will be eligible to apply in 2024 for the TOTCF Cocktail Apprentice Scholarship Program.

So, operators who are serious about furthering their bar team’s careers and helping to mentor them should help them apply for the 2023 Cocktail Apprentice Program.

2022 Red Coats

Below are this year’s 32 CAP Red Coat apprentices. You’ll also find their place of work.

  • Patience Adjei, Twist Night Club and Level Up Lounge (Accra, Ghana, West Africa)
  • Gerald Akins, Hamlet and Ghost (Saratoga Springs, NY)
  • Israel Baròn, Casa Prunes (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Tammy Bouma, Bluebird Cocktail Room (Baltimore, MD)
  • Dylan Brentwood, Bar Kismet (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)
  • Napier Bulanan, Viridian (Oakland, CA)
  • Yosue Cordero Badillo, Fairmont El San Juan Hotel (Carolina, Puerto Rico)
  • Chelsea DeMark, Thompson Hotel Savannah (Savannah, GA)
  • Milton Deya, Melinda’s Alley (Phoenix, AZ)
  • Linda Douglas, Curly Bartender (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Kai Duarte, Pacifico on the Beach and Down The Hatch (Wailuku, HI)
  • Cody Dunavan, Breakthru Beverage Virginia (Richmond, VA)
  • Glenn Eldridge, ROKA (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
  • Tim Frandsen, Jane Jane (Washington, D.C.)
  • John Fry, Rumba / Inside Passage (Seattle, WA)
  • Delena Humble-Fischer, Golden Pineapple Craft Lounge (Tempe, AZ)
  • Princess Johnson, Allegory (Washington, D.C.)
  • Maria Kim, Southside Parlor (Seoul, South Korea)
  • Sungjoo Koo, Midnight Rambler (Dallas, TX)
  • Rylen Komeiji, Here Kitty Kitty / Zouk Group (Las Vegas, NV)
  • Lars Lunstrum, The Black Cypress (Pullman, WA)
  • Jacob Mentel, Polite Provisions (San Diego, CA)
  • Brian “Vito” Morales, Saso Bistro (Pasadena, CA)
  • Julian Bella Robins, Pursuing MS in Hospitality Management at FIU (Tel Aviv, Israel)
  • Jomar Santos, The Peacock Lounge Savannah (Savannah, GA)
  • Jeremiah Simmons, Seven Three Distillery (New Orleans, LA)
  • Colin Simpson, The Aviary (Chicago, IL)
  • Taylor Sweeney, Bar Shiru (Oakland, CA)
  • Vivi Szalavari, Uptown Cafe (Bloomington, IN)
  • Irlanda Vargas, Bacal (Mexico City, Mexico)
  • Noor Wafai, The Eddy & Durk’s Bar-B-Q (Providence, RI)
  • Tim Weigel, Vegas Vickie’s (Las Vegas, NV)

2022 Grey Coats

Identifiable by their grey chef coats, Grey Coats are CAP leaders.

  • Hagay I. Abramovitz, Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar (Tel Aviv, Israel)
  • Justine Bock, Gin & Juice (Bristol, UK)
  • Patrick Braga, Happy Accidents (Albuquerque, NM)
  • Fifi Bruce, Barrel Brothers (Berlin, Germany)
  • Richie Delahoyde, Lyre’s Non Alcoholic Spirits (Dublin, Ireland) 
  • Amy Dunki, Barr Hill and Caledonia Spirits (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Arianna Hone, High West Saloon, Post Office Place (Park City, UT)
  • Renson Malesi, House of Sage Cocktails (Nairobi, Kenya) 
  • Nicholas McCaslin, The Ritz-Carlton Nomad (New York City, NY)
  • Allie Phifer, Cayo Coco Rum Bar and Restaurante (Birmingham, AL)
  • Jessi Pollak, Spoon and Stable (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Eric Scott, Thyme X Table (Bay Village, OH) 
  • Britt Simons, The Eddy (Providence, RI)
  • Joey Smith, Chez Zou (New York City, NY)
  • Sarah Syman, The Dandy Crown (Chicago, IL)
  • Nigal Vann, The Berkshire Room (Chicago, IL)

2022 Black Coats

CAP assistant managers can be identified by their black chef coats.

  • Cam Brown, Self-employed (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Kaleena Goldsworthy-Warnock, The Bitter Bottle and Proof Bar and Incubator (Chattanooga, TN)
  • Alex Lerman, Pearl Street Hospitality (Denver, CO)
  • Samm McCulloch, Red Wall Distillery (Sedona, AZ)

2022 White Coats

The industry veterans are CAP managers and wear white chef coats.
  • Alexis Belton-Tinoco, Johnnie Walker/Proof Media Mix (Chicago, IL)
  • Cris Dehlavi, Diageo Hospitality Partnership (Columbus, OH)
  • John Deragon, Resy (Brooklyn, NY)
  • Trevor Kallies, Freehouse Collective (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
  • Juyoung Kang, Zouk Group at Resorts World Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV)

Whenever you come across a Red, Grey, Black or White Coat at Tales, be sure to thank them for all their work. Well, if they don’t have their hands incredibly full. In that case, please get out of their way—they’ve got our drinks!

Image: M.S. Meeuwesen on Unsplash

Greetings from NOLA artwork
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

TOTC 2022 Agenda and Tickets Now Live

Tales of the Cocktail 2022 Conference Agenda and Tickets Now Available

by David Klemt

Greetings from NOLA artwork

The time is now to grab your Tales of the Cocktail tickets and plan your trip to New Orleans for the last week of July.

Not only are tickets available for purchase via this link right now, you can also check out the schedule here.

Of particular note is the amount of complimentary programming available to 20th anniversary TOTC attendees.

Free to Attend

Attendees will have access to several activations and workshops that are free to attend.

Beginning Sunday, complimentary programming is available throughout the week. For example, the Day of Service on Sunday, July 24 is free attend and a way to give back.

Also on Sunday, the 11th annual Pig & Punch Volunteer Day of Service. This is another opportunity for those in the industry to do some good in the NOLA community.

The return of Pig & Punch was mentioned by an excited Lola Thomas on episode 72 of the Bar Hacks podcast.

On Monday, all attendees can attend the keynote address; Diversity Distilled Career Fair; the Welcome to Wellness! therapeutic stretch and self-massage session; and “#FromTheBarToTheFarm” sustainability workshop.

There are several more workshops—such as “Safe Bars: Crafting a New Culture of Safety and Respect” and the immersive “Mind Full” experience—that are free to attend on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Incredible Activations

More reasons to plan your trip around an action-packed Sunday? Speed Rack Redemption, the National Tequila Day Pool Party at the Royal Sonesta, and Ode to the Bowl.

The rest of the week is absolutely packed. From workshops to seminars, cocktail tours to tasting rooms, and all manner of activations, parties, and events in between, the 20th anniversary celebration of Tales of the Cocktail will be an experience to remember.

On the subject of cocktail tours, there are eight such experiences available during this year’s Tales. For example, attendees can register and secure tickets for Hunting Down the Sazerac, Downriver: Bars Beyond the French Quarter, the Big Gay Bar Tour, and Bourbon Street and How it Got that Way.

Learn More

To be honest, there’s simply too much going on at this year’s TOTC to list here. The sheer number of workshops, seminars, and activations must be checked out online.

And that’s to say nothing of the industry icons that will be presenting seminars and workshops, and hosting activations and special events.

Simply put, there’s programming for everyone. Health and wellness? Yes. Furthering your career? Absolutely. Perfecting technique and tasting new products? Of course. Business, culture, advocacy, diversity, inclusion, equity… Check, check, check, check, check, check!

We hope to see you at Tales of the Cocktail 2022! Be sure to check out the agenda and grab your tickets today.

Image: mana5280 on Unsplash

New Orleans, Louisiana, architecture in the French Quarter
by David Klemt David Klemt No Comments

TOTC Launches New Philanthropic Committee

TOTC Launches New Philanthropic Committee

by David Klemt

New Orleans, Louisiana, architecture in the French Quarter

Continuing their growth and commitment to supporting the spirits and hospitality industries, Tales of the Cocktail announces a new committee.

Formerly known as the Grants Committee, this committee will act as an advisory board to TOTC Foundation. In this capacity, the new Philanthropy & Development Committee will guide decisions regarding the TOTCF’s portfolio of philanthropic endeavors.

In launching the Philanthropy & Development Committee, the TOTCF is responding directly to the needs of the spirits community.

Commitment to Philanthropy

Supporting the industry is a TOTCF cornerstone. This commitment was supercharged when the Solomon Group and Neal Bodenheimer, Jr. took over in 2018.

Upon purchasing the rights, the Solomon family and Bodenheimer, Jr. transformed TOTC into a non-profit. Since then, the organization has developed ways to benefit New Orleans and the spirits and hospitality industries.

One major avenue of support came by way of the TOTCF Grants Committee. Their mission was straightforward and lofty: “to support nascent or existing programs, non-profit organizations, and individuals developing a specific project that will impact the global hospitality community present day and beyond.”

In selecting recipients, the Grants Committee reviewed submissions. Recipients needed to support the TOTCF’s core pillars with a focus on diversity, representation, and inclusivity: Advancement, education, and support.

One such recipient that exemplifies the Grant Committee’s work is Turning Tables. From their website:

“Turning Tables advocates for equity in the hospitality industry by providing mentorship, educational tools, and platforms for exposure in a system of support for the black and brown communities of New Orleans.”

New Name, Bigger Mission

To be clear, the Philanthropy & Development Committee is still offering grants. However, the past two years saw the expansion of the Grants Committee’s mission.

In addition to grants, the committee:

  • provided direct relief to industry professionals;
  • entered into more non-profit partnerships;
  • boosted the number of Beyond the Bar activations;
  • engaged in advocacy and policy efforts;
  • and expanded mental health and wellness capabilities.

Given the evolution of the committee’s work, transforming to the Philanthropy & Development Committee better communicates the mission.

“I’m really excited about this new era of the committee,” says Philanthropy & Development Committee co-chair Kellie Thorn. “While grant-giving will still be a focus, we will now have the opportunity to diversify the way that we serve the drinks community as well as continue to provide thoughtful insight to the Foundation about our industry.”

Continental Drift and Drift Kitchen owner Eric Bennett co-chairs the committee alongside consultant and educator Thorn. The eleven current committee members are:

  • Tiffanie Barriere
  • Chris Cabrera
  • Claudia Cabrera
  • Samuel Jimenez
  • Nandini Khaund
  • Yisell Muxo
  • Lisa Nguyen
  • Chris Patino
  • Vivian Pei
  • Kelsey Ramage
  • Morgan Schick

To learn more about the Philanthropy & Development Committee, click here.

Image: Aya Salman on Unsplash

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